Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/387

 EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. 37* spare, if they found rebellion to God, whose message they carried.' He might despise them, but his con- tempt would not alter facts. ' There was never one in that realm that prospered in authority after the minis- ters began to threaten him.' 1 It was disrespectful language from a subject to a Sovereign disrespectful and, as some might think, vain and absurd yet no more, after all, than the literal truth. Nothing in the history of these times is more remarkable than the cor rectness of the political judgment of John Kuox ana his successors. They believed that the world was governed by justice and truth, and not by intrigue and chicanery ; and the event proved that they were right. Meanwhile it was the enemies' day. Every officer, either of state or household, known to be attached, to England was removed, and those who had been in exile for fidelity to the Queen of Scots were recalled and promoted. When Sir Robert Bowes remonstrated, he was taunted with his mistress's parsimony. When he asked if they would accept the pension which she had offered the King, he was told that sooner than the King should disgrace himself by accepting so vile a sum the Lords would subscribe double the amount for him themselves. 2 An agent of Walsingham's sent word that if the Queen interfered with force, France would take it * as if she had declared war ;' the King had distinctly told him so ; 3 and perplexed and penitent too late 1 CALbERWbOD. 3 Bowes to Walsihghata, July 1323 : MSS. Scotland. July, 1583 : MSS. Ibid.
 * AA] (sic) to Walsiughani,