rance and Spain; and Cardinal Pole,
with many other counsellors, openly and zealously opposed this measure.
Besides insisting on the marriage articles, which provided against such
an attempt, they represented the violence of the domestic factions in
England, and the disordered state of the finances; and they foreboded,
that the tendency of all these measures was to reduce the kingdom to
a total dependence on Spanish counsels. Philip had come to London, in
order to support his partisans; and he told the queen that, if he were
not gratified in so reasonable a request, he never more would set foot
in England. This declaration extremely heightened her zeal for promoting
his interests, and overcoming the inflexibility of her council. After
employing other menaces of a more violent nature, she threatened to
dismiss all of them, and to appoint counsellors more obsequious; yet
could she not procure a vote for declaring war with France. At length,
one Stafford, and some other conspirators, were detected in a design of
surprising Scarborough;[*] and a confession being extorted from them,
that they had been encouraged by Henry in the attempt, the queen's
importunity prevailed; and it was determined to make this act of
hostility, with others of a like secret and doubtful nature, the
ground of the quarrel. War was accordingly declared against France; and
preparations were every where made for attacking that kingdom.

The revenue of England at that time little exceeded three hundred
thousand pounds.[**] Any considerable supplies could scarcely be
expected from parliament, considering the present disposition of the
nation; and as the war would sensibly diminish that branch arising from
the customs, the finances, it was foreseen, would fall short even of the
ordinary charges of government, and must still more prove unequal to
the expenses of war. But though the queen owed great arrears to all
her servants, besides the loans extorted from her subjects, these
considerations had no influence with her; and in order to support her
warlike preparations, she continued to levy money in the same arbitrary
and violent manner which she had formerly practised. She obliged the
city of London to supply her with sixty thousand pounds on her husband's
entry; she levied before the legal time the second year's subsidy voted
by parliament; she issued anew many privy seals, by which she procured
loans from her people; and having equipped a fleet, which she