Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/280

 264 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 05. Then too his Holiness is at an advanced age. He may be succeeded by a pontiff who will not inherit his zeal. My own health is broken. My son is infected with this accursed heresy. The Duke of Lennox is now all-powerful, but if he is obliged to resign the go- vernment Scotland will be lost. My cousin the Duke of Guise will turn his thoughts elsewhere, and the Eng- lish Catholics, given over to oppression, will be less and less able to help themselves. I fear therefore that if we allow the present opportunity to escape us of re- establishing religion in this island, it may be long before such another returns. The French King is given over to indulgence. His brother is entangled with the heretics. We have little to expect even from them ; how much less should the crown fall as (rod forbid it may to the King of Navarre. I beseech you, lest so good a work should come to nothing, hasten the execution with all possible speed, and pray your master meanwhile to supply fifteen or twenty thousand crowns to fortify a few castles and positions where our friends, if pressed, can maintain themselves.' x This letter, coupled with the news from Scotland, was not without its effect upon Mendoza. Nothing more could be expected from Lennox. The preachings and discussions from which Philip had formed so high ex- pectations would be evidently barren. The Jesuits might be entertained in the castles of the noble lords, but would be torn in pieces if they appeared in public ; Len- Mary Stuart to Mendoza, July 29 : MSS. Simancas.