Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/101

 1569-] ENGLISH PARTIES. 87 London, and a pursuivant was sent to command him on his allegiance to return again to the Court. Norfolk's ' ague ' had returned upon him. He announced from Howard House that he was confined to his bed, but that he would obey when his health would permit him. He had come up from Andover to Don Guerau full of sound and fury. A servant of Lord Northumberland was wait- ing to carry down the signal for the rising. Norfolk talked about despatching him ; talked about the rescue of the Queen of Scots ; talked while Huntingdon was in the saddle, and then found that he had let the oppor- tunity escape. The northern messenger was fretting to be gone. The Duke said that he must wait to hear first from his friends. He must know what Montague would do ; what Lord Morley would do ; what many others would do who had promised to rise at his side. With their leader in such a humour, they would sit still if they were wise. Never was successful conspirator made of such stuif as Norfolk. Mary Stuart, in spite of Hunt- ingdon, found means to drive a spur into his side. She sent to bid him be a man, and to have no fears for her, for God would care for her. 1 Had Mary Stuart been at large and in the field, there would have been a bloodier page in the history of the English Reformation. Had Norfolk stood out himself as Mary Stuart bade him, had he proclaimed himself the champion of her and of the Catholic faith, the Earl of Surrey's son, the premier 1 La Reyna de Escocia envia a decir al Duque que haga como vale- roso, y que de su vida no lleve cuenta, que Dioslaguardara.' Don Guerau to Philip, September 30.