Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/312

 2Q2 CHAPTER XL1V. THE DARNLEY MARRIAGE. THE two Queens were again standing in the same relative positions which had led to the crisis of 1560. Mary Stuart was once more stretching out her hand to grasp Elizabeth's crown. From her recognition as heir- presumptive, the step to a Catholic revolution was imme- diate and certain ; and Elizabeth's affectation of Catholic practices would avail little to save her. Again, as before, the stability of the English Government appeared to depend on the maintenance of the Protestants in Scot- land; and again the Protestants were too weak to protect themselves without help from abroad. The House of Hamilton was in danger from the restitution of Lennox and the approaching elevation of Darnley ; the Earl of Lennox claimed the second place in the Scotch succes- sion in opposition to the Duke of Chatelherault ; and the Queen of Scots had avowed her intention of entailing her crown in the line of the Stuarts. Thus there were the same parties and the same divisions. But the Protestants Were split among themselves among the counter-influ- ences of hereditary alliance and passion. The cession of