Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/369

THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 355 in the cause. 1 Beyond this simple message the new ambassador was left to his own discretion, to feel his way at the Court and report on what he found. Mary Stuart and her cause created scarcely less embarrassment in Paris than in London. Lord Seton's mission to the Duke of Alva had excited the most violent displeasure. A revolution in England in Spanish in- terests was a catastrophe of which the very thought was unendurable, while a permanent league between England and Scotland, and the education of the Prince at the Court of Elizabeth, were almost equally distasteful. The Royal Family was divided. Anjou was restive and ambitious. He had distinguished himself in the war, he was discontented with his position as a subject, and he had liked well the adventurous prospect held out to him in England. At the instigation of the Cardinal of Lorraine, he thought of proposing directly for Mary Stuart's hand, and it was supposed that although she was binding herself by the most solemn engagements not to think of him, her promises would be no obstacle to her acceptance of his overtures. 2 Jealous of his brother's schemes, and afraid that with his popularity among the Catholics, Anjou as Mary Stuart's husband would be dangerous to himself, Charles said significantly 1 Instructions to Walsingham, Auffustn : DIGGES'S bassador. Compare La Mothe, August 14. 2 ' Tras esto se cierto que el Duque de Anjou ha de enviar un criado suyo a hablar con la dicha Reyna de Escocia, y saber si su voluntad seria de casarse con el. Podra ser que la Reyna no viniese mal en ello, pero a la mayor parte de los Ingleses por ahora no les aplace, ni a mi tan poco.' Don Guerau to Philip, October 15 : MSS. Simancas.