Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/335

 1565.] THE DARNLKY MARRIAGE 315 Elizabeth's words with a straightforward but irritating irony, she said ' that by Grod's grace it should appear to the world that her designs, consultations, and in- telligences would prove as substantial and no more vain and deceitful than such as her neighbours them- selves had at any time taken in hand ; ' while as to Murray's restoration, she had never yet meddled be- tween the Queen of England and her subjects ; but now, ' induced by her good sister's example/ ' she would re- quest most earnestly for the release and restoration to favour' of her mother-in-law the Lady Margaret, Countess of Lennox. 1 Had Philip of Spain been at Mary's shoulder he would have advised her to spare her sarcasms till an armada was in the Channel or till Elizabeth was a prisoner at her feet. As soon as she had made sure of Darnley he would have recommended her to omit no efforts for conciliation. She need not have relin- quished one emotion of hatred or one aspiration for re- venge ; but she would have been taught to wait upon time to soothe down the irritation which she had roused, to cajole with promises, and to compel Elizabeth by the steady if slow pressure of circumstances to give way step by step. But Mary Stuart was young and was a woman. Her tongue was__ready and her passions^ strong^^Philip cared sincerely for Romanis^mjJElizabeth cared for Eng- lish liberty, the Earl of Murray cared for the doctriner 1 Answer of the Queen of Scots to Tarn worth : Printed in KEITH.