Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/403

IS7I-] THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 389 himself openly, he might allow his subjects to volun- teer for service in Ireland and Scotland, nor could any just reason be given for his refusal to allow the Bull to be published in his dominions, or for the scandal of the continual residence of his ambassador at the English Court. The heretics boasted that the King of Spain feared the enmity of their sovereign and dared not quarrel with her.' 1 There was nothing in this letter which Philip must not have said often to himself; but the times were growing urgent. His resolution began to fail under the importunities of the Catholic world, and the Pope soon after had an opportunity of assailing him in more regular form. Mary Stuart was evidently one difficulty. Even the Pope would have preferred some nobleman of un- blemished character as the champion of Christ's Church, could any one have been found whom the English Catholics could agree to recognize. This however could not be. It was necessary to make the best of the Queen of Scots, and to rouse Philip out of his slumbers in her favour. From his agent Bidolfi, Pius was incessantly hearing of the number and zeal of his English friends, of Elizabeth's cruelty and their abundant ability to help themselves. Ridolfi declared that all the Peers except four or five were openly or secretly disaffected. The Pope said that he had never heard of a country where the will of the united nobility 1 MS. Simancas, endorsed, ' El | long, and I have been obliged to con- Obispo de Ross.' The letter is very [ dense it.