Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/377

 1565.] THE DARNLEY MARRIAGE. .357 while more daringly and dangerously he addressed Mary Stuart herself. 'Your Majesty/ he said, 'has in England many friends who favour your title for divers respects ; some for con- science thinking you have the right ; some from personal regard ; some for religion ; some for faction ; some for the ill-will they bear to Lady Catherine your competitor. Your friends and enemies alike desire to see the succes- sion settled. Parliament must meet next year at latest ; and it must be your business meanwhile to assure your- self of the votes of the majority, which if you will you can obtain. You have done wisely in marrying an Englishman ; we do not love strangers. Make no foreign alliance till you have seen what we can do for you. Keep on good terms with France and Spain, but do not draw too close to them. Go on moderately in religion as you have hitherto done, and you will find Catholics as well as Protestants on your side. Show clemency to the banished lords. You will thus win many hearts in England. Be careful, be generous, and you will command us all. I do not write as ' a fetch ' to induce you to take the lords back ; it is thought ex- pedient for your service by many who have no favour to them and are different from them in religion ' The Earl of Murray has offended you it is true ; but the Protestants persuade themselves that his chief fault in your eyes is his religion, and on that ground they take his side. Pardon him, restore him to favour, and win by doing so all Protestant hearts. The lords will in no wise if they can eschew it be again in the Queen