Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/188

 i68 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [en. 58. English Catholics. 1 If they undertake the reformation of our country, they will win the admiration not only of the English, but of all people everywhere who favour the cause of religion. When they have begun the w r ork, it will be small honour to the Catholic King to follow suit with them ; and, if he is prudent, he will not leave the entire field for them to occupy. After all the hopes which, for fourteen years, have been fixed upon his Majesty, it will be strange indeed to see another step in and do the work, and that other one from whom, four months ago, no one expected anything. In j ustice and reason, the Queen of Scots and her subjects will be most obliged to those who are the first to help them. The French Cardinals at Rome are now certain that their own people will take the initiative, and they count on securing the whole advantage to themselves. For our own part, we can but hope that his Catholic Ma- jesty will forestall them, for his interest's sake as much as for his honour. ' The pretended Queen of England is endeavouring to place the government of Scotland in the hands of the Earl of Morton, who murdered the Secretary and the late King. Through his means, Cecil looks to get posses- sion of the Prince ; and not Cecil, but the other, 2 will make an end of the good Queen. This once done, the French will carry all before them. As long as the Queen of 1 ' Bien entiende su Mag d las re- soluciones presurosas y las execu- tiones cabe$a abaxo naturalmente in la nation Fran^esa ; su reputation ahora es grande con la Sede Apos- tolica, y su credito gi-ande con todos los Catolicos de nuestra nation.' 2 ' El otro que Cecil.' I sup- pose this means Morton.