2.

Calendar of State Papers, Spanish,

Page 594.

[Nov. 11, 1566.] The members of Parliament who had met, as I wrote your Majesty on the 4th inst., resolved the same day to petition the Queen by common consent to deal with the matter of the succession. She summoned them the next day to give them her reply, and made them a long speech, pointing out the dangers that might result therefrom to the peace and order of the country. This she enforced by examples, and said she was not surprised at the members of the Lower Chamber treating this matter like inexperienced school-boys . . . but she marvelled greatly that the Lords had concurred. . . .

She told me that many of them [members of Parliament] had asked pardon, saying they had no intention of offending her, but rather of serving her, seeing that the members of her Council who had spoken first, had requested that the matter of the succession should be taken in hand. . . . I told her I understood that the members of the Lower House, notwithstanding the answer given to them, again wanted to bring up the matter, and I was surprised at the rashness and insolence they exhibited. . . . She said that I was right, but she had sent them an order not to discuss the matter under pain of punishment for disobedience, and that all had now obeyed. . . .

Page 596.

[Nov. 13th. The Same to the Same.] . . . The Queen seeing that they were determined to carry on the discussion about the succession, sent them an order not to do so, but as after the order was written it was understood that the members thought that during the sittings they had full liberty to treat upon matters beneficial to the country, they have greatly resented the order, and I am told that the Council have used their efforts with the Queen to allow Parliament to discuss freely this and other matters, since the confirmation of their acts rests with her. . . .

Page 598.

[Nov. 25th. The Same to the Same.]

Notwithstanding the Queen’s orders to Parliament, respecting their discussion of the succession, and a more recent order that they should not even discuss her prohibitions, or enquire as to whether they were a violation of the privileges of Parliament, they have nevertheless been discussing this last prohibition, although it was thought they would not do so. I am told that the insolence of these heretics, and their hankering after liberty in everything, is greatly disgusting the Queen. . . .

Since writing the above, I have been informed that the Queen sent to Parliament to-day, saying, that notwithstanding the orders she had given for them not to discuss the succession, it was not her intention to deprive them of the freedom of speech conferred by their privileges. It is believed thaw an arrangement has been made that they shall refrain from further considering the succession, and will content themselves with vindicating the freedom of Parliamentary discussion.

Page 603.

[Dec. 16th. The Same to the Same.]

I was with the Queen yesterday, and to draw her out, said amongst other things, that now that supplies had been voted, she should take means to close Parliament. . . . She said . . . she would try to have it closed before Christmas, although the members had begun to deal with religious affairs, which were quite foreign to their business.