Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/295

 1582.] TffE JESUITS IN SCOTLAND. 2ft vainly offered at Auclley End, and the rejection of which had been the cause of all the subsequent troubles, Eliza- beth might secure the continued supremacy of her friends. James, angry and bitter as he was, might be reconciled to the change, if she would but allow him the rents of his grandmother's estates. A few pensions; and five thousand pounds a year to maintain the Court, with a handful of men-at-arms, would place Angus and Gowrie out of all risk of overthrow ; and the Queen would have no more need of lying diplomac}^. The unanimous opinion of the times was that England could not be successfully invaded as long as it had Scotland for a friend. So plain was this to all statesmen that they would not believe the opportunity would again be thrown away. ' I shall be sorry in my heart/ wrote Sir Walter Mildmay to Walsingham, 'if anything is omitted now that should be done here. To let slip such an oppor- tunity to make sure of that realm, the assurance whereof is more for us than both the others, might be counted a marvellous oversight, and sparing of charge that way a small point of husbandry. I pray God it may be considered in time, as the weight thereof deserves. The Lords should be comforted and advised effectually, whereof I am sure that you will take care.' 1 ' All depends on England now/ James Colville wrote from Scotland. ' The Queen's interest is as much 1 Mildmay to Walsingham, September 14 : MSS. Scotland.