“Your motion cannot be entertained, good master secretary,” cried the Lord Chancellor, rising, and speaking with much warmth. “It is in direct contradiction of the late king’s will, which you have just sworn to uphold, and which you cannot infringe in any particular without unfaithfulness to your trust. We will have no chief, president, or Lord Protector. No such appointment was contemplated by our late royal master. I defy you to show it. Equal authority was given by him to us all, and I refuse to transfer any portion of mine to another executor, be he whom he may.” And he glanced menacingly at Hertford, who, however, seemed perfectly easy as to the result.
“But if our choice should fall on you, my lord, would your objections to the step be equally strong?” said Sir Richard Rich, another of Hertford’s partisans, rising.
“Ay, marry would they!” rejoined Wriothesley. “I wot well you have no thought of choosing me, Sir Richard; but if you had, you could not lawfully do it, neither would I accept the office of Lord Protector if offered me, knowing it to be contrary to the intentions of our late sovereign lord and master that any one of us should have higher powers than his fellows. You must take the will as it is—not as you would have it.”
“Far be it from me to propose aught contrary to the true intent and meaning of our lamented master’s testamentary injunction,” said Paget; “but despatch of business and the convenience of the government generally require that we should have a head. Otherwise, there will be nothing but perplexity and confusion. Moreover, since the Lord Protector will in reality have no power except such as is derived from us all, I can see no harm in the appointment—but much good. I therefore claim your voices for his Majesty’s elder uncle, the Earl of Hertford, whom I look upon as the fittest person to be our chief. If you consult your own dignity, you will grace him with the title of Lord Protector, and as he is nearest in relationship to the king that now is, and must have his Majesty’s interest at heart more than any other, you cannot do better than appoint him governor of the king’s person during his nonage.”
“It cannot be done, I say,” cried Wriothesley, stamping furiously on the ground. “I will never agree to it—and, at least, the election must be unanimous.”
“Not so, my lord. A plurality of voices will suffice,” rejoined Paget.
“Be calm, I entreat you, my lord,” said Sir Anthony Brown, in a low voice, to the Lord Chancellor. “Your opposition will avail nothing, but your adhesion will make you Earl of Southampton.”
“Ha! say you so?” exclaimed Wriothesley, becoming suddenly appeased, and sitting down.
“Proceed without fear,” whispered Sir Anthony to Paget. “I have stopped the Lord Chancellor’s mouth with an earldom.”
“It is well,” returned the other, in the same tone. Then looking round the assemblage, he added, “If I understand aright, my lords and gentlemen, you all agree with me that it is meet my Lord of Hertford be appointed President of the Council, with the title of Lord Protector of the Realm, and Governor of the King’s Person during his minority. Be pleased to signify your assent by your voices.”
“Hold yet a moment!” interposed the Lord Chancellor, again rising. “Couple with your proposal the condition that the Lord Protector shall do nothing save with the assent of all the other councillors. On that understanding I am content to withdraw my opposition.”
“It is distinctly so understood, my lord, and I thank you for your adhesion,” replied Paget, bowing. “Are all the rest agreed?” he added.
Upon which the others arose, exclaiming with one accord, “that no one was so fit to be Lord Protector as the Earl of Hertford, and that they were well content with the appointment.”
“I meddle not with secular matters,” observed Cranmer, “for the conduct whereof I am little fitted. But feeling well assured that the affairs of the government will be managed with wisdom and ability by my Lord of Hertford; and feeling also certain that no efforts on his part will be spared to purge and purify the Church, and establish the pure doctrines of Christianity, I have given my voice for him.”