Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/285

1 5 70.] EXCOMMUNICA TION OF ELIZABE TH. 274 plied Elizabeth 1 with loving letters and smooth speeches and cunning presents, and so tempted her, through false confidence, to unlock her cage. 2 Unfortunately for Mary Stuart's prospects she had too many friends. France and Spain both wished her well, but could not trust each other, and neither could trust the Pope. In Scotland, ' some were desperately affected Protestants ; ' 3 some, like Maitland, desired to marry her to Norfolk ; some to a native Scot, a Gordon or a Hamilton. The Cardinal of Lorraine destined her for the Duke of Anjou ; the King of Spain arid Alva saw in such a marriage the death-blow to the Spanish Empire. 4 In England some wished her out of the country, her presence there being so dangerous to the Queen ; others wished to keep her there as heir-presump- tive and Norfolk's wife : Protestants wished it because Norfolk was outwardly a Protestant ; Catholics, because they believed Norfolk to be a Catholic at heart, and to be waiting only for the completion of the marriage to declare himself. Others, again the Catholics proper, who had been persecuted, who had kept up the prac- tice of their faith in foul weather and fair ; the con- spirators of the Northern counties, or those who shared the feelings expressed in the Lincolnshire address to 1 She did not call her Queen. 2 ' Quod ego Elizabethan! literis amanter scriptis, donis affabre factis aliisque symbolis humanitatis datis in araorem benevolentiamquc mei illiciam.' Message from Mary Stuart to the Pope sent though the Bishop of Ross, April 20: LABAN- OFF, vol. iii. 3 George Chamberlain to the Duchess of Feria, April 5 : MSS. Spain, Rolls House. 4 Don Guerau to Philip, April 25 : MSS. Simancaa.