Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/333

1565.] THE DARNLEY MARRIAGE. 313 Elizabeth as post after post came in from Scotland lost her breath at the rapidity of the Queen of Scots* movements ; and resolution became more impossible^ as the need-jxf it became more pressing. On receiving the news that the marriage was actually completed she despatched Tarn worth, a gentleman of the bed- chamber, to assure the Queen of Scots that what- ever might be pretended to the contrary she had throughout been sincerely anxious to support her in- terests. The Queen of Scots had not given her the credit which she deserved, and was now ' imagining something else in England to content her fancy, as vain persons sometimes would/ Leaving much to Tain- worth's discretion, she bade him nevertheless let the Queen of Scots see that her present intentions were thoroughly understood. ' She was following the advice of those who were labouring to extirpate out of Scotland the religion received there ; ' the Protestants among her own subjects were to be destroyed 'to gain the favour of the Papists in England ; ' ' so as with the aid that they would hope to have of some prince abroad and from Home also upon pretence of reformation in religion, she might when she should see time attempt the same that she did when she was married to France/ It was not for Elizabeth to say what might happen in Scotland ; ' but for any other device that the Queen of Scots might be fed withal, she might be assured before God she would find all designs, consultations, intelligences, and advices, from wherever they might come to her, far or near, to be vain and deceitful.' Let her relinquish these idle ima- ginings, let her restore Murray to the council and un-