Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/290

 270 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 43. force upon her the scoundrel object of Elizabeth's own affections, that Cecil and his friends urged the necessity of meeting freely and cordially her demand for recog- nition ; and they advised their mistress to offer the Queen of Scots ' a free election of any other of the nobility, either in the whole realm or isle or any other place/ Tor themselves/ the council, 'thinking the like of the rest of the nobility and sage men of the realm, did for their parts humbly offer to her Majesty that whatever could be devised for the satisfaction of the Queen of Scots with some other meeter marriage should be allowed with their advice and furthered with their services when her Majesty should command them.' 1 With these more generous instructions, Sir N. Throgmorton started for Scotland on the 4th of May. Maitland, whom, in order to prolong his absence from Edinburgh, Mary Stuart had directed to go on to France, returned with the English ambassador in loyal disobedience, to add his own persuasions : he still hoped that the Queen of Scots might be tempted by the pro- spect of immediate recognition to accept either Arundel, Norfolk, or the Prince of Conde. If she would consent to marry either of these three, the English Government would do for her 'more than she had asked or even could expect.' 2 1 Determination of the council on the Queen of Scot's marriage, signed Winchester, Norfolk, Derby, Pembroke, Clinton, W. Howard, Ed. llogers, Fr. Knolles, W. Cecil, Ab. Cave, "W. 1'etre, John Mason, R. Sackvillo. Cotton. MSti. CALIU. B. 10. Endorsed, ' This is a copy of the paper delivered to Sir N. Throgmorton.' 2 Paul de Foix to the Quecu- mother, May 2, May 10 : TEULET vol. ii