Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/118

9 REIGN OF E LIZ ABE 777 [' 1 1. 4 1 . expected however to hear some person mimed as the husband desired for her. ' You have more to tell me/ she said, ' let me hear all/ Randolph answered that his commission extended no further. Lord Argyle approached the bed. 'My Lord/ she said to him, ' Randolph here would have me marry in England. What say you ? ' ' Is the Queen of England become a man ? ' said Argyle. ' Who is there, my Lord/ said she, ' that you would wish me to marry ? ' ' Whoever your Majesty can like well enough/ the Earl answered. '-I would there was so noble a man in England as you could like/ 'That would not please the Hamiltons/ said the Queen. ' If it please God and be good for your Majesty's country/ Argyle rejoined, ' what matter it who is dis- pleased ? ' She passed the subject off. 1 She dismissed Randolph without an answer, and weeks passed before she sent for him again. He spoke to Murray and Maitland, to all those lords who were under the deepest obligations to England, but they were cold and reserved. ' The Lord everlasting bring it to pass/ he wrote to 1 Randolph to Cecil, December 13, December 21, and December 30: Scotch MSS. Eolls House.