Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/82

62 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 57. would not have done. 1 She had required an acknowledg- ment that she stood next to her Majesty in the succession to the crown, and the English nobility had made the same demand in her name. She was willing to give all necessary securities for the Queen of England's safety, and they could then be friends instead of enemies.' 2 Even this language failed to irritate Elizabeth into severity. It seemed as if she desired by the extremity of forbearance to wear out the interest of English gentlemen in Mary Stuart's fate and fortunes to give her scope and rope to convince the most fanatic and incredulous of the real character of the idol on which their hearts were set. And as it was with 'the Queen of Scots, so it was with Scotland. The failure at Stirling and the death of Lennox con- tinued to weaken further the failing strength of Mary Stuart's party. The Regency had fallen to the Earl of Mar, who was personally popular. The murder of the father of Darnley had reawakened the higher conscience of the people, and the Hamilton s, compromised in each of the three great crimes of the past years, became more and more detested. The slightest action, or even a purpose decidedly announced on the part of England, would have completed their overthrow. The Castle of Edinburgh would have surrendered, and the unfortunate Scotland, for two years now given over to anarchy, would have been restored to order and peace. 1 i.e. ratify the treaty of Leith. 2 Declaration of Mary Stuart, February 14, abridged : LAIIANOFF, vol iv