abeth in this unhappy business
are marked with the features of that intense selfishness which,
scrupling nothing for the attainment of its own mean objects, seldom
fails by exaggerated efforts and overstrained manoeuvres to expose
itself to detection and merited contempt.

Never had she enjoyed a higher degree of popularity than at this
juncture: the late discoveries had opened to view a series of popish
machinations which had fully justified, in the eyes of an alarmed and
irritated people, even those previous measures of severity on the part
of her government which had most contributed to provoke these attempts.

The queen was more than ever the heroine of the protestant party; and
the image of those imminent and hourly perils to which her zeal in the
good cause had exposed her, inflamed to enthusiasm the sentiment of
loyalty. On occasion of the detection of Babington's plot, the whole
people gave themselves up to rejoicings. Sixty bonfires, says the
chronicler, were kindled between Ludgate and Charing-Cross, and tables
were set out in the open streets at which happy neighbours feasted
together. The condemnation of the queen of Scots produced similar
demonstrations. After her sentence had been ratified by both houses of
parliament, it was thought expedient, probably by way of feeling the
pulse of the people, that solemn proclamation of it should be made in
London by the lord-mayor and city officers, and by the magistrates of
the county in Westminster. The multitude, untouched by the long
misfortunes of an unhappy princess born of the blood-royal of England
and heiress to its throne,--insensible too of every thing arbitrary,
unprecedented, or unjust, in the treatment to which she had been
subjected, received the notification of her doom with expressions of
triumph and exultation truly shocking. Bonfires were lighted, church
bells were rung, and every street and lane throughout the city resounded
with psalms of thanksgiving[97].

[Note 97: Hollinshed's Castrations.]

It is manifest, therefore, that no deference for the opinions or
feelings of her subjects compelled Elizabeth to hesitate or to dissemble
in this matter.

Had she permitted the execution of the sentence simply, and without
delay, all orders of men attached to the protestant establishment would
have approved it as an act fully justified by state-expediency and the
law of self-defence; and though misgivings might have arisen in the
minds of some on coole