Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/99

1563.] THE ENGLISH AT HA VRE. 79 ' You will ascertain what support the Scots can count upon in England, and you will not prevent them from increasing their party ; but you will not involve your- self with any particular person further than you have already done. Let them do the work by themselves, let them gain what friends they can among the Catho- lics and others whom they trust. It anytnmg is dis- covered it must be their affair and not mine. ' As for what you say of the dependence of the English Catholics upon me, I am anxious to do the very utmost which I can for them. You will animate and console them as usual ; only of all things in the world you must be careful not to let your own hand be seen. You know what would follow. ' I am very sorry for the Act which the Queen has obtained from Parliament against those who will not accept her as Head of the Anglican Church. The bishops and other Catholics are now in danger of death. They have begun already, you tell me, with the Bishop of London. . ' I am glad to hear that the Emperor has remon- strated, though I fear it will do little good. I have myself also written to the Queen ; and you will yourself do and say whatever promises to be most effective to make them change their purpose. I know that I can depend on you in this, feeling as you do so acutely about it.' l 1 Ferdinand, immediately on the passing of the Act, wrote to beg that the Catholic bishops. The ingenuity of the lawyers might have been less no violence might be used towards i successful had not Elizabeth been