Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/375

1 5 65 . ] THE DARNLE Y MARRIA GE. 355 this woman is, I desire never to be reputed but the vilest villain alive/ l ' The lords/ concluded Bedford, scornfully, ' abandoned by man and turned over to God, must now do the best they can for themselves.-' And what that was, what fruit would have grown from those strokes of diplomatic genius, had Mary Stuart been equal to the occasion, Elizabeth would ere long have tasted in deposition and exile or death. Randolph, faithful to the end, might say and unsay, might promise and withdraw his word, and take on himself the blame of his mistress's changing humour ; Bedford, with ruin full in view before him, might pro- mise at all risks ' to obey her bidding.' But the lords of Scotland were no subjects of England, to be be- trayed into rebellion in the interests of a country which they loved with but half their hearts, and when danger came to be coolly * turned over to God.' Murray might forgive, for Murray's noble nature had no taint of self in it ; but others could resent for him what he himself could pardon. Argyle, his brother-in-law, when he heard of that scene in London, bade Randolph tell his mistress ' he found it very strange ; the Queen of Scots had made him many offers, and till that time he had refused them all ; if the Queen of England would re- consider herself he would stick to the English cause and fight for it T^ith lands and life ; but he demanded an answer within ten days. If she persisted he would make terms with -his own sovereign/ 2 The ten days 1 Randolph to Leicester, November 8 : Ibid. 2 Randolph ito Cecil, November 19.