Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/330

316 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54. changed instead of cannon shot. The English Admiral went on board the Royal vessel and presented the Princess with a diamond which had been given by Philip to Queen Mary ; and the Erench ambassador was driven sorrowfully to conclude that there was no ill-will between the Catholic Xing and his heretic sister-in-law, and that Spain and England would soon compose their differ- ences. 1 The English Ministers themselves yielded to the pleasant hope that perhaps it might be so. Hi- dolfi, the Pope's agent, the most passionate firebrand in Europe, volunteered his services for the exchange of the arrested ships and property ; and so plausible was he that even the acute Walsingham recommended Hi- dolfi to Cecil as a person in whom he might confidently rely. 2 Meantime Scotland was seething and fermenting in the expectation of the Queen of Scots' return. Both parties denounced Elizabeth the Protestants for her breach of promise, the rest for the insulting and impe- rious attitude which she had assumed towards their country ; yet all were persuaded that the Queen was really coming back ; and the only question was whether Elizabeth was to dictate the conditions, or whether the restoration was to be forced upon her with a high hand. ^ Commissioners from both King and Queen had been required to come to London where they could be heard upon their several claims ; but neither party had been 1 La Mothe, October 10. 8 Walsingham to Cecil, October 22 : MSS. Domestic.