Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/471

 1584.] EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. 455 she was afraid to assist or countenance them. She treated them as she had treated Murray nineteen years before, whom she equally employed and deserted ; and Walsingham naturally feared that the Lords, being left to starve, would make terms with James, purchase their pardon at the price of deserting for ever the ungrateful English cause, and leave Elizabeth without a friend in the only country where friends were absolutely indis- pensable to her. 1 The prudence or imprudence of Elizabeth, and the chances of success to the Queen of Scots in the attitude which she had dared to resume, turned more and more on the character of her boy, who sat on the throne of Scotland, and who, young as he was, already exerted a personal influence on the politics of his country, which, as parties were balanced, was likely to turn the scale. In the hands of the different factions who had successively been his masters, he had shown a pliancy inevitable from his circumstances. Yet he had evidently a purpose of his own, which was visible through all his changes, and while the ministers of the Kirk had found 1 ' The intended journey of the that now I do not see what means French ambassador into Scotland is her Majesty can use to procure their now broken off, for that the Queen of Scots stands upon very proud terms, refusing to mediate the resti- tution of the distressed noblemen unless her Majesty will grant her liberty and ratify the treaty between the Earl of Shrewsbury, Sir Walter Mildmay, Mr Beale, and her. So relief, but fear greatly they will b left to seek their own peace, which cannot but breed to us a war. This. I pray you, reserve to yourself, for we may alter our purpose.' Wal- singham to Davison, May 2030: MSS. Scotland.