Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/55

 IS63-] THE ENGLISH AT HA VRE. 35 The result of the first discussion was the resolution to prepare an address to the Crown. But de Quadra was able to learn that the question would not be settled ; the Queen was determined to keep her promise to Mary Stuart ; and Cecil, on the I4th, wrote to Sir Thomas Smith that however Parliament might press her 'the unwillingness of her Majesty to have a successor known r would prevent a conclusion. 1 The strength of Eliza- beth's resolution would soon be tried. Meanwhile, on the 2oth, Cecil explained to the Commons the cause of the interference in France. 2 On the 25th he was heard at the bar of the House of Lords on the same subject ; and his speech was chiefly directed against Philip, whom he accused of having entangled England in war while its titular king, and then of having betrayed it at Cam- bray ; of having taken part with the Queen's enemies in every difliculty in which she had been involved ; and of having lent his strength to make the Duke of Guise sovereign of France and Mary Stuart Queen of England 'Queen of England/ 'as she was already styled by her household at Holyrood.' 3 A penal Bill against the Catholics was next laid be- fore the Upper House. It was described as ' a law against those who would not receive the new religion/ bloody in its provisions as the preachers desired, and Quadra on the 27th of January, ' va cobrando fuercjas entre estos de la nueva religion, y el parir la hace bieu quista del pueblo.' De Quadra to Philip. MS. Simancas. 1 Cecil to Sir T. Smith, January 14: WRIGHT'S Elizabeth and her Times, vol. i. 8 DEWES' Journals. 3 De Quadra to Philip, January 27 : ^/'S'. Simancas.