Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/265

I570.J EXCOMMUtfICA TION OF ELIZABETH. 251 that Elizabeth's consent had been obtained to these measures, nor till the troops were actually over the Border could Cecil feel assured that the order would not be revoked. The English Court below the surface was seething with intrigue, and the base influence of the Queen's favourites was at work perpetually to undo or neutralize the counsels of her statesmen. On the breaking up of the conference at Dalkeith, Mary Stuart's friends had been as busy as the King's. The temper of Scotland was in many ways unfavourable to the English alliance. The demand for the extra- dition of the refugees had touched the pride of the country ; and in the general ill-humour, to invite or sanction an English invasion would be construed into national treason. So long as Elizabeth withheld the recognition of James, she deprived Morton of the soli- tary pretence with which he could accept the assistance of the detested Saxons, and she took from him and his party the only ground on which they could confidently rely upon her promises. They knew, and all Scotland knew, that Elizabeth was not Cecil. They knew that she had a perpetual secret leaning to a weak and yield- ing policy, and they had seen, in her treatment of Mur- ray, with what indifference she could fling over her most faithful adherents, if it became convenient to disown and desert them. Randolph was obliged to report that 'the remedy offered by his mistress was so little ac- counted as though she was not worthy to be esteemed a friend ; ' and meanwhile Argyle and Maitland, pretend- ing still, and not without reason, that they and not the