Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/279

 1582.] THE JESUITS IN SCOTLAND. 263 trained in massacre and rapine, could be gathered at a moment's notice to Guise's standard, and in that fair summer weather the fishing fleet of Normandy could be impressed to carry them into Scotland. Her son, she believed, so hated, the ministers and so dreaded England that he would welcome any one who would rid the land of them. She wrote imploringly to Mendoza of the confusion which had fallen on her party at home ; and she refused to part with the hope that Philip would strike in for her while they had still possession of the Government. 1 ' I had formed such expectations of this enterprise/ she said, ' that I had resolved not to go forward with a treaty with the Queen of England. I would not bind myself by the conditions which were offered me, that I might be free to use my own advantage without in- curring a charge of breach of faith. I know, of course, how many things the King my brother has on his hands. I know what work these people here are pro- viding for him. There are now plans on foot for the re-conquest of Navarre. But this enterprise, I fancy, would be the best remedy which he could apply. It would paralyze England, and England is the fountain from which other troubles are fed. 1 ' Vous pouvez considerer par le change en Escosse dont je pense que vons avez entendu les particularites, quel avantage pourroit avoir une bonne armee ariivant ; et temps, et toutes choses estant ya si bien pre- pares, et mon filz mesme pouvant estre persuade de le recepvoir, main- tenant qu'il a decouvert la malice de ceste canaille de ministres, et qu'il craint aucunement d' estre par leur menee en trouble, tant par nos sub- jectz propreaque decSte de dega.' Mary Stuart to Don Bernardino, July 29, 1582 : MSS. Simanca*.