s her life, during some time, was despaired of, the people
became the more sensible of their perilous situation, derived from the
uncertainty, which, in case of her demise, attended the succession of
the crown. The partisans of the queen of Scots, and those of the house
of Suffolk, already divided the nation into factions; and every one
foresaw, that, though it might be possible at present to determine the
controversy by law, yet, if the throne were vacant, nothing but the
sword would be able to fix a successor. The commons, therefore, on the
opening of the session, voted an address to the queen; in which, after
enumerating the dangers attending a broken and doubtful succession,
and mentioning the evils which their fathers had experienced from the
contending titles of York and Lancaster, they entreated the queen to
put an end to their apprehensions, by choosing some husband, whom they
promised, whoever he were, gratefully to receive, and faithfully to
serve, honor, and obey: or if she had entertained any reluctance to the
married state, they desired that the lawful successor might be named,
at least appointed by act of parliament. They remarked, that, during
all the reigns which had passed since the conquest, the nation had never
before been so unhappy as not to know the person who, in case of the
sovereign's death, was legally entitled to fill the vacant throne. And
they observed, that the fixed order which took place in inheriting the
French monarchy, was one chief source of the usual tranquillity, as well
as of the happiness, of that kingdom.[*]

* Sir Simon d'Ewes's Journ. p. 81.

This subject, though extremely interesting to the nation, was very
little agreeable to the queen; and she was sensible that great
difficulties would attend every decision. A declaration in favor of the
queen of Scots would form a settlement perfectly legal; because that
princess was commonly allowed to possess the right of blood; and the
exclusion given by Henry's will, deriving its weight chiefly from an
act of parliament, would lose all authority whenever the queen and
parliament had made a new settlement, and restored the Scottish line to
its place in the succession. But she dreaded giving encouragement to
the Catholics, her secret enemies, by this declaration. She was sensible
that every heir was, in some degree, a rival; much more one who enjoyed
a claim for the present possession of the crown, and who had already
advanced, in a