Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/74

 54 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 41. enough and noble enough to deserve the hand of a princess.' ' Maitland did not like the ground on which he found himself, so to end the conversation he said that the Queen his mistress was still young ; her Majesty had better first marry Lord Eobert herself ; if she had child- ren it would be all which the realm required of her ; should no such event happen, and should God call her to his mercy, his mistress might inherit both crown and husband ; and with one or the other of them there could be no doubt of a family. The Queen laughed, and the subject dropped. ' There has been a proposal in the Upper House to limit the succession to the heads of four or five English families, leaving the Queen to choose among them. The plan was Cecil's, and the object was of course to secure the crown to some one of his own party ; while the pride of the great houses named would be flattered with the distinction, whether her choice rested on them or not. The Queen herself wishes to be allowed to bequeath the crown by will. They will perhaps pass a resolution ex- cluding women to make sure of keeping out the Queen of Scots.' SUMMARY OF A LETTER FROM DE QUADRA TO THE KING OF SPAIN. April 3. ' The Queen is really anxious for this marriage be- tween the Queen of Scots and Lord Robert ; but she is Contemporary abstract,