A little book of prayers, once belonging to Queen Mary is to be seen at the British Museum.[506] Its leaves are worn and thumbed, and it opens of itself at a blurred and tear-stained page, on which is a petition for the unity of the Catholic Church, and another for the safe delivery of a woman with child. These oft-conned prayers afford us a glimpse into the Queen’s heart, which not all the despatches of ambassadors are able to give.
FOOTNOTES:
[445] Santarem, Relations diplomatiques de Portugal, etc., vol. iii., p. 523 et seq.
[446] Papiers d’Etat du Cardinal de Granvelle, vol. iv., p. 257.
[447] Mgr. Namèche, Le Règne de Philippe II., vol. i., p. 7 et seq.
[448] Armand Baschet, La Diplomatie Vénitienne au seixième siècle, p. 239.
[449] “Relations des ambassadeurs sous Charles V et Philippe II,” Le Règne de Philippe II, par Mgr. Namèche, vol. i., p. 7 et seq.
[450] Rawdon Brown, Venetian Calendar, 1534-54, p. 532.
[451] Machyn, Stow, Foxe and others all agree that there were twenty cartloads of bullion.