Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/93

 I572-] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. sired ; and the wounds of the poor country, whose in- terests she had so long trifled with, were not worth a thought to her. Her Ministers entreated her for her own sake to interpose, but she persisted in her peculiar policy of breaking every promise by which she had bound herself, when its fulfilment was inconvenient. Randolph and Drury were recalled ; and so intense was the exasperation that they were twice shot at, and hardly extricated themselves with their lives; while Queen's-men and King's-men flew like wild beasts in each other's faces ; no quarter was given ; and all pri- soners on both sides were hanged. The peaceful citizens of Edinburgh fled for their lives, and their houses were occupied and plundered by the Castle soldiers. Both sides being too weak for ordinary war, the struggle was reduced to a series of murderous skir- mishes and raids and massacres ; while Elizabeth was allowing Maitland to play upon her vanity and fool her with fair words only less hollow than her own. 1 Nor was Scotland the only scene of her diplomatic eccentricities. The Anjou marriage having come to 1 As for instance : ' The stream we see will not serve, and therefore we must have recourse to the fountain. We have always since the beginning of the treaty had a good will to please your Majesty. "We have for your Highness's only respect abstained from some foreign practices which perhaps might have served our turn. We know your Majesty to be a Printess of honour and great courage, and in that point to resemble the noble nature of the lion which ye give in your arms, that the more we bow ourselves and yield to your Majesty the better speed we shall have. We have tasted your Highness's goodness -heretofore, and that ye will not disappoint them that put their trust in your Majesty.' Maitland to Elizabeth, May 8 : MSS. Scotland.