g day, Thursday, the 3rd of August. Excitement
lent to her hard features an expression almost of beauty,[72] as she
rode in the midst of a splendid cavalcade of knights and nobles.
Elizabeth, escorted by two thousand horse and a retinue of ladies, was
waiting to receive her outside the gates. The first in her
congratulations, after the proclamation, yet fearful of giving
offence, Elizabeth had written to ask if it was the queen's pleasure
that she should appear in mourning; but the queen would have no
mourning, nor would have others wear it in her presence. The sombre
colours which of late years had clouded the court were to be banished
at once and for ever; and with the dark colours, it seemed for a time
as if old dislikes and suspicions were at the same time to pass away.
The sisters embraced; the queen was warm and affectionate, kissing all
the ladies in Elizabeth's train; and side by side the daughters of
Henry VIII. rode through Aldgate at seven in the evening, amidst the
shouts of the people, the thunder of cannon, and pealing of church
bells.[73] At the Tower gates the old Duke of Norfolk, Gardiner,
Courtenay, and the Duchess of Somerset {p.031} were seen kneeling as
Mary approached. "These are my prisoners," she said as she alighted
from her horse, and stooped and kissed them. Charmed by the
enthusiastic reception and by the pleasant disappointment of her
anxieties, she could find no room for hard thoughts of any one; so far
was she softened, Renard wrote, that she could hardly be brought to
consent to the necessary execution of justice. Against Northumberland
himself she had no feeling of vindictiveness, and was chiefly anxious
that he should be attended by a confessor; Northampton was certainly
to be pardoned; Suffolk was already free; Northumberland should be
spared, if possible; and, as to Lady Jane, justice forbade, she said,
that an innocent girl should suffer for the crimes of others.[74]

[Footnote 72: "La beaute de visage plus que
mediocre," are Renard's words to Charles.]

[Footnote 73: Renard; Noailles; Machyn; _Grey
Friars' Chronicle_.]

[Footnote 74: Renard to Charles V.: _Rolls House
MSS._]

The emperor had recommended mercy; but he had not advised a general
indemnity, as Renard made haste to urge. The imperialist conception of
clemency differed from the queen's; and the same timidi