Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/87

1569.] ENGLISH PARTIES, 73 help lie wished to recover the support of the Catholics, that if he failed to obtain his end in one way he might fall back upon the other. He carried Arundel with' him, and Arundel and Norfolk, besides their feudal command of the entire Eastern Counties, were the natural chiefs to whom the great English families south of the Trent all looked for leadership. Don Guerau, knowing Nor- folk's temper, believed seriously that he was the most desirable husband for Mary Stuart which Spanish or Catholic interests could desire. He recommended Philip to sanction the marriage. 1 He laboured to re- concile the Northern lords to the prospect of it. 2 He commended their zeal, advised them to hold themselves in readiness to rise if an insurrection should prove necessary, and encouraged them with all but direct promises of assistance from Alva. If the Queen could be so far blinded as to allow the marriage to take place, they would obtain all that they desired without being obliged to fight for it. If she proved too wary to be caught, they could fall back upon force at the last mo- 1 'Pienso que es mejor que se haga con voluntad de V. M d que no se podra sacar dcllo a mi parescer sino gran fruto.' Don Guerau to Philip, August 27 : MSS, Simancas. 2 They consented with great re- luctance. The Queen of Scots sent John Leveson to consult the Earl of Northumberland. ' I opened my opinion unto him,' the Earl said afterwards ; ' how much it was mis- liked, not only with me but with sundry others, that, she should bestow herself in marriage with the Duke, for that he was counted to be a Protestant ; and if she ever looked to recover her estate it must be by advancing and maintaining the Ca- tholic faith, for there ought to be no halting in those matters; and if the Duke was a sound Catholic, I would be as glad of that match as any other.' Confession of the Earl of Northumberland, June, 1572: MSS, Border.