Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/400

 384 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [en. 66. with unkind dealing, and to require satisfaction, excuse, or reparation.' Excuse was not considered necessary, and reparation was not intended. Arran and Stewart affected innocent surprise. Walsingham would not listen to them, and on the whole formed a worse opinion than he had even expected, both of them and their master. ' I have no hopes of the recovery of this young Prince,' he wrote to Burghley. ' If his power may agree with his will he will become a dangerous enemy.' He described James as 'full of contempt for her Majesty, into which he had grown altogether by the advice of his mother, who put him in hope of a great party in England.' His mother had told him ' that the more alienated he showed himself from her Majesty, and the more in- clined to change the religion,' the more his party would increase. He was evidently ' depending on Spain and the Pope,' and ' showing himself bent by degrees to follow that course.' At times perhaps he hesitated ; ' but if he proceeded not as was meant he should, his mother, who was the layer of the plot, would woi'k his confusion ; and, though she could not live many years, yet before their end would see his overthi"ow.' * Walsingham remained a week, and was then going ; when James, not wishing to- be utterly defiant while there was still a chance of the non-appearance of Guise, made a faint attempt at conciliation. He assured the English minister that he was really anxious to please the 1 Walsingham to Burghley, September n 21; To Elizabeth, Sep- tember ii 21, 1222 : MSS. Scotland.