96 



Some Notice of William Herbert, 



into money current according to the established standard — the money 

 so made to be delivered to the said Sir William Herbert, with all 

 such profits as would otherwise have gone to the crown, after 

 deducting the expenses of coining. The profit to Sir William 

 Herbert, beyond the sum which he would have received as a bullion 

 merchant for the 20001b. of silver, was £6709 19.9. ; and immediately 

 afterwards the same privilege was extended to Warwick, Arundell, 

 Southampton, Paget, Dorset, Russell, and Northampton, for an 

 equal sum to be raised by similar means. 1 



The distress and discontent in the country at this time were very 

 great, the popular feeling was in favour of the deposed Protector, 

 but Warwick, who was the soul of the ultra-protestant party, was 

 paramount in the Council. On this point Mr. Froude says, " Lulled 

 by the panegyrics of the Protestants, who saw in them all that was 

 most excellent, most noble, most devout, the lords, or rather, the 

 triumvirate of Warwick, Northampton, and Sir William Herbert, 

 who now governed England, were contented to earn their praises by 

 fine words, by persecuting and depriving bishops inclined to be 

 conservative, and by confiscating and appropriating the estates of 

 the vacated sees." 



Somerset now made a last attempt to regain power. In April of 

 the year 1551, he had been on the point of flying to the northern 

 counties with Lord Grey, to call out the people and place himself at 

 their head, and had only been prevented by Sir William Herbert, 

 who assured him that he was in no danger. The design of taking 

 action, however, assumed form, the Duchess of Somerset invoked the 

 aid of her brother, Sir Michael Stanhope, and her half-brother, Sir 

 Thomas Arundell. A scheme was formed to arrest and imprison 

 Warwick, Northampton, and Herbert, into which the Earl of 

 Arundell entered eagerly and warmly ; but Somerset's mind mis- 

 gave him, and his purposes were vaccillating. First there was a 

 doubt whether Herbert should be included in the arrest ; afterwards, 

 according to one witness, the duke changed his mind, " and would 

 meddle no further with the apprehension of any of the Council, and 



1 Froude's History of England, chap. 26. 



