Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/317

is Jo.] EXCOMMUNICATION OF ELIZABETH. 303 a resolution, that whatever England might say, Mary Stuart should be no Queen of theirs. Every pulpit in Scotland should ring with her enormities. If the Lords and gentlemen interfered they should be excommunicate and held as rotten members unworthy of the society of Christ's body. 1 For the dissatisfaction in Scotland however Eliza- beth cared but little while she felt secure of France ; and even Philip, it now seemed, unless the chance offered itself to revolutionize England, might defy the Pope and his excommunication, and try to bribe over his sister-in-law to himself from her treaty with Charles and Catherine. Towardr Spain the aggressions of the privateers had rather increased than diminished. Elizabeth was well aware that for the safety of the realm against in- vasion she must chiefly depend upon the force which she could keep in the Channel, and that it was safer as well as cheaper to encourage the voluntary action of her subjects than to rely entirely upon her own fleet. In dealing with French ships there had been more or less forbearance ; when the tone of the French Govern- ment was friendly an intimation was sent to the ports to let them pass, but on the whole little difference had been made. The sea- going population regarded Papists generally as their natural enemies and their legitimate prey. Forty or fifty sail corsairs or privateers, ac- cording to the point of view from which they were re- 1 Determination of the General Assembly, July 7 : MSS. Scotland.