Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/46

26 REIGN OF ELIZABETH, [cir. 41 beth was as incapable as Philip of a sudden movement, and she had no desire to exchange her quarrel with the Guises which after all might be peaceably composed for a declared war with a united France. She knew that she had not deserved the confidence of the Hugue- nots, and she had already reason to fear that they might turn against her. The day after the battle of Dreux, Throgmorton, un- able to rejoin the Admiral, was brought in as a prisoner into the Catholic .camp. The Duke of Guise sent for him, and after a long and conciliatory conversation on the state of France, spoke deprecatingly of the injustice of Elizabeth's suspicions of himself and his family, and indicated with some distinctness that if she would with- draw from Havre Calais should be given up to her. 1 Elizabeth, catching at an intimation which fell in with her private wishes, replied with a promise ' that nothing should be done in Parliament to the displeasure of the Queen of Scots.' Mary Stuart had recovered credit by her expedition to the north ; and her confidence in Elizabeth's weakness again revived: not indeed that Elizabeth was really either weak or blind, but in consti- tutional irresolution she was for ever casting her eye over her shoulder, with the singular and happy effect of 1 ' If they cannot accord among themselves, then I perceive they mind to treat with you favourably, and I believe to satisfy your Majesty about Calais, provided that from henceforth you do no more aid the Prince and the rebels.' Throgmor- ton to Elizabeth, January 3 : Con- n-ay MSS. 'These men have two strings to their bow to accord with the Prince and to accord with her Ma- jesty also ; but not with both at once to both's satisfactions.' Throg- morton to Cecil, January 3 : FOUBES, vol. ii.