iner,
indeed, told Renard that she was not obdurate; he had spoken to her,
and she had seemed to say that, if he could convince her, her
objections would cease;[130] but they had not ceased so far; she did
not attend. In the happiness of her first triumph Mary had treated
Elizabeth like a sister, but her manner had relapsed into coldness;
and the princess, at length, knowing how her name was made use of,
requested a private interview, which, with difficulty, was granted.
The sisters, each accompanied by a single lady, met in a gallery with
a half-door between them. Elizabeth threw herself on her knees. She
said that she perceived her majesty was displeased with her; she could
not tell what the cause might be, unless it was religion; and for
this, she said, she might be reasonably forgiven; she had been
educated, as the queen was aware, in the modern belief, and she
understood no other; if her majesty would send her books and teachers,
she would read; she would listen; she could say no more.

[Footnote 129: Noailles to the King of France:
_Ambassades_, vol. ii. p. 147.]

[Footnote 130: Renard to Charles V.: _Rolls House
MSS._]

Mary, at the moment, was delighted. Like a true Catholic, however, she
insisted that obedience must precede faith; come to the mass, she
said, and belief will be the reward of your submission; make your
first trial on the mass of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.[131]

[Footnote 131: Ibid.]

Elizabeth consented. She was present, but present reluctantly;
pretending, as Renard said, to be ill; the next Sunday she was again
absent. The queen, knowing the effect which her conduct would produce,
again sent for her, and asked her earnestly what she really believed;
the world said that, although she had complied once, her compliance
was feigned, and that she had submitted out of fear; she desired to
hear the truth. Elizabeth could reply merely that she had done as the
queen had required her to do, with no ulterior purpose; if her majesty
wished she would make a public declaration to that effect.[132] The
queen was obliged to receive her answer; but she told Renard that her
sister trembled as she spoke, and well, Renard said, he understood her
agitation; she was the hope of the {p.059} heretics, and the
heretics were raising their heads; the Papists, they said, had had
their day, but it was waning; if El