Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/473

 1584.] EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. 457 arrange a common course of action, and bring him above all to consent to the long-talked-of association. M. Fontenay's letters from the Scotch Co.urt arc long and complicated, but they bring the scene and the actors in it upon the stage with a completeness which leaves nothing to be desired. 1 ' The King/ wrote M. Fontenay to his brother and James himself stands be- fore us as we read ' is for his age one of the most re- markable princes that ever lived. He has the three parts of the mind in perfection. 2 He apprehends readily, he judges maturely, he concludes with reason. His memory is full and retentive. His questions are quick and piercing, and his answers solid. Whatever be the subject of conversation, be it religion or anything else, he maintains the view which appears to him to be true and just. In. religious argument I have known him establish a point against adversaries who in the main agree with him, and I venture to say that in languages, sciences, and affairs of State, he has more learning than any man in Scotland. In short, he is wonderfully clever, and for the rest, he is full of honourable am- bition, and has an excellent opinion of himself. Owing to the terrorism under which he has been brought up, he is timid with the great Lords, and seldom ventures to contradict them. Yet his especial anxiety is to be thought hardy, and a man of courage. He has so good 1 These letters fell into the hands of Elizabeth on the seizure of the Queen of Scots' papers at Chartley, and were deciphered by Walsing- hani's secretary. 2 The simplex appnJiensio, jttdi- cium, anil clixcwsm, of the logicians.