Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/58

 REtGN OF ELIZABETH. [Cil. 5?. and Walsingham prayed that Elizabeth would see her opportunity and relieve herself and her country of that danger for ever. 1 Once again Mary Stuart's life de- pended on the resolution of Elizabeth ; and if the opinion of Don Guerau was correct, that Elizabeth was a cipher in the hands of Burghley, the best grace she had to look for was a priest to make her ready for her end. Norfolk's turn came first however; and with him Burghley could write that ' the Queen would deal more substantially than many did imagine.' 2 Among the Peers by whom the Duke would have to be tried, many would inevitably have to take their seats as his judges who were in heart as guilty as himself; but care was taken that there should be at least a majority on whose loyalty Elizabeth could depend. Lord Shrews- bury was named High Steward for the same reason for which he was chosen to be the Queen of Scots' guardian. Twenty-six noblemen formed the court over which Shrewsbury presided ; and in the list almost every Peer was included who had been created by the Queen, or owed his station to her father and the Reformation. Hertford, who for two years had been in disgrace and forbidden to sit in Parliament, was restored to his Aguilon a Felipe II do, December 5 : TEULET, vol. v. 1 ' Surely so long as that devilish woman liveth, neither her Majesty must make account to continue in quiet possession of her crown, nor hei faithful servants assure them- selves of safety of their lives. God open her Majesty's eyes to see that which may be for her best safety.' Walsiugham to Cecil, January 30 : JtfSS. France. 2 Burghley to Walsiugham, De- cember 7 : DIGGES.