Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/115

 1563-] THE ENGLISH A T HA VR& 95 French King ; but no other restriction should be placed upon her choice and no other difficulty raised/ Eliza- beth trusted only that her selection ' might be such as should tend to the perpetual weal of the two kingdoms the conjunction whereof she counted the only mar- riage of continuance and blessedness to endure after their own lives to posterity to the pleasure of Almighty God and the eternal renown of themselves as queens and good mothers of their countries/ To the last question of the Queen of Scots what should be done for her if she complied Elizabeth answered that she would ' proceed forthwith to the in- quisition of her right by all good means in her favour ; and finding it fall to her advantage, upon plain under- standing had what manner of marriage she should make, she would proceed to the denunciation of her title as she would do for her own natural daughter.' 1 It was long before Randolph was allowed an audience to give this second message. The Queen of Scots had quarrelled again with Knox, whom she attempted to provide with lodgings in Edinburgh Castle; the Lords had interfered, and anger and disappointment had made her ill. Moreover she was still waiting for letters from Spain which would not arrive. She was waiting and would have long to wait ; for the fire of resolution no longer fanned by de Quadra's letters had grown faint again, and other schemes and other anxieties 1 Elizabeth to Randolph, November 17 : Cotton. MSS. CALIG. B. 10, Scotch MtiS. Rolls House.