01]
Catching this favourable opportunity, the queen charmed the country
with the announcement that the second portion of the last subsidy
granted by Parliament should not be collected; she gave her word that
the currency at the earliest moment should be thoroughly restored;
while she gained credit on all sides for the very moderate vengeance
with which she appeared to be contenting herself. Ridley only, Renard
wrote, on the 9th of September, would now be executed; the other
prisoners were to be all pardoned. The enthusiasm was slightly abated,
indeed, when it was announced that their forgiveness would not be
wholly free. Montague and Bromley, on their release from the Tower,
were fined L7000 a-piece; Suffolk, Northampton, and other noblemen and
gentlemen, as their estates would bear. But, to relieve the burdens of
the people at the expense of those who had reaped the harvest of the
late spoliations was, on the whole, a legitimate retribution; the
moneyed men were pleased with the recognition of Edward's debts, and
provided a loan of 25,000 crowns for the present necessities of the
government. London streets rang again with shouts of "God Save the
Queen;" and Mary recovered a fresh instalment of popularity to carry
her a few steps further.[102]

[Footnote 100: Renard to Charles V.: _Rolls House
MSS._]

[Footnote 101: Ibid.]

[Footnote 102: Noailles; Renard.]

The refugees were the first difficulty. They were too numerous to
imprison; and the most influential among them--men like Peter
Martyr--having come to England on the invitation {p.047} of the late
government, it was neither just nor honourable to hand them over to
their own sovereigns. But both Mary and her Flemish adviser were
anxious to see them leave the country as quickly as possible. The
emperor recommended a general intimation to be given out, that
criminals of all kinds taking refuge in England would be liable to
seizure, offences against religion being neither specially mentioned
nor specially excepted.[103] The foreign preachers were ordered to
depart by proclamation; and Peter Martyr, who had left Oxford, and was
staying with Cranmer at Lambeth, expecting an arrest, received,
instead of it, a safe-conduct, of which he instantly availed himself.
The movements of others were quickened with indirect menaces; while
Gardiner told Renard, with much self-satisfaction, that a few mess