Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/388

 372 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 66. Elizabeth flew from counsel to counsel, cursing the changeableness of the Scots, as if she had given them cause for constancy. Secretary Beale went again to Sheffield, carrying proposals, ignominious now because extorted by fear, to go on with the treaty. Elizabeth might have spared herself the humiliation. In the ex- ulting confidence of expected triumph the Queen of Scots refused now to be bound by her past promises. If she was to ratify the Treaty of Leith, she must have her right of succession recognized by Act of Parliament, or at least by private deed under Elizabeth's hand and seal. She declined to pledge herself against alterations of the established religion. She would consent to re- main in England it was part of the scheme which she had arranged with Guise and Mendoza but she required the free use of the Catholic ritual for herself and her household, free access to her person from all parts of the world, and the title of an English duchy. 1 Walsinghani cynically advised that his mistress should go even further and replace Mary Stuart in Scotland, and when reminded of his past objections, answered that times were changed and that wise men must change with them. 2 ' You are not so resolute there/ he wrote 1 Mauvissiere to the King of France, July 21 31 : TEULET, vol. in. 2 ' Le Sieur de Walsinghani a diet que il luy sembloit que 1'on debvoit contenter ladicte Royne d'Escosse, 'et qu'elle demeureroit par-dela, avec asseurance de la Royne d'Angleterre pour demeurer seure- juent er son Royaulme sans que lay ! feust faict ny mal ny desplaisir. Aulcuns luy ont respondu qu'il n'avoit pas tousjours tenu ce langage ny este de ce conseil. II a respondu que aussy voyoit-il qu'il se falloit accommoder et changer selon lea temps.' M. de Castelnau a la Reyne mere, 31 Juillet 10 Aoust, 1583: TEULET, vol. iii.