been prevented only by Sir William Herbert, who assured him that he was in no danger,[1] and he had remained to oppose Warwick in the treatment of Mary. Unable to effect anything by legitimate opposition, he had listened to suggestions for a general toleration in religion;[2] he had consulted with Lord Arundel on calling a Parliament, and appealing to the country against Warwick by proclamation;[3] and as the design of doing something assumed form, the Duchess of Somerset brought into it her brother Sir Michael Stanhope, and her half-brother Sir Thomas Arundel. Lord Strange was set to work upon the King to induce him to break his engagements with France, and marry Lady Jane Seymour instead. A scheme was formed to arrest and imprison Warwick, Northampton, and Herbert, into which the Earl of Arundel entered eagerly and warmly, and in which Lord Paget was, at least, a silent accomplice. Sir John Yorke, the Master of the Mint, was to be
- ↑ The principal authorities for the story of Somerset's real or supposed conspiracy are the depositions and examinations in the 13th volume of the Domestic MSS. of the reign of Edward VI. State Paper Office; and the entries in Edward's Journal.
- ↑ 'Whether did Sir Miles Partridge or any other give you advice to promise the people their mass, holy water, with such other, rather than to remain so unquieted?'—Questions addressed to the Duke of Somerset: Tytler, vol. ii. p. 48.
- ↑ 'Did it proceed first from yourself or from the Earl of Arundel to have a Parliament? With how many have you conferred for the setting forth of the proclamation to persuade the people to mislike the Government, and specially the doings of the Duke of Northumberland, the Earl of Pembroke, and the Marquis of Northampton, doing them to understand that they went about to destroy the commonwealth, and also had caused the King to be displeased with the Lady Mary's Grace, the King's sister?'—Tytler, vol. ii. p. 48.
