erson, made the parliament a spirited
harangue; in which she spoke of the justice and moderation of her
government, expressed the small ambition she had ever entertained of
making conquests, displayed the just grounds of her quarrel with the
king of Spain, and discovered how little she apprehended the power of
that monarch, even though he should make a greater effort against her
than that of his Invincible Armada. "But I am informed," added she,
"that when he attempted this last invasion, some upon the sea-coast
forsook their towns, fled up higher into the country, and left all naked
and exposed to his entrance: but I swear unto you by God, if I knew
those persons, or may know of any that shall do so hereafter, I will
make them feel what it is to be so fearful in so urgent a cause."[*] By
this menace, she probably gave the people to understand, that she would
execute martial law upon such cowards; for there was no statute by which
a man could be punished for changing his place of abode.

* D'Ewes, p. 466. Townsend, p. 48.

The king of France, though he had hitherto made war on the league
with great bravery and reputation, though he had this campaign gained
considerable advantages over them, and though he was assisted by a
considerable body of English under Norris, who carried hostilities into
the heart of Brittany, was become sensible that he never could, by
force of arms alone, render himself master of his kingdom. The nearer he
seemed by his military successes to approach to a full possession of the
throne, the more discontent and jealousy arose among those Romanists who
adhered to him; and a party was formed in his own court to elect some
Catholic monarch of the royal blood, if Henry should any longer refuse
to satisfy them by declaring his conversion. This excellent prince was
far from being a bigot to his sect; and as he deemed these theological
disputes entirely subordinate to the public good, he had secretly
determined, from the beginning, to come some time or other to
the resolution required of him. He had found, on the death of his
predecessor, that the Hugonots, who formed the bravest and most faithful
part of his army, were such determined zealots, that if he had at that
time abjured their faith, they would instantly have abandoned him to
the pretensions and usurpations of the Catholics. The more bigoted
Catholics, he knew, particularly those of the league, had entertained
such an unsurmountable prejudi