Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/385

 1576.] THE SPANISH TREATY. 365 The times were too dangerous for loyal subjects to quarrel with the Queen. The question raised was, to say the least of it, unseasonable. If she granted mono- polies, she had governed with singular economy, had rarely troubled her subjects for money, had restored the currency, and punctually paid her father's, brother's, and sister's debts. Her credit stood so high that she could borrow money at Antwerp at five per cent., when Philip could not borrow on any terms at all. 1 Went- worth was stopped by the Speaker before he could con- clude his speech. He was Star- chambered, and sent to meditate for a month in the Tower. He then made his submission on his knees on the floor of the House, and was pardoned 'to the great contentment of all pre- sent.' 2 In the conduct of the House the Queen had little to complain of; but this small accident, combined with other causes, occasioned one of those periodical fits of ill-humour, to which she was always liable, against the Protestants. She had been dragged into encouraging the States against her inclination : the sudden death of Eequescens before Cobham could reach him gave her an excuse for altering her mind, and having determined not to send the help which her Parliament had given her the means of sending, she tried to gain credit with Spain by making her refusal as offensive as possible. derstand what it is that were but to make you Popes. Make you Popes who list,' said I. ' We will have none.' ' 1 Edward Castelyu to Walsing- ham, March 4 ; MSS. Flanders. 3 D'Ewes' Journals.