Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/517

 15 79-1 THE ALENCON MARRIAGE. 497 mended the marriage. Proud of England and proud of their sovereign, -they imagined themselves ahle to resist the united efforts of the world. The council too had confidence in England, if England was wisely guided. De Quadra had long ago described Burghley as having a faith in the resources of his country, which seemed to himself like insanity. But the Queen would not guide, nor would she allow others to guide for her. Determined only to go her own way, she did not know for two months together what that way was to be. In mere desperation Cecil had submitted to a necessity as painful to him as it was to Walsingham, and he made one more appeal to her nobler nature. The temper of the people could not be October, trifled with. There was again a call of the council, and on the 2nd of October, after a long day's sitting, they ' agreed to present to her Majesty/ as an alternative for Alencon, ' the following resolutions ' : ' The country was in great and increasing danger. Much might be hoped for from God, but God would not help them if they neglected ordinary means. Her Majesty must continue to deserve the love of her people. She must be zealous for God's honour, and maintain the laws for religion ; and then it might be expected that the number of her attached subjects would increase, and the uneasy humour would die away ; the Papists would dissemble or amend for fear, and would be less able or willing to maintain the English rebels on the continent.' Further, the loose disordered administra- tion required to be amended, and godly and learned TOL. x. 32