"The council must be reformed, if possible, and the number diminished; those who remain must be invited to renew their oaths to your majesty. Regard must be had to the navy, and especially to the admiral Lord William Howard; and above all there must be no more of this barbarous precipitancy in putting heretics to death. The people must be won from their errors by gentleness and by better instruction. Except in cases of especial scandal, the bishops must not be permitted to irritate them by {p.200} cruelty, and the legate must see that a better example is set by the clergy themselves.[456] The debts of the crown must be attended to; and your majesty should endeavour to do something which will give you popularity with the masses. Before all things, attend to the succession. [Footnote 456: "Que es choses de la religion l'on ne use de precipitation par punition cruelle, ains avec la moderation, et mansuetude requise, et dont l'eglise a tousjours use; retirant le peuple de l'erreur par doctrine et predication, et que si ce n'est un acte scandaleux l'on ne passe oultre en chastoy que puisse alterer le peuple et le desgouter, que la reformation requise pour le bon example, soit introduicte sur les gens de l'eglise comme le legat advisera pour le mieulx."--Renard to Philip: _Granvelle Papers_, vol. iv. p. 395.] "You cannot set aside the dispositions of King Henry in favour of Elizabeth without danger of rebellion. To recognise her as heir-presumptive without providing her with a husband, who can control her, will be perilous to the queen. The mean course between the extremes, will be therefore, for your highness to bring about her marriage with the Prince of Savoy. It will please the English, provided that her rights of inheritance are not interfered with; and although they will not go to war for our quarrel, they will not in that case be unwilling to assist in expelling the French from Piedmont. "If your majesty approve, the thing can be done without delay. At all events, before you leave the country, you should see the princess yourself; give her your advice to be faithful to her sister, and, on your part, promise that you will be her friend, and assist her where you can find opportunity." {p.201} CHAPTER IV. THE MARTYRS. The protests of Renard against the persecution received no attention.