Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/213

 1564-] THE EMBASSY OF DE S1LVA. 193 instance, to depend on her subjects to maintain her, and among them the connection might prove an occasion of discord. So long as the Hamiltons were strong the marriage would have been absolutely impossible. Chatelherault, however, was now in his dotage ; the Earl of Arran was a lunatic ; the family was enfeebled and scattered ; and Mary Stuart w T as enabled to feel her way towards her object by allowing Lennox to return and sue for his rights. Could the House of Lennox recover its rank in Scotland the next step would be more easy. Had she affected to consult Elizabeth had she' openly admitted her desire to substitute Darnley for Lord Robert affecting no disguise and being ready to accept with him the conditions and securities which the English Parliament would have attached to the mar- riage Elizabeth would probably have yielded, or in refusing would have given the Queen of Scots legitimate ground of complaint. But open and straightforward conduct did not suit the complexion of Mary Stuart's genius : she breathed more, freely, and she used her abilities with better effect, in the uncertain twilight of conspiracy. Although bo f h Murray and Maitland consented to the return of Lennox, the Protestants in Scotland instantly divined the purpose of it. 'Her meaning therein is not known/ wrote one of Randolph's corre- spondents to him on the 3ist of April, 'but some sus- pect she shall at last be persuaded to favour his son ; we are presently in quiet, but I fear it shall not be for VOL. VIL 13