ed to protect the
queen, and part of her own guard had been among the deserters at
Rochester. She appealed to the honour of the lords to take measure for
her personal safety; but they did nothing, and, it seemed, would do
nothing; if London rose, they said merely, she must retire to Windsor.

The aspect of affairs was so threatening, that Renard believed that
the marriage at least would have to be relinquished. It seemed as if
it could be accomplished only with the help of an invading army; and
although Mary would agree to any measure which would secure Philip,
the presence of foreign troops, as the emperor himself was aware,
could only increase the exasperation.[227] The queen's resolution,
however, grew with her difficulties. If she could not fight she would
not yield; and, taking matters into her own hands, she sent Sir Thomas
Cornwallis and Sir Edward Hastings to Dartford, with directions to
speak with Wyatt, if possible, alone; to tell him that she "marvelled
at his demeanour," "rising as a subject to impeach her marriage;" she
was ready to believe, however, that he thought himself acting in the
interests of the commonwealth; she would appoint persons to talk over
the subject with him, and if it should appear that the marriage would
not, as she supposed, be beneficial to the realm, she would sacrifice
her wishes.[228]

[Footnote 227: Renard to the Emperor, January 29:
_Rolls House MSS._ The Emperor to Renard, February
4: _Granvelle Papers_, vol. iv. p. 204.]

[Footnote 228: Instructions to Sir Thomas
Cornwallis and Sir Edward Hastings: _MS. State
Paper Office_.]

The message was not strictly honest, for the queen had no real
intention of sacrificing anything. She desired merely to gain time;
and, should Wyatt refuse, as she expected, she wished to place herself
in a better position to appeal to her subjects for help.[229] But the
move under this aspect was skilful and successful; when Cornwallis and
Hastings discharged their commission, Wyatt replied that he would
rather be trusted than {p.098} trust; he would argue the marriage
with pleasure, but he required first the custody of the Tower, and of
the queen's person, and four of the council must place themselves in
his hands as hostages.[230]

[Footnote 229: Renard to the Emperor: _Rolls House
MSS._]