Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/438

REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60. interfere. If Guise, as report said that he intended, came to the assistance of Don John, Elizabeth decided to send over an army, and Leicester meant to be its leader. 1 War in England was now universally looked for, and as a first object each party desired to secure the person of James of Scotland. Mary Stuart, through the Archbishop of Glasgow, endeavoured to have him carried to France. 2 De Guaras wrote again and again to Philip that it would be an advantage if he could be taken to Spain. 3 Killigrew went to Edinburgh to re- cover the lost opportunity and induce Morton to send him into England. Elizabeth for once was sailing a straight course. The tide might soon change, but while her alarm lasted she was really determined. The diffi- culty was in the temper of the States, where patriotism and religion were dragging in opposite directions. The majority of the people wished to make Orange Dictator. The Walloon nobles and the priests hated the Spaniards, but they hated Protestantism worse. England had many enemies who, as Davison wrote, 4 ' would be ready 9 l 'My Lord of Leicester comes over as general of all the men which her Majesty shall send to the Low Countries. This is his full determin- ation, as yet unknown to her High- ness. Neither shall she he acquainted with it till she be fully resolved to send, which will not he till the Prince of Orange send hack again. Thus if she understand the Duke of Guise come to assist Don John she will assist the States with 10,000 men.' Edward Cheeke to Secretary Davi- son, September 19, 1577 : MS 8. f landers. 2 The Queen of Scots to the Arch- bishop of Glasgow, November 5, 1577 : LABANOFF, vol. iv. 3 Cartas de A. de Guaras desci- fradas, September 20, 28, October 4 ; MSS. Simancas. 4 Davison had been sent to re- side with the Prince of Orange.