Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/335

 Tti JESUITS IN SCOTLAND. Mendoza. She would conclude nothing, she said, with- out his consent ; but wishing probably to force Philip to a more rapid decision, she described the terms on which she now believed that she could be released, and inquired if he would advise her to close with them. Mendoza's answer was long and elaborate. Many questions were raised by her letter, he said. The first was the place to which she was to go, if she could re- cover her liberty. Neither France nor Spain coild offer her an asylum, for reasons which could easily be under- stood. 1 Their mutual jealousies forbade it. If she went elsewhere, it must be to some place at a distance, where her friends would soon forget her, and the great purpose of the recovery of England to the faith by her means would be utterly defeated. There remained therefore Scotland and England itself. Could the association be concluded, Scotland would be an excellent position for her. She would of course have the exercise of her re- ligion, and her personal influence, her example, and the changes which she could introduce into the Government, would soon make an end of heresy there. If however either the Queen of England would not countenance the association, or her son accept it, she must, in some shape or other, make up her mind to remain in England. Under what conditions, depended on circumstances with which he was imperfectly acquainted, the number of her friends, their resources, and their general resolution. 1 ' El tenei V. M d libertad fuera de la Isla puede ser en Espana 6 Francia, partes donde bay los incou- venieutes quo se dexan entender.' : Carta de Mcndoja &.la Reyna de fis- COCia, Maio, 1583: MSS. SUma.nnu.