Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/541

 I54-] THE BOND OF ASSOCIATION. 525 liked especially well, as an old experienced statesman, who desired the good of his country in dispassionate patriotism. She charged Nau to be guided entirely in all that he did by Burghley's advice. 1 To Lord Charles Howard and to the Chancellor Bromley she sent affectionate messages, and to Sir Francis Knowles a pleasant re- minder of her first acquaintance with him at Carlisle. 2 Evidently she felt assured of the support of all the council except Leicester and Walsingham; and Wal- singham's disposition is proved by his own letters to have been favourable also. So far as the treaty was concerned, Nau's instructions were the very amplest. He came prepared to concede or anticipate any demand which Elizabeth could make. In addition to the technical concessions to which she had agreed already, Mary Stuart promised through him to declare publicly before Europe that the Queen of England was thenceforward to be her closest friend ; to swear to forget her wrongs and never seek to revenge them ; to intercede for the banished Lords, to renounce Pope Pius's Bull, make a league with England, offensive and defensive, and her- self subscribe the bond for the protection of Elizabeth's life. 3 All she asked for was a speedy resolution. 1 ' Est .vieulx et prudent con- seillier qui ayme le bien de son pays sans passion ny faction. Nau ay commandment de proceder en tout et partout par son advis et direction.' Remembrances to Nau, November, 1584: JUSS, MAIIY QUEEN OF SCOTS. * Ibid. 3 Nau's articles, December, 1584: MSS. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.