Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/70

56 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 52. Scots, would set her at liberty at last without any con- ditions at all. With such an impression of her charac- ter they might well think that to marry Mary Stuart to some loyal English nobleman was the wisest course which could be pursued. Finding the Queen in such a humour, the council held a secret meeting without her knowledge. Cecil probably was present, for the report of the proceedings is endorsed in his hand. They sent for the Bishop of Ross, and desired him to submit to the Queen of Scots the following questions : i. Whether she would wholly refer herself and her cause to the Queen of England ? 1. Whether she would satisfy and assure the Queen's Majesty in all things concerning her title to the crown ? 3. Whether she would cause the same religion pro- fessed in England to be established in Scotland by Par- liament ? 4. Whether the league between Scotland and France should be dissolved, and an assured perpetual league be made between England and Scotland ? 5. Whether touching her marriage with the Duke of Norfolk, which had been moved by the Earl of Murray and Lidington, she would wholly refer herself to the Queen's Majesty, and therein do as she would have her, and as her Majesty did like thereof willing that all things should be done for her Majesty's surety which might be best devised by the whole council P 1 These inquiries were conceived in a spirit of un- 1 Heads and articles of certain I nobility of England, June, 1569 conferences had with some of the I MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS.