Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/343

 IS73-J THE SPANISH TKEA TV. 323 country's sake rather tlian her own, Elizabeth concealed the dreariness of her life from herself, in the society of these human playthings, who flattered her faults ant! humoured her caprices. She was the more thrown upon them because in her views of government she stood equally alone, and among abler men scarcely found one to sympathize with her. She appears in history the Champion of the Reformation, the first Protestant Sovereign in Europe, but it was a position into which she was driven forward in spite of herself, and when she found herself there, it brought her neither pride nor pleasure. In her birth she was the symbol of the revolt from the Papacy. She could not reconcile herself with Rome without condemning the marriage from which she sprung ; but her interest in Protestantism was limited to political independence. She mocked at Cecil and new doctrines, only when the Scots or the Dutch were necessary to her, or when religion could serve as an excuse to escape an unwelcome marriage. When the Spanish ambassador complained of the persecution of her Majesty's favour, conform your- self and satisfy her request, which, if you list to do, no doubt the Queen is so inclined to good as I trust she will not only forget what is past and spare your journey, but also thank- fully accept your doing herein. Thus all things may be pacified, which I will gladly bring to pass. Her Ma- jesty shall receive pleasure, her serv- ants preferment and some profit, and yourself honour and long com* fort. Your loving friend, II. NORTH. 4 November 20, 1576.' Comment would be thrown away upon this letter. It is among the MSS. at Hatfield, and endorsed by Burghley, to whom the Bishop pro- bably sent it.
 * his brothers in Christ.' She affected an interest in the