Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/109

 1572.] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 89. Her Majesty might have legitimately proceeded against her for past attempts upon her crown. Instead of doing so she had befriended and protected her, and the unnatural lady had rewarded her hospitality by fresh conspiracies. Her Majesty considered that she would be sufficiently punished if she was declared unworthy of a place in the succession, and if it was understood that should the Queen of Scots conspire again, ' she should suffer death without further trouble of Par- liament/ The Committee said that for themselves they believed any such measure would be found en- tirely inadequate. To disable the Queen of Scots from the succession would indirectly be an admission of her right, and so far from discouraging either her or her friends, it would make them only move desperate and determined. Experience of Mary Stuart's character had proved that she neither respected law nor feared danger. Threats would not work upon her. She wanted neither wit nor cunning, and ' many would venture deep to win a kingdom/ Her Majesty was supposed to fear the opinion of foreign princes. It was no wise anxiety to think so much of her honour as to lose state, life, and honour also ; and should the Queen of Scots escape, foreign princes would only think that she had been culpably weak. Her adver- saries would consider it a miracle, and no heavier blow could possibly be dealt to the cause of Christ in Europe. The Committee therefore entreated her Ma- jesty ' to deal rather certainly than by chance/ Merely to disable the Queen of Scots would be no more