Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/309

 1582.] THE JESUITS IN SCOTLAND. 293 inclining to think that the Lady Arabella's claims stood next, and the House of Dudley might arrive after all at the sceptre which Leicester's father had perished in grasping, and which he himself had so narrowly missed. With toys of this kind Elizabeth amused the time while she struggled with her perplexities. One day La Mothe was to be allowed to go. The next day she was positive that he should not go. At last his passports were sent to him, and he started on his journey. Im- mediately after there came a message from the Earl of Gowrie, that a letter had been intercepted addressed to Lennox, in which there was information that a French army was coming over ; that the Duke of Guise and his brother the Due de Mayenne were to lead, that the King of Spain had consented, and that the Pope was to supply the funds. 1 Secretary Davison was instantly sent galloping down the north road to overtake and stop La Mothe, when again news came that, in consequence of his long deten- tion, Henry had sent a second ambassador, M. de Main- ville, to Edinburgh by sea. To arrest the first would be therefore a gratuitous affront, and a second courier gal- loped after Davison with orders that La Mothe was to go forward, and that Davison himself should accompany him. 2 ' Mr Bowes/ wrote Walsingham sadly, ' had once brought things to so good a pass, and prepared the 1 Mendoza al Key, 16 Deciem- Davison, December 1214: MSS. bre : MSS. Simancas. Scotland. 2 Letters from Walsingham to I