Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/28

 RETGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 63. vised by some that loved him not, invented to delay time as had been done often before.' ' Words without deeds,' he said, ' should not prevail with him.' He saw clearly that her Majesty intended to ' be at no charge, nor yet would maintain and stand to such as would ad- venture themselves.' 1 He replied to Elizabeth that he did not see how a single nobleman could lay plans be- fore another sovereign for a change in the government of his own country. If he obeyed her, he feared that* she would not herself ' allow ' him in so doing ; and he invited her to invert the situation and to consider what she would feel if he was a member of her own council ' solicited by strangers.' 2 He knew that his life was in danger ; he had no ambition for martyrdom ; and though he preferred the English alliance as the best for his country, he confessed that Elizabeth might drive him to seek his safety by means which would not be eventually profitable to her. 3 The government of Scotland meanwhile rapidly passed to d'Aubigny. Edinburgh Castle was given in charge to one of his adherents. Dumbarton was made over to him as an appanage of his earldom, and he had thus the key in his hand to open Scotland to the French or the Spaniards ; while he won the hearts of the General Assembly by subscribing the confession of faith, by petitioning for a minister to reside with him to perform the offices of true religion, and by throwing August. 1 Bowes to "Walsinghara, August j and 10 : MSS. Scotland. 2 Morton to the Queen, July 16 ; MSS. Ibid. 3 Boves to "Walsingham, August 2 : MSS. Ibid.