Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/127

1569.] THE RISING OF THE NORTH. 113 be concealed. Dacres and Northumberland, ' seeing small hopes of success, were desirous to put off the matter/ but many of the gentlemen being 'hot and earnest/ cursed the Duke and their unlucky connection with him, and, careless whether he lived or died, ' re- solved to stir notwithstanding.' The lords were obliged to seem to yield. As Norfolk had turned coward, they were no longer tied by other considerations : they could now change their cry; and when Westmoreland in- quired what ' the quarrel was to be ? ' there was 9 general shout, ' for religion.' Lord Westmoreland made an objection curiously characteristic of the times. 6 Those/ he said, ' that seem to take that quarrel in other countries are counted as rebels, and I will never blot my name, which has been preserved thus long without staining.' l ' A scruple ' rose, ' whether by God's law they might wage battle against an anointed Prince, until he or she was lawfully excommunicated by the Head of the Church.' Three priests were present, to whom the question was referred. One, a Doctor Morton, by whom North- umberland had been reconciled two years before, said that, as the Queen had refused to receive the Pope's Nuntio, she was excommunicated then and there by her own act. The other two thought direct rebellion unlawful ' until the sentence had been orderly published within the realm.' 2 1 Confession of the Earl of Northumberland : MSS. Border. 2 Ibid. VOL. IX. 8