RE1GX OF ELIZABETH. ten. 57 With these precautions, and with the gauntlet as it were flung down to Catholic Europe, Westminster Hall was once more prepared for a trial for High Treason. On the 1 6th of January, at half-past eight in the morn- ing, Lord Shrewsbury, with the Peers, Judges, and Lords of the council, took their places ; a lane was formed through the crowd at the lower part of the hall, and the Duke was led in between the Lieutenant of the Tower and Sir Peter Carew ; the Tower Cham- berlain following with the axe reversed. The Duke was not so wholly degenerate but that in public and on great occasions he could bear himself in a manner worthy of his blood ; as he came forward to the bar he ran his eyes rapidly over the noblemen who were to try him, bit his lip, and drew himself haughtily up. The indictment charged him with conspiring the deposition and- death of the Queen, with having en- deavoured to bring foreign armies into England, to change the Government, and alter the religion estab- lished in the realm ; with having sought to marry the Queen of Scots, knowing that she laid claim to the should not once have an end of the mischief and hurt that she hath hitherto brought, I know one expe- dient that shall soon make an end of this debate. Her Majesty shall fol- low the advice of her council, the wise men of her realm. She shall take her head from her shoulders as justly she may do. 'This appalled them so much, they had no more to say but that they thought better of the Queen's clemency and gentleness than so, al- though they could not deny that the Scotch Queen had deserved no such thing at her Majesty's hands, and they thought her guilty of all that was laid to her charge.' Sir T. Smith to Burghley, January 17: MSS. France.
