Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/381

1583.] EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. 365 will arise. The English will be in a frenzy, the French being their natural enemies, and when so just an object is pretended as the conversion of the people, and the rights of the Scottish Queen, your Majesty will be un- able to interfere on the Queen of England's behalf. 'Well then, to obviate this, and to neutralize the jealousy which cannot but arise between France and Spain, if either of them attempt alone the conquest of England, God has been pleased to introduce the Queen of Scots as a neutral person between us. Other causes besides religion make it desirable both to us and tc France that the Queen of Scots should have this crown. She will put a stop to the mischief which the English have done, and are doing, in Flanders and France also ; only there must be a clear understanding that whoever comes hither at the head of an army, comes with no other object but to set her at liberty, and replant re- ligion. I do not know what is passing between the Catholics here and the Duke of Guise. They say no- thing of it to me ; but the Duke knows them of course being what they are to wish well to himself and his house; and they know him to be the defender, with your Majesty's help, of French orthodoxy. I cannot think therefore that inconvenience can arise from his coming, either to this country or to Scotland. Hather, I think, we should invite him to undertake the enter- prise, there being no other person in whom so many advantages concur. He is the Queen of Scots' near kinsman, and possesses her fullest confidence. He will be himself interested in preventing France from gain-