Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/115

 1569.] THE RISING OF THE NORTH. 101 petual anxiety/ and should she die suddenly, with the succession unprovided for, the consequences could not fail to be most dreadful. 1 The arguments, so far, pointed to the replacing Mary Stuart in the condition from which she had escaped in her flight from Lochleven, with this differ- ence only, that Murray and Murray's party would be required to give hostages for the security of her life, and for her safe keeping during Elizabeth's pleasure. Yet this measure too was not without its objections. If Murray died or was murdered, it was uncertain whether his party would be strong enough to hold her. She might escape as she escaped before. The Catholic Powers would have as many motives as ever for inter- ference, and she herself ' would be the bolder to practise being then in prison, because she would think her life in no danger through the hostages in England.' There would be the same peril of her contracting a marriage abroad ; while, should her own friends in Scotland gain the upper hand, she would be restored to the govern- ment ; the Protestant religion would be suppressed, and tli3 two countries relapse into their old hostility. The great point was to hold her fast, and this could be done more easily in England than in Scotland. The govern- ment of the young King could then be firmly established, and should France or Spain ' attempt anything for her,' while she was in the Queen of England's hands, ' her Majesty might justly, if she was thereto provoked, 1 Notes in Cecil's hand, October, 1569 : Cotton. MSS. BM.