rse for the reimposition of
their late {p.088} tyranny. If the Duke of Northumberland, instead
of setting up a rival to Mary, had loyally admitted her to the throne
which was her right, he might have tied her hands, and secured the
progress of moderate reform. Had the great patriotic anti-papal party
been now able to combine, with no disintegrating element, they could
have prevented the marriage or made it harmless. But the ultra-party
plunged again into treason, in which they would succeed only to
restore the dominion of a narrow and blighting sectarianism.[202]

[Footnote 200: Noailles and d'Oysel to the King of
France, January 15: _Ambassades_, vol. iii.]

[Footnote 201: "Sire, tout maintenant en achevant
cette lettre, les maire et aldermans de Plymouth,
m'ont envoye prier de vous supplier les vouloir
prendre en votre protection, voulans et deliberans
mettre leur ville entre vos mains, et y recepvoir
dedans telle garrison qu'il vous plaira y envoyer;
s'estans resoubz de ne recevoir aulcunement le
Prince d'Espaigne, ne s'asservir en facon que ce
soit a ses commandemens, et s'asseurans que tous
les gentilz-hommes de l'entour d'icy en feroient de
mesme."--Noailles to the King of France:
_Ambassades_, vol. ii. p. 342.]

[Footnote 202: One of the projects mooted was the
queen's murder; a scheme suggested by a man from
whom better things might have been expected,
William Thomas, the late Clerk of the Council.
Wyatt, however, would not stain the cause with dark
crimes of that kind, and threatened Thomas with
rough handling for his proposal.]

The conspirators remained in London till the second week in January.
Wyatt went into Kent, Peter Carew ran down the Channel to Exmouth in a
vessel of his own, and sent relays of horses as far as Andover for
Courtenay, Sir Nicholas Throgmorton undertaking to see the latter thus
far upon his way. The disaffection was already simmering in
Devonshire. There was a violent scene among the magistrates at the
Christmas quarter-sessions at Exeter. A countryman came in and
reported that he had been w