Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/469

 1566.] TUE MURDER OF DARNLEY. 449 proposed at once, amidst universal approbation, 'to revive the suit for the succession/ and to consider the demands of the exchequer only in connection with the determina- tion of an heir to the throne. 1 Elizabeth's first desire was to stifle the discussion at its commencement. Sir Ralph Sadler rose when Moly- neux sat down, and ' after divers propositions ' ' declared that he had heard the Queen say in the presence of the nobility that her Highness minded to marry.* Sadler possessed the confidence of the Protestants, and from him, if from any one, they would have accepted a declara- tion with which so steady an opponent of the Queen of Scots was satisfied ; but the disappointment of the two previous sessions had taught them the meaning of words of this kind ; a report of something said elsewhere to ' the nobility ' would not meet the present irritation ; ' their mind was to continue their suit, and to know her Highness' s answer.' Elizabeth found it necessary to be more specific. The next day, first Cecil, then Sir Francis Knowles, then Sir Ambrose Cave, declared formally that the ( Queen by God's special providence was moved to marry, that she minded for the wealth of the commons to prosecute the same, and persuaded to see the sequel of that before further suit touching the succession.' 2 Cecil and Cave were good Protestants, Knowles was an advanced Puritan, 1 'October 18. Motion made by Mr Molyneux for the reviving of the suit for the succession, and to proceed with the subsidy, was very VOL. vii. 29 well allowed by the House.' Com- mons' Journals, 8 Elizabeth. 2 Commons' Journals, 8 Elizabeth.