Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/531

 I 5 8o.] THE ALEN<^ON MARRIAGE. The approaches were made <m three separate lines of action. Ireland was sound in the faith ; mission- aries therefore were not required there, but only direc- tions from the Pope with substantial help in men and money. It was decided that Doctor Sanders, with a commission as Legate, and Sir James Pitzmaurice, whom Perrot, since he could not hang him, hoped to convert into a St Paul, should land in Kerry with a few ship-loads of Italians and Spaniards. The Irish were plains exactly the difficulty which had so long paralyzed the action of the great Powers, and how delicately it would be obviated by the employ- ment of Guise. Mendoza was speak- ing of an application made by the Archbishop of Glasgow to Philip for money to raise a force to assist Argyle and Athol. He agreed with the King, he said, that it Avas a case for great caution. What was the force to consist of ? If of foreigners, England, and probably France, would send troops to Scotland also, and there would be a general war. If of Scots, who was to be their leader? and what security could be given for the constancy of that most inconstant people ? Further, he could not see in the manifestoes of the two Earls any symptoms of being sound in re- ligion. The party opposed to Morton were of all sects and creeds. Some were Catholic, some were Protest- ant: some had quarrels of their own. In such a combination there was no element of success. ' And even sup- pose,' Don Bernardino continued, ' that the Catholics had direction of the enterprise, there would still be many inconveniences. Nor is the Archbishop of Glasgow a fit person through whom to treat on such mat- ters. He is sound in religion, and faithful to his mistress, but he is pen- sioned by France. He will take the French into the secret, and either they will turn the movement to their own advantage, or else throw ob- stacles in the way. The French are the natural enemies of the Crown and gi-eatness of Spain. How little they regard religion may be seen from the state of their own realm ; much less do they care for what becomes of it in England, where they have always prevented us from interfering, both now lately and in the time of the late Emperor. Here, in my opinion, lies the great difficulty of helping the poor Queen of Scots. The French have no concern about her. All that can be done is to bring her friends in Scotland and England to act together, to watch their oppor- tunity to set her free.' Don Bernar- dino to Cayas, February 8, 1579 : MSS. Simancas.