Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/278

258 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. ceedings.' She neither approved nor disapproved, but said nothing. As usual she let him go his own way, and left herself free to disclaim the responsibility if his policy failed. 1 He hoped however that the severity would tell. If presidencies could be established in the provinces with sufficient force, he thought that * the country would now receive whatsoever print should be stricken into it ; ' but the opportunity ought not to be lost. ' If the iron were allowed to cool, it might be found steel.' The people were headstrong, and l if the curb was loosed but one link, they would have the bit in their teeth/ 2 The truth of the words came home to him even > feooner than he expected. Ever fluctuating between two policies, adopting for months or years the most cruel measures of repression, and then in despairing economy withdrawing the means by which military ascendency could be maintained, Elizabeth's Government succeeded only in lashing the nation into madness. From Ireland itself came the most opposite advices ; and to Ireland's misery the various physicians were each allowed to try their remedies. 1 Absoluteness of power,' wrote one, ' combined to so many respects and considerations beside the law, will make England weary of this land. I wish the English countries were governed by law and not by captaincy, ordering all things by the discretion of such as cannot discern right from wrong. The counties 1 Sidney to the English Council, i 2 Sidney to Cecil, June 4 : MSS. May 4, 1570 : MSS. Ireland. Ibid. . it