Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/43

 1581.] THE JESUIT INVASION. 27 deliver by way of mirth. "We cannot be persuaded that any sure foundation can be made that way, though it may stand him to great purpose to entertain us with that alluring hope. I pray you harp no more on that string.' 1 'I am sorry,' wrote Walsingham again to Lord Huntingdon, ' I am sorry Mr Randolph should suffer himself to be carried into an opinion that Lennox may be won. I know that both he and those that put that conceit in his head will find themselves deceived in that man. I beseech your lord- ship concur with me in seeking to divert Mr Randolph from such a belief.' Huntingdon sending on these Words to Randolph added of his own : ' You already know my ipinion, whatever he offers will prove but dissimulation in the end. You build on sand to accept him in any such credit. I can but repeat the sentence of St Paul, Qui stat, videat ne cadat, chiefly a warning in matters of faith, but it may serve our turn in matters of policy, especially when religion and policy are so knit together as in this action.' 2 Their anxiety was but too justly founded, and if Randolph's conduct was not the work of some private order from the Queen, hopes like those which he was holding out were the straws which she for ever caught at to escape the necessity of action. The council re- mained determined, and she did not openly oppose them. The Earls at Berwick held themselves ready to march, and ships hung on the coast to intercept James if an 1 Walsingham to Randolph, Jan- 2 Huntingdon to Randolph, Feb- aary 31 : MSS. Scotland. ruary 8: MSS. Tbid.