Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 5.djvu/489

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1554.]
RECONCILIATION WITH ROME.
469

why the opposition should persevere; if he chose to go, his departure could be endured.[1]

So keen was the debate that there was not so much as a Christmas recess. Christmas-day was kept as a holyday. On the 26th the struggle began again, and, fortunately, clouds had risen between the House of Commons and the Court. Finding more difficulty than he expected in embroiling England with France, Philip, to feel the temper of the people, induced one of the peers to carry a note to the Lower House to request an opinion whether it was not the duty of a son to assist his father. An answer was instantly returned that the question had been already disposed of by the late Parliament in the marriage treaty, and the further discussion of it was unnecessary.[2] Secretary Bourne, at the instigation of Gardiner, proposed to revive the claims on the pensions; but he met with no better reception. And

  1. 'Le parlement faict instance que, en statut de la dicte obedience la dicte dispense soit inserée, ce que le dict cardinal ne veult admettre, á ce que ne semble la dicte obedience avoir este rachetée; et est passée si avant la dicte difficulté que le dict cardinal a déclaré qu'il retourneroit plutôt a Rome et delaisseroit la chose imparfaite que consentir á chose contre l'auctorité dudict S. Siége, et de si grande préjudice.'—Renard to the Emperor, December: Granvelle Papers, vol. iv.
  2. 'Ces jours passez, il y eust ung personnaige de la haulte chambre, auquel il sembla pour ne perdre temps debvoir porter, (comme il fist) un billette á, la basse par laquelle il mettait en advant s'il n'estoit pas raisonnable que le filz secourust le pére, voullant dire de ce roy a l'Empereur. Ce qui fut si bien recueilly du tiers estat, si promptment et avecques grande raison respondu, comme par le dernier parlement et le traité de mariaige d'entre ce roy et royne cela avoit esté et estoit tellement considéré, qu'il n'estoit plus besoign mettre telles cboses en advant pour les faire entrer á la guerre.'—Noailles to the King of France: Ambassades, vol. iv. p. 76.