Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/445

 1584-] EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. 429 difficulties in which my having placed myself in the position towards her which my duty requires, has in- volved me. The prejudices of my education, the tempt- ations of ambition, the advice or pressure of those who are more masters of my dominions than I am mvself, combined to lead me into another course ; but I have preferred rather to be guided by the laws of God and nature, and the advice of my near and loving kinsmen of the House of Guise, whom I understand to be devoted to your Holiness. Thus it has come to pass that the faction who expelled my said lady and mother, who made use of my young years as the veil and shield of their own tyrannous appetites, seeing that I was be- ginning to comprehend their evil deportment towards their natural princes, have now banded themselves to- gether against me, and with the help of my neighbour, the Queen of England, who has encouraged every bad enterprise attempted in this country throughout her reign, they intend if they can to destroy me altogether. I confide however both in your Holiness's prudence, and in your love for my mother. I have myself as yet deserved nothing at your hands, but it shall not be always thus. 1 Those under whose advice I am now acting have told me always to look to your Holiness rather than to any other Prince. My extremity how- ever is such that if I receive no help from abroad, I see that I soon may be forced to play into the hands of your Holiness's worst enemies and mine. Traitors, 1 ' Sans que jusque a present j'ai encore rien merite, que je ne permet- tray pas qu'il en soil ainsi.'