Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/86

 RETGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 57. by paying something herself; but every farthing of money which she advanced to these poor Protestant no- blemen was wrung from her drop by drop as if it were her life's blood. The Regent's troops were in mutiny for want of wages, and Maitland laughed in his sleeve as he watched her wearing out their patience. 1 The Queen, semper cadem, as she fitly named herself, was resolute only not to part with money, and otherwise changed her mind from day to day. She allowed Burghley to draw up conditions favourable to the Re- gent, and to threaten the Castle party with compulsion : when it came to the point of action she perpetually re- fused to turn her menaces into reality, or to assist the Regent with men or subsidies to drive or tempt them to submit. 2 With such a mistress over him, Burghley could but struggle with impossibilities. He knew that unless Mary Stuart's faction in Scotland was put down. 1 'You will perceive the hind- rance to the King's side by the delay of her Majesty's resolution and want of money. I assure you, if her Majesty tract the time any longer they will be overthrown. The soldiers at Leith refuse to watch or ward, so as the noblemen and gentle- men are fain to watch themselves. It is feared lest for want of pay the soldiers will, if they can, deliver the Regent and the rest of their enemies. Surely it stands her Majesty better in honour and surety to resolve one way or the other, lest when now she may rule both sides, by lingering she may lose both.' Hunsdon to Burgh- ley, January 26 : MSS. Scotland. 2 ' Of that which it hath pleased your Lordship secretly to inform us, and so earnestly to charge us to keep in counsel, that no force shall be used against the Castilians if the treaty can take no effect, and that there is a peremptory refusal thereof, nor yet that they may be won with money to that wherein persuasion could not prevail, we can but pro- mise in ourselves silence in the matter, and to deal with the other the best we can.' Randolph and Drury to Burghley, March 31 : MSS. Scotland.