que le
bien."--Renard to the Emperor: _Granvelle Papers_,
vol. iv. p. 347.]

[Footnote 430: Ibid. vol. iv. p. 348.]

[Footnote 431: "Et que en son absence il y pourra
nommer qui luy plaira."--Ibid. vol. iv. p. 348.]

Taking courage from the apparent disposition of the House, the friends
of the court proposed that, should the queen die childless, the crown
should devolve absolutely upon him for his life.[432] But in this they
were going too far. The suggestion was listened to coldly; and Philip,
who had really calculated on obtaining from parliament, in some form
or other, a security for his succession, despatched Ruy Gomez to
Brussels, to consult the {p.186} emperor on the course which should
be pursued.[433] On the whole, however, could the bill of the House of
Commons be carried, Renard was disposed to be contented; the queen was
confident in her hopes of an heir, and it might not be worth while to
irritate the people unnecessarily about Elizabeth.[434] The clause
empowering Philip to govern by deputy in his absence was especially
satisfactory.[435]

[Footnote 432: "Aulcuns particuliers proposaient en
ladicte chambre basse que le dict S. roy deust
demeurer roy absolut dudict royaulme mourant
ladicte dame sans hoirs sa vie durant."--Ibid. vol.
iv. p. 348.]

[Footnote 433: "Ruy Gomez est alle vers l'Empereur
pour faire entendre les difficultez qu'ilz trouvent
de faire demeurer ceste couronne a son dict filz,
au cas que la royne sa femme allast de vie a
trespaz sans enfans, et d'aultant qu'ilz ont
congneu la volunte de ceulx cy estre bien loin de
leur intention; et pour ce scavoir par quelz moyens
il semblera bon audict Empereur qu'on puisse mettre
cela en termes devant la fin de ce
parlement."--Noailles.]

[Footnote 434: "Et quant a la declaration de
bastardise l'on n'est d'opinion qu'elle se doige
entamer aux dict parlement, puisque l'apparence
d'heretier est certaine et pour l'evident et
congneue contrariete que seroit en toute le