King Philip, after his marriage, gradually interested himself in her behalf, and exerted his influence to have her released; and Mary's ministers had frequent interviews with her, and endeavored to induce her to make some confession of guilt, and to petition Mary for release as a matter of mercy. They could not, they said, release her while she persisted in her innocence, without admitting that they and Mary had been in the wrong, and had imprisoned her unjustly. But the princess was immovable. She declared that she was perfectly innocent, and that she would never, therefore, say that she was guilty. She would rather remain in prison for the truth, than be at liberty and have it believed that she had been guilty of disloyalty and treason. At length, one evening in May, Elizabeth received a summons to go to the palace and visit Mary in her chamber. She was conducted there by torch-light. She had a long interview with the queen, the conversation being partly in English and partly in Spanish. It was not very satisfactory on either side. Elizabeth persisted in asserting her innocence, but in other respects she spoke in a kind and conciliatory manner to the queen. The interview ended in a sort of reconciliation. Mary put a valuable ring upon Elizabeth's finger in token of the renewal of friendship, and soon afterward the long period of restraint and confinement was ended, and the princess returned to her own estate at Hatfield in Hertfordshire, where she lived some time in seclusion, devoting herself, in a great measure, to the study of Latin and Greek, under the instructions of Roger Ascham. CHAPTER VI. ACCESSION TO THE THRONE 1555-1558 Mary's unhappy reign.--Unrequited love.--Mary's sufferings.--Her religious principles.--Progress of Mary's Catholic zeal.--Her moderation at first.--Mary's terrible persecution of the Protestants.--Burning at the stake.--The title of Bloody given to Mary.--Mary and Elizabeth reconciled.--Scenes of festivity.--The war with France.--Loss of Calais.--Murmurs of the English.--King of Sweden's proposal to Elizabeth.--Mary's energy.--Mary's privy council alarmed.--Their perplexity.--Uncertainty about Elizabeth's future course.--Her cautious policy.--Death of Mary.--Announcement to Parliament.--Elizabeth proclaimed.--Joy of the people.--The Te Deum.--Elizabeth's emotions.--Cecil made secretary of state.--His faithfulness.--Elizabeth's charge to Cecil.--Her journey to London.--Elizabeth's triumphant entrance into the Tower.--The coronation.--Pageants in the streets.--Devices.--Presentation of the Bible.--The heavy purse.--The sprig of rosemary.--The wedding ring.