Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/72

 52 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 41. would interfere in England on a large scale, emphati- cally and effectually. The Secretary then spoke at length of the fears of the Queen of England lest the Prince of Spain should marry his mistress. The Queen-mother too, he said, feared it equally and with good reason, for if the King of Spain would consent he might add England, Ireland, and Scotland to his dominions. Nothing could be more easy, so great was the anxiety of the English Catholics for that marriage and for the union of the Crowns. When the Bishop objected that the Scots might oppose it on the ground of religion, the Secretary admitted that the nobility of Scotland were generally Protestant ; but they were devoted to the Queen, and would be content that she should marry a Catholic if it was for the interests of the realm. Means could be found to work upon them. The Catholics at first might be allowed mass in their private houses by and by they would have churches. Lord James was most favourable to the marriage, and if the Bishop wished he would come to London and speak with him. As to the feeling in England, the Bishop confirms Maitland's account from his own knowledge. One noble- man offers, if it can be brought about, to serve the King of Spain with a thousand horse ; others are almost as forward ; and the state of the realm is such that the union of the island under a single powerful and Chris- tian prince is the sole means by which religion can be reformed. The whole body of the English Catholics desire the Bishop to represent this in their names to the