e, whereof it
seemeth that a commission of late sent thither, I
cannot tell whether somewhat rigorously used, may
have given occasion."--Wotton to the Queen, cypher:
_French MSS._, bundle 13, State Paper Office.]

[Footnote 586: Wotton to the Queen, cypher: _French
MSS._, bundle 13, State Paper Office.]

{p.277} The disaffection had penetrated so deeply into the English
garrisons that caution was required in dealing with them; while for
some weeks either the queen disbelieved the danger, or the council
took no steps to obviate it. The Catholic clique had, in fact, not a
soldier among them, and possibly knew not in which direction to turn.
The honour of his country at last recalled Lord Pembroke to the public
service in time to save Calais for a few more months.

By the middle of November eighteen ensigns of French infantry and a
thousand horse were at Abbeville. Dudley, with the refugee fleet, was
in readiness to blockade the harbour, while Henry was to march upon
the town. If possible, he would find the gates open: at all events he
would meet with no protracted resistance. But the move had been
anticipated. Reinforcements and supplies were sent from England, money
was despatched to pay up the arrears of the troops, and Pembroke
himself went over in command.[587] No open inquiry was ventured, but
the suspected persons were quietly removed. The French withdrew, and
the queen's government, through the bad patriotism of the refugees,
recovered a momentary strength.

[Footnote 587: The Council to Philip, November
22nd: _MS. Domestic, Mary_, vol. ix.]

The faint good fortune came opportunely; for in England the harvest
had again failed, and the threat of famine had become the reality. On
the 23rd of December malt was sold in London for forty shillings a
quarter, and white flour at six shillings a bushel. The helpless
remedy was attempted of crying up the base money, but the markets
answered only by a further rise.[588] In the utter misery of the
people, some were feeding upon acorns; some, in London, more
piteously, left their infant children at the doors of their wealthy
neighbours, to save them from starvation.

[Footnote 588: Machyn.]

A famine was considered to be the immediate work of Heaven, and to be
sent for an immediate moral cause. And yet