Elizabeth was dangerous. She was a figure on the
stage whom Renard would gladly see removed; and a week or two later he
bid Mary look to her, watch her, and catch her tripping if good
fortune would so permit: "it was better to prevent than to be
prevented."[77]

[Footnote 76: Renard to Charles V.: _Rolls House
MSS._]

[Footnote 77: Signantment sembleroit que vostre
majeste ne se deust confier en Madame Elizabeth que
bien a point, et discouvrir sur ce qu'elle ne se
voit en espoir d'entrer en regne, ne avoir voulu
fleschir quant au point de la religion ny ouyr la
messe; ce que l'on jugeoit elle deust faire pour la
respect de vostre majeste, et pour les courtoysies
dont elle use en son endroit encores qu'elle ny
eust faict sinon l'assister et l'accompaigner. Et
davantage l'on peult discouvrir comme elle se
maintient en la nouvelle religion par practique,
pour attirer et gaigner a sa devotion ceulx quilz
sont de la dicte religion en s'en aider, si elle
avoit intention de maligner; et jacois l'on se
pourroit fourcompter quant a son intention, si est
en ce commencement, qu'il est plus sure prevenir
que d'estre prevenu et penser a ce que peult
advenir; actendu que les objects sont evidens.--Les
Ambassadeurs de l'Empereur a Marie, Reine
d'Angleterre: _Granvelle Papers_, vol. ii. pp.
64-69.]

The queen did not close her ears to these evil whispers; but for the
first few days after she came to the Tower her thoughts were chiefly
occupied with religion, and her first active step was to release and
to restore to their sees the deprived and imprisoned bishops. The
first week in August, Ponet, by royal order, was ejected from
Winchester, Ridley from London, and Scory from Chichester. The See of
Durham was reconstituted. Tunstal, Day, and Heath were set at liberty,
and returned to their dioceses. The Bishop of Ely was deposed from the
chancellorship, and the seals were given to Gardiner. "On the 5th of
August," says the _Grey Friars' Chronicle_, "at seven o'clock at
night, Edmond Bonner came home from