Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/475

 EXPULSION 0^ MENDOZA. 459 to be feared that the habit may grow upon him. I once hinted something of this kind to him. He told me that whatever he seemed, he was aware of every- thing of consequence that was going on. He could afford to spend time in hunting, for that when he at- tended to business he could do more in an hour than others could do in a day. He could listen to one man, talk to another, and observe a third. Sometimes he could do five things at once. The Lords could at- tempt nothing without his knowledge. He had his spies at their chamber-doors evening and morning, who brought him word of all that they were about. He said he was his mother's son in many ways. His body was weak, and he could not work long consecutively, out when he did work he was worth any other six men put together. He had sometimes tried to force himself, and had continued at his desk without interruption for a week, but he was always ill after it. In fact he said he was like a Spanish gennet, which could run one course well, but could not hold out. This was the very expression which he used.' 1 The personal portrait was drawn for Nau. The political and spiritual account was given to Mary Stuart, and was far less favourable. It was un- necessary, Fontenay told her, to urge her son to se- verity against the ministers of the Kirk, for he was him- self sufficiently bent on their destruction ; 2 ' indeed, he 1 Fontenay to Nan, August 5 15, 1584 : MSS. MARY QUEEN OF 2 ' Car il est da soymesmps asse prepare a leur ruine.'