Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/401

 1583.] EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. 385 Queen, and that if she desired it he would say no more of ' the raid of Ruthven ; ' he was ready to pass an act of oblivion, and to replace the English Lords in the council. Walsingham, not trusting him, said coldly, that he had been ill-advised in surrounding himself with so many passionate ambitious young men ; he was treading in the steps of the English Edward II., and might come to the same end ; the execution of Morton had been a bad beginning ; princes fancied themselves ab- solute, but princes were as much bound to rule justly as subjects were bound to obey, and if they broke the law they were no longer kings but tyrants. 1 But James had spoken fairly, and to try his sincerity, Walsingham sent him a note of his offers in writing, and asked if he had understood his meaning. 'A dark and ambiguous answer' was returned. It was obviously idle to depend upon him ; and Walsingham being on the spot consulted with the old friends of England on the feasibility of some new raid, and of 'forcing' James, whether he would or no, to depend on her Majesty's favour. Gowrie, Angus, Mar, Lind- say, were all willing, provided that this time the Queen would give them a definite sum of money to work with. Walsingham neither would nor could make promises, but he said that he would write to his mistress, wait at Durham for her answer, and send them word. 2 He wag 1 Heads of a conversation be- tween Secretary Walsingham and the King of Scots, September 12 22 : MSS. Scotland. 2 Walsingham to Elizabeth, September 1525 : MSS. Ibid. 25