in the Tower.

"And is your having known him in the Tower," she cried, "a reason that
you should think him a fitting husband for me? I will never, never
marry him--that I promise you--and I am a woman of my word; what I say
I do."

"Choose where you will," Gardiner answered, "your majesty's consort
shall find in me the most obedient of his subjects."

Mary had now the bit between her teeth, and, resisting all efforts to
check or guide her, was making her own way with obstinate resolution.

The next point was the succession, which, notwithstanding the humour
of parliament, should be re-arranged, if force or skill could do it.
There were four possible claimants after herself, she told Renard, and
in her own opinion the best title was that of the Queen of Scots. But
the country objected, and the emperor would not have the English crown
fall to France. The Greys were out of the question, but their mother,
the Duchess of Suffolk, was eligible; and there was Lady Lennox, also,
Darnley's mother, who perhaps, after all, would be the best choice
that could be made.[175] Elizabeth, she was determined, should never,
never succeed. She had spoken to Paget about it, she said, and Paget
had remonstrated; Paget had said marry her to Courtenay, recognise her
as presumptive heir, and add a stipulation, if necessary, that she
become a Catholic; but, Catholic or no Catholic, she said, her sister
should never reign in England with consent of hers; she was a heretic,
a hypocrite, and a bastard, and her infamous mother had been the cause
of all the calamities which had befallen the realm.

[Footnote 175: Renard to Charles V., November 28:
_Rolls House MSS._]

Even Renard was alarmed at this burst of passion. He had fed Mary's
suspicions till they were beyond either his control or her own; and
the attitude of parliament had lately shown him that, if any step were
taken against Elizabeth without provocation on her part, it would
infinitely increase the difficulty of concluding the marriage. He was
beginning to believe, and he ventured to hint to the queen, that
Paget's advice might be worth consideration; but on this subject she
would listen to nothing.

{p.077} Elizabeth had hitherto, when at court, taken precedence of
all other ladies. The queen now compelled her to walk behind Lady
Lennox and the Duchess of Suffolk, as a sign of the meditated
change;[176] and the ladies of the court were afraid