Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/384

 364 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 44. Whatever be done, however, it is ray desire that it be done entirely in his Holiness's name. I will contribute in my full proportion ; his Holiness shall have the fame and the honour. ' The last alternative is far more difficult. I foresee so many inconveniences as likely to arise from it that the most careful consideration is required before any step is taken. Nothing must be done prematurely ; and his Holiness I think should write to the Queen of Scots and caution her how she proceeds. A false move may ruin all, while if she abide her time she cannot fail to succeed. Her present care should be to attach her English friends to herself more firmly, and wherever possible to increase their number ; but above all she should avoid creating a suspicion that she aims at anything while the Queen of England is alive. The question of her right to the suc- cession must be continually agitated, but no resolution should be pressed for until success is certain. If she grasp at the crown too soon she will lose it altogether. Let her bide her time before she disclose herself: and meanwhile I will see in what form we can best inter- fere. The cause is the cause of God, of whom the Queen of Scots is the champion. We now know assuredly that she is the sole gate through which religion can be restored in England ; all the rest are closed.' The unfortunate Yaxlee, having received his money in Flanders, was hurrying back to his mistress when he was caught in the Channel by a November gale, and was flung up on the coast of Northumberland a mangled bo. t y, recognizable only by the despatches found upon