484 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 56. be better, on all accounts, to give it at once the com- plexion of a war of liberation. When the fighting was once begun, he assured himself that the pride of France would be roused, and the Huguenots would be strong enough to prevent the desertion which Cecil anticipated.
- Another dangerous sore/ he said, ' would be remedied
also ; ' for France, in return for the alliance, would abandon once for all the cause of the Queen of Scots. Members of the French council, in conversation with him on the subject, had confessed ' that Mary Stuart had made herself unworthy of government;' that Elizabeth ' had shown rare favour to her ; ' ' that their King for the future would forbear to recommend her ; ' and that in fact, 'his former recommendation of her cause proceeded rather for manners' sake to content others than of affection of his own, being by him thought guilty of so horrible crimes/ 1 If, on the other hand, ' the league went not forward/ the reconciliation of Spain and France 'would come about another way;' the toleration edicts would not be observed ; ' religion would be clean overthrown ; ' ' the House of Guise would bear the sway, who would be as forward in preferring the conquest of Ireland, and the advancement of their niece to the crown of England, as the other side was bent to prefer the conquest of Flanders.' 2 The arguments were evenly balanced ; but in Cecil's mind the prospect every way was almost desperate- desperate, not through its inherent difficulty, but from 1 Walsingham to Cecil, August 3 : MSS. France. 2 Walsiugham to Cecil, September 26 : MSS. France.
