1921 IN 1562/3 AND 1566 519 III The following manuscript is a single sheet of paper, the last of what were probably three sheets containing the proposed preamble to the subsidy bill of 1566. Only the third section of the preamble now remains, and this is the first part of the manu- script here printed. Whilst based on the second model draft printed above, it is considerably altered. I think we must regard it as a later draft than the former : its presentation to the queen suggests this ; then it is improbable that its opening passage would have been dropped when once incorporated ; whilst again, the omission of details of the queen's peril which appear in the former draft really strengthens the reminder that the queen had promised to name a successor when opportunity per- mitted. The second part of the manuscript is a brief, but delight- ful comment on the preamble, written in Elizabeth's own hand, at the foot of it. 1 Brit. Mus., Lansdowne MS. 1236, fo. 42. Thyrdly we cannot but also thankefully remember to your maiestye that it pleased the same to signifye unto us that youe did not myslyke of us for our desyre in this parliament to haue the Succession of the Crowne declared, for that youe rightly conceaued the same our desyre to procede from us (as in dede it dyd) of mere dutye and loue towardes your highnes your realmes and countreis and not of any other dysposytyon or pretensed purpose, And signyfyed furder of your godly disposytyon and naturall loue towardes us, to our gret comforte, that rathar than your Realme shold threte ruyn for lack of declaracion of Succession which youe trusted almightye god wold shewe of your owne bodye in due tyme after your maryage, youe wold by godes helpe though it shold apere some perell to your self (which god defende) declare the Succession in soche conuenyent tyme as your highnes with thaduyse of your counsell and assent of your Realme shold thinke most mete in soche person as in whome the right therof accordinge to law and Iustice ought to be settled and remayn to the yoyfull comforte of us all And so hauinge with your maiesties fauor presented to the same in the forefront of our small but a most fre and wyllynge gyft theis our most humble recognytions, we do lykewyse beseche your maiestie to receaue the rest that foloweth as the fructes of our faythefulnes and bounden loue that we beare to your maiestie, and that it may be enacted in forme folowenge. 2 set thes two conceuings into one mening and my counsell is all giuen. let not other[s] regard them selues so holy as I haue no corner left for me. let them knowe that I knewe thogh I folowed not, that some of them wold my pure conscience bettar serued me than ther lewde practises 1 See p. 513, above. 2 Between the close of the preamble and Elizabeth's comment is a brief shorthand note, a later annotation (? Strype's) dating the manuscript.
