as a necessary absence. The French will be busy with their intrigues,
and the queen will not be pleased to lose you. The administration is
in confusion, the divisions in the council are more violent than ever.
Religion is unsettled; the heretics take advantage of these late
barbarous punishments to say, that they are to be converted by fire,
because their enemies are unable to convince them by reason or
example. The orthodox clergy are still unreformed, and their
scandalous conduct accords ill with the offices to which they are
called.[454]

[Footnote 454: "Les gens d'eglise ne sont
reformees, il y a plusieurs abuz qui donnent
scandale et maulvaise impression, et ilz ne
respondent aux offices auxquelz ilz sont
appellez."--Ibid. p. 395.]

"Further, your highness will do well to weigh the uncertainty of the
succession. Should the queen's pregnancy prove a mistake, the heretics
will place their hopes in Elizabeth: and here you are in a difficulty
whatever be done; for if Elizabeth be set aside, the crown will go to
the Queen of Scots; if she succeed, she will restore heresy, and
naturally attach herself to France. Some step must be taken about this
before you leave the country; and you must satisfy the queen that you
will assist her in her general difficulties, as a good lord and
husband ought to do.[455]

[Footnote 455: "Donner ce contentement a la royne
d'avoir intention de asseurer et establir ses
affaires et la secourir comme bon Seigneur et
mari."]

"The council must be reformed, if possible, and the number diminished;
those who remain must be invited to renew their oaths to your majesty.
Regard must be had to the navy, and especially to the admiral Lord
William Howard; and above all there must be no more of this barbarous
precipitancy in putting heretics to death. The people must be won from
their errors by gentleness and by better instruction. Except in cases
of especial scandal, the bishops must not be permitted to irritate
them by {p.200} cruelty, and the legate must see that a better
example is set by the clergy themselves.[456] The debts of the crown
must be attended to; and your majesty should endeavour to do something
which will give you popularity with the masses. Before all things,
attend to the succession.

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