n of the popular rebellions of the late reign, and
they resolved to wait the issue of the queen's pregnancy, while they
watched over the safety of Elizabeth. The project of the court was now
to send her to Flanders, where she was to remain under charge of the
emperor; if possible, she was to be persuaded to go thither of her own
accord; if she could not be persuaded, she would be otherwise removed.
Lord William Howard, her constant guardian, requested permission to
see and speak with her, and learn her own feelings. He was refused;
but he went to her notwithstanding, and had a long private interview
with her; and the court could only talk bitterly of his treason among
themselves, make propositions to send him to the Tower which they
durst not execute, and devise some other method of dealing with their
difficulty.[452]

[Footnote 451: Renard to Charles V.: _Granvelle
Papers_, vol. iv. p. 403.]

[Footnote 452: Renard to Charles V.: Ibid. pp. 404,
405.]

Meantime, Philip, who had pined for freedom after six weeks'
experience of his bride, was becoming unmanageably impatient. A paper
of advice and exhortation survives, which was addressed on this
occasion by the ambassador to his master, with reflections on the
condition of England, and on the conduct which the king should pursue.

"Your majesty must remember," said Renard, "the purpose for which you
came to England. The French had secured the Queen of Scotland for the
Dauphin. They had afterwards made an alliance with the late king, and
spared no pains to secure the support of England. To counteract their
schemes, and to {p.199} obtain a counter advantage in the war, the
emperor, on the accession of the queen, resolved that your highness
should marry her. Your highness, it is true, might wish that she was
more agreeable;[453] but, on the other hand, she is infinitely
virtuous, and, things being as they are, your highness, like a
magnanimous prince, must remember her condition, and exert yourself,
so far as you conveniently may, to assist her in the management of the
kingdom.

[Footnote 453: "Et combien l'on pouvoit requerir
plus de civilite en la Reyne.--Renard to Philip:
_Granvelle Papers_, vol. iv. p. 394.]

"Your highness must consider that your departure will be
misrepresented, your enemies will speak of it as a flight rather than