Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/101

15 72.J THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. Si consenting to write an autograph letter under the great seal of France, construing the language of the treaty as the English desired. The Scottish question was post- poned to a more convenient season, the two Govern- ments agreeing to act in concert about it ; l and on the 1 9th of April, the treaty so much dreaded by the Catholics between France and England was sealed and signed the Queen of Scots,, to the dismay of her friends, being passed over in silence. 2 Would it hold ? that was the question : without the guarantee of the marriage, there were doubts whether it was worth the parchment on which it was written. No sooner were the terms agreed on, than Montmorency, the heir to the name and policy of the great Constable, ' a lover of England as much as any in France,' was sent over with de Foix to receive the ratification of Eliza- beth ; and at the same time, for the closer union of the two countries, and for the welfare of Christendom, to make a formal offer of the Due d'Alencon, and sue at the Queen's feet for the alliance with which she had so long been trifling. The choice of Montmorency for such a mission removed from the proposal all appearance of sectarianism. The marriage was not sought in the interest of the Huguenots, but in the interest of the free spirit in France, which was struggling to check the 1 ' Consideration of the matters of Scotland, how the same may he ordered to the contentation hoth of France and England, March 28,' in Burghley's hand : MSS. Scotland. 2 ' En la dicha liga no se trata VOL. x. nada de la restitucion 6 lihertad de la Reyna de Escocia, por lo qual parece que ella quedarfi. como pri- soniera en Inglaterra.' Avisos de Inglaterra: MSS. Simancas.