Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/329

 r 565 -J THE DARNLE Y MARRIA GE. 309 It was to ask Mary Stuart to sacrifice ambition, pride, revenge every object for which she was mating herself with the paltry boy who was the cause of the disturbance. She said ' she would make no merchandise of her conscience/ Randolph requested in Elizabeth's name that she would do no injury to the Protestant lords who were her ' good subjects/ She replied that Elizabeth might call them ' good subjects ; ' she had found them bad subjects, and as such she meant to treat them. The turn of Lennox and Darnley came next. The ambassador communicated Elizabeth's commands to them, and demanded a distinct answer whether they would obey or not. Lennox, to whom age had taught some lessons of moderation, replied that he was sorry to offend ; but that he might not and durst not go. He with some justice might plead a right to remain ; for he was a born Scot and was living under his first allegiance. Darnley, like a child who has drifted from the shore in a tiny pleasure boat, his sails puffed out with vanity, and little dreaming how soon he would be gazing back on England with passionate and despairing eyes, replied ' that he acknowledged no duty or obedience save to the Queen of Scots/ whom he served and honoured ; ' and seeing/ he continued, * that the other your mistress is so envious of my good fortune, I doubt not but she may also have need of me, as you shall know within few days ; Parlement qu'elle ne pretend rien au Koyaulme d'elle, ne de sa posterite.' Analyse d'uuc depeche de M. de Foix au Hoy, August 12 : TEULET,