ty which usually attended her on these
occasions: but when news arrived of the prince of Scotland's birth, all
her joy was damped: she sunk into melancholy; she reclined her head upon
her arm; and complained to some of her attendants, that the queen of
Scots was mother of a fair son, while she herself was but a barren
stock. Next day, however, at the reception of the ambassador, she
resumed her former dissimulation, put on a joyful countenance, gave
Melvil thanks for the haste he had made in conveying to her the
agreeable intelligence, and expressed the utmost cordiality and
friendship to her sister.[*] Some time after, she despatched the earl of
Bedford, with her kinsman George Gary, son of Lord Hunsdon, in order to
officiate at the baptism of the young prince; and she sent by them some
magnificent presents to the queen of Scots.

The birth of a son gave additional zeal to Mary's partisans in
England;[**] and even men of the most opposite parties began to cry
aloud for some settlement of the succession. These humors broke out
with great vehemence in a new session of parliament, held after six
prorogations. The house of peers, which had hitherto forborne to touch
on this delicate point, here took the lead; and the house of commons
soon after imitated the zeal of the lords. Molineux opened the matter in
the lower house, and proposed, that the question of the succession
and that of supply should go hand in hand; as if it were intended
to constrain the queen to a compliance with the request of her
parliament.[***] The courtiers endeavored to elude the debate: Sir Ralph
Sadler told the house, that he had heard the queen positively affirm,
that for the good of her people she was determined to marry. Secretary
Cecil and Sir Francis Knollys gave their testimony to the same purpose;
as did also Sir Ambrose Cave, chancellor of the duchy, and Sir Edward
Rogers, comptroller of the household.[****]

* Melvil, p. 69, 70.

** Camden, p. 397.

*** D'Ewes, p. 129.

**** D'Ewes, p. 124.

Elizabeth's ambitious and masculine character was so well known, that
few members gave any credit to this intelligence; and it was considered
merely as an artifice, by which she endeavored to retract that positive
declaration which she had made in the beginning of her reign, that she
meant to live and die a virgin. The ministers, therefore, gained nothing
further by this piece of policy, than only to engage the house, for the