Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/22

 2 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. |_CH. 57- The Government was thus warned to prepare ; yet it was not easy to determine on the measures which it would be wise to adopt. The Queen could not order a general arrest of the aristocracy ; and disaffection in a greater or less degree existed over the whole country. The upper classes were deeply opposed to the revolu- tionary Protestantism which Cecil and his friends were supposed to desire to introduce among them, and were agitated with a fear, which amounted to a disease, of a disputed succession after Elizabeth's death. She could not throw herself on the patriotism of the nation, as her father did when Pole was preaching a crusade. In the absence of any distinct act which could be openly charged against Mary Stuart, it was unsafe to take her out of the hands of Lord Shrewsbury. What- ever doubts might be entertained of Shrewsbury's fidelity, Elizabeth thought it necessary to her position to be still able to tell Europe that the Queen of Scots was residing with a nobleman notoriously favourable to her. JN"or could Cecil, with his utmost efforts, succeed in tracing the conspiracy distinctly to any English subject. As successive fragments of information came to his hands, he sent again and again for the Bishop of Ross, to cross- question and threaten him ; but, although the brought to England circuitously through the Duke of Florence. 4 Un Erabajador que estaba en Anvers descubrio la naisma platica y negociacion de Ridolfo, y todas sus instrucciones y advertencias, que di6 al Duque de Florencia su senor, el qual lo escribio muy a. la larga a la Reyna de luglaterra. ' Avisos de Londres a Don Guerau de Espes MSS, Simancas.