Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/470

 454 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. |C H - 6& treaty, or she would not discuss it with him ; and unless it was concluded immediately, she would regard her con- cessions as withdrawn. 1 ' With all the cunning that we have,' wrote Beale privately, ' we cannot bring this lady to make any abso- lute promise for the performance of her offers, unless jhe may be assured of the accomplishment of the treaty. Since the last break off she is more circumspect how she entangle herself. She seems marvellous glad of the late success in Scotland, and especially that her son had a heart to go into the field himself. She will deal for Angus and Mar, but she seems to retain another mind towards Gowrie and Lindsay upon the ancient quarrel of Lochleven.' 2 Elizabeth might as well have abdicated as have yielded to such terms so demanded. She ' sent a cold intimation to Lord Shrewsbury that the treaty was at an end, and that Beale might leave Sheffield. 3 But she was extremely troubled troubled especially about the noblemen who had taken refuge in England, and whose restoration she had hoped to effect through the Queen of Scots' mediation. Mauvissiere was to have been the bearer of her intercession, and since it could not be ob- tained, his mission was abandoned. Lord Livingston came up from Scotland to demand their surrender as traitors. Elizabeth was unable to give them up, but 1 Boale to Walsingham, May 16 26 : MSS. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. 2 Same to the same, May 17 27: MSS. Ibid. 3 Elizabeth to Shrewsbury, May 24 June 3: MSS. I bit}.