Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/253

 1581.] THE JESUITS IN SCOTLAND. 237 dignified severity of the intended message was altered at once into a cringing affectation of friendliness. Her diplomacy having failed in Scotland, Elizabeth's next idea was to play off the mother against the son, and terrify James's adherents by a threat of replacing her by force on the Scotch throne. 1 Mr Beale was despatched, not to defy or reprove, but to endeavour to convince the Queen of Scots of Elizabeth's tender affection for her, to complain of the imprudence of Lennox in breaking off the English alliance, on which her own and her son's future depended, and to invite the Queen of Scots to co- operate privately with her in restoring the Hamiltons, in overthrowing the favourites in whose favour they had been dispossessed, and in drawing up some scheme of reconciliation by which Scotland could be quieted, she herself restored to liberty, and her expectations in Eng- land directly or indirectly recognized. Every sentence breathed confidence and concession. So far Elizabeth went in her seeming frankness as even to consult the Queen of Scots on the European policy of England ; and to treat her as if personally interested in the prosperity of the country. She pointed out to her how she might hereafter have cause to regret the over- greatness of Spain how imprudent she might hereafter find it, to have encouraged the designs of the Spanish King, either in England, Ireland, or Scotland. She invited her Offrcce ella a la dc Escocia | enquedejarla con su hijo. Don que la quicre sostituyr con su bra<jo y fuercjas en la corona de aquel Reyno, viniendo por este medio & Bernardino al Key, 7 Noviembre ; MSS. Simancas.