Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/515

 THE SOND OF ASSOCIATION. 499 Such was the diplomacy of the sixteenth century in England and Scotland ; and this seething caldron of lies Elizabeth had preferred to the defence of a great cause and the alliance with peoples who were in arms for it, which the Prince of Orange had in vain held out to her. There were still two open courses before her. She might declare for the Lords and the ministers who had been banished in her service, send troops with them to Scotland and replace the Protestants in power. At the same time, and as part of the same policy, she might assume the defence of the Protestants of the Nether- lands. Or again, if she preferred it, she might take the league with France and admit Mary Stuart as a third in the same treaty, under conditions which would bind her hands and render her incapable of mischief had she been so inclined. 1 The first alternative was the bravest and noblest, but there was no hope that Elizabeth could be brought to adopt it. The second was safe and not dishonourable. Burghley was in favour of it. Walsingham was in favour of it. The Queen of Scots, while she remained in England, was a perpetual canker. ' There must be an end of this matter/ said the experienced Sir Ralph Sadler, 'either by the death of the lady or by some honourable composition. Of the former, I see none other likelihood but that she may live for many years. For the other, I refer it to the consideration of her 1 Mauvissiere to the Queen -mother, August 1828, October 22 No- vember 1 1 TEULET, vol. iii.