y these feigned appearances
of friendship, he both engaged Norfolk to write in his favor to the
northern noblemen,[*] and he persuaded the queen of Scots to give her
lieutenants permission, and even advice, to conclude a cessation of
hostilities with the regent's party.[**]

The duke of Norfolk, though he had agreed that Elizabeth's consent
should be previously obtained before the completion of his marriage, had
reason to apprehend that he never should prevail with her voluntarily
to make that concession. He knew her perpetual and unrelenting jealousy
against her heir and rival; he was acquainted with her former reluctance
to all proposals of marriage with the queen of Scots; he foresaw that
this princess's espousing a person of his power, and character, and
interest, would give the greatest umbrage; and as it would then become
necessary to reinstate her in possession of her throne on some tolerable
terms, and even to endeavor the reestablishing of her character, he
dreaded lest Elizabeth, whose politics had now taken a different
turn, would never agree to such indulgent and generous conditions. He
therefore attempted previously to gain the consent and approbation of
several of the most considerable nobility; and he was successful with
the earls of Pembroke, Arundel, Derby, Bedford, Shrewsbury, Southampton,
Northumberland, Westmoreland, Sussex.[***] Lord Lumley and Sir Nicholas
Throgmorton cordially embraced the proposal: even the earl of Leicester,
Elizabeth's declared favorite, who had formerly entertained some views
of espousing Mary, willingly resigned all his pretensions, and seemed
to enter zealously into Norfolk's interests.[****] There were other
motives, besides affection to the duke, which produced this general
combination of the nobility.

* State Trials, p. 76, 78.

** Lesley, p. 41.

*** Lesley, p. 55. Camden, p. 419. Spotswood, p. 230.

**** Haynes, p. 535.

Sir William Cecil, secretary of state, was the most vigilant, active,
and prudent minister ever known in England; and as he was governed by
no views but the interests of his sovereign which he had inflexibly
pursued, his authority over her became every day more predominant. Ever
cool himself, and uninfluenced by prejudice or affection, he checked
those sallies of passion, and sometimes of caprice, to which she was
subject; and if he failed of persuading her in the first movement, his
perseverance, and remonstrances, and argum