Painting under Edward V\. and Mary, 219 



fo many prifoners and fo few refources 3 and 

 it gives one very favorable ideas of his 

 being naturally accompliflied, of a fpirit 

 not eafily to be depreffed, when we find that 

 queen Mary no fooner delivered him from 

 his captivity than fhe wifhed to marry him ; 

 and that he, confcious of his great blood 

 and yet void of interefted ambition, de- 

 clined a crown, and preferred the younger 

 fifter, the princefs Elizabeth. For this par- 

 tiality, and on the rifing of tlie Carews in 

 Devonfhire who were flattered with the 

 hopes of this match, the princefs and he 

 were committed to the tower, and accufed 

 by Wyat as his accomplices. Our hif- 

 torians * all rejcft this accufation, and de- 

 clare that Wyat cleared him at his death ; 

 and indeed the earl's gratitude would not 

 have been very fhining, had he plotted to 

 dethrone a princefs \w\\o had delivered him 

 from a prifon and offered him a throne. 

 The Englifh, who could not avoid feeling 

 partiality to this young prince, were pleafed 

 with king Philip, to v/hofe interceiTion they 

 afcribed the fecond releafe of the earl, as well 

 as the fafety of the lady Elizabeth. Courte- 



* See Holinihead, Heylin, and Burnet. 



ney 



