Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/59

 1563.] THE ENGLISH AT HAVRE. 39 111 the interval of these discussions the address of the Commons was drawn ; and on the 28th the Speaker with the whole House attended to present it in the gallery of the palace. Commencing with an elaborate compliment 011 the Queen's services to the country, Sir Thomas Williams proceeded to say that the nation required for their perfect security some assurance for the future. Her Majesty had been dangerously ill, and the Com^ rnons had supposed that in calling them together so soon after her recovery she had intended to use their assistance to come to some conclusion. He reminded her of Alexander's generals ; he reminded her more to the purpose of York and Lancaster; and the realm, he said, was beset with enemies within and without. There was 'a faction of heretics in her realm contentious and malicious Papists who, most unnaturally against their country, most madly against their own safety, and most treacherously against her Highness, not only hoped for the woful day of her death, but also lay in wait to ad- vance some title under which they might revive their late unspeakable cruelties. The Commons saw nothing to withstand their desires but her only life ; they feared much to what attempt the hope of such opportunity nothing withstanding them but her life might move the Catholics ; and they found how necessary it was that there should be more set and known between her Majesty's life and the unkindness and cruelty they in- tended to revive.' Ignorant as they were to whom the crown ought to descend, and being unable to judge of the limitation of the succession in King Henry's will, their