Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/425

1 5 74-1 THE SPANISH TREATY. 405 gion/ l Liberality would have been the simplest economy. If Scotland became again disturbed, Walsingham pointed out to her, that her own expenses on the Border would be increased five-fold. ' The League/ he argued, ' was more necessary for her than for Morton, since no one would assail Scotland except with a view to England/ ' The amity now offered her was one which, unoffered, was in due policy most necessary to be sought for. It was a thing which her predecessors, who stood not in like need of Scotland's friendship, would have re- deemed with any treasure/ If she refused, and if harm followed, ' the burden of the error would be cast upon her Majesty for rejecting the advice of her council/ 2 It will be remembered that in the first alarm after the massacre of St Bartholomew, there had been an in- tention of sending Mary Stuart home to be tried and executed for her husband's murder ; the Scots had required that Elizabeth should openly share the respon- sibility ; and ' the great matter/ as it was called in the diplomatic correspondence, passed off. The idea in its extreme form was abandoned ; but she was still anxious that her guest should be removed, and that if she was not put to death, Scotland should bear the burden of keeping her. When Morton made his proposals for a league, Philip's disposition was still dubious; France could not be relied upon ; and although the Queen would not give money or commit herself openly, she sent Sir 1 Morton to Elizabeth, January 21, 1574: MSS. Scotland. 2 Walsingham to the Queen, March 20: JK/SS. Ibid.