[152]. Though the palace is a crumbling ruin, the door in the garden wall remains.
[153]. This, I am aware, is contrary to the statements of most English historians, and especially of Mr. Froude. The evidence in favour of my view of the King’s attitude is stated in my essay called ‘The Coming of Philip the Prudent,’ in ‘The Year After the Armada’ and other historical essays. Mr. Froude and his predecessors depended too implicitly upon the entirely untrustworthy and biassed accounts sent by Noailles to France, and the similarly inimical Venetian agent’s version.
[154]. ‘The Coming of Philip the Prudent.’
[155]. Ruy Gomez wrote from Richmond, 24th August 1554, to Eraso. ‘The King entertains the Queen excellently, and knows very well how to pass over what is not good in her for the sensibility of the flesh. He keeps her so contented that truly the other day, when they were alone together, she almost made love to him, and he answered in the same fashion. As for these gentlemen (i.e., the English councillors), his behaviour towards them is such that they themselves confess that they have never yet had a King in England who so soon won the hearts of all men.’ MSS. Simancas Estado, 808. In November 1554 Gonzalo Perez wrote to Vasquez: ‘The English are now so civil you would hardly believe it. The kindness and gifts they have received, and are receiving every day, from the King would soften the very stones. The Queen is a saint, and I feel sure that God will help us for her sake.’—MSS. Simancas Estado, 808.
[156]. Ambassades de Noailles, vol. iii. Leyden, 1763.
[157]. It had been announced and was generally believed that Mary was dead, and the citizens were overjoyed to see her in an open litter with Philip and Pole riding by her side.
[158]. Badoero to the Doge. Venetian State Papers. 15th December 1558.
[159]. Michaeli, the Venetian Envoy (‘Calendar of Venetian State Papers’), mentions one extraordinary journey of a courier at this time from Paris to London in twenty-five hours.
[160]. It is related by the Flemish envoy Courteville that on his way through Canterbury he entered the Cathedral with his spurs on, against the rule; and on being charged with this by a student, he paid the fine by emptying his purse of gold in the student’s cap.
[161]. Feria to the King. MSS., ‘Simancas Estado,’ 811.