cember, the session ended in a
dissolution. The same day a dead dog was thrown {p.078} through the
window of the presence chamber with ears cropped, a halter about its
neck, and a label saying that all the priests in England should be
hanged.

Renard, who, though not admitted, like Noailles, into the confidence
of the conspirators, yet knew the drift of public feeling, and knew
also Arundel's opinion of the queen's prospects, insisted that Mary
should place some restraint upon herself, and treat her sister at
least with outward courtesy; Philip was expected at Christmas, should
nothing untoward happen in the interval; and the ambassador prevailed
on her, at last, to pretend that her suspicions were at an end. His
own desire, he said, was as great as Mary's that Elizabeth should be
detected in some treasonable correspondence; but harshness only placed
her on her guard; she would be less careful, if she believed that she
was no longer distrusted. The princess, alarmed perhaps at finding
herself the unconsenting object of dangerous schemes, had asked
permission to retire to her country house. It was agreed that she
should go; persons in her household were bribed to watch her; and the
queen, yielding to Renard's entreaties, received her when she came to
take leave with an appearance of affection so well counterfeited, that
it called out the ambassador's applause.[178] She made her a present
of pearls, with a head-dress of sable; and the princess, on her side,
implored the queen to give no more credit to slanders against her.
They embraced; Elizabeth left the court; and, as she went out of
London, five hundred gentlemen formed about her as a voluntary
escort.[179] There were not wanting fools, says Renard, who would
persuade the queen that her sister's last words were honestly spoken;
but she remembers too acutely the injuries which her mother and
herself suffered at Anne Boleyn's hands; and she has a fixed
conviction that Elizabeth, unless she can be first disposed of, will
be a cause of infinite calamities to the realm.[180]

[Footnote 178: "La Reine a tres bien dissimulee, en
son endroict."--Renard to Charles V., December 8:
_Rolls House MSS._]

[Footnote 179: Noailles.]

[Footnote 180: Renard to Charles V., December 8:
_Rolls House MSS._]

{p.079} CHAPTER II.

THE SPANISH MARRIAGE.

The fear