Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/148

 1 34 RcJGN OF ELIZABE TH. [cH. 53. Dacres, when he separated from the Earls, after their disappointment about Norfolk, had returned to London. Either the Queen had sent for him as she sent for others, and he had thought it prudent to comply, or, not expecting a rising, he had gone up on business of his own. To anticipate the arrest which he had reason to look for, he sought and obtained an audience. Wit! the address of which he was an accomplished master, he satisfied Elizabeth of his fidelity, which he assured her that he was only anxious to display in the field. The name of Dacres in the North was worth an army. The Queen listened graciously. Norfolk being now under a cloud, she promised Dacres favour in his suit for the estates, and he went down to Na worth with a formal commission to raise whatever force he could col- lect, and with instructions to join Lord Scrope at Oar- lisle. Dacres, who was a far abler man than either of the Earls, believed them to have made a foolish mis- take. He sent them word that if Scrope took the field, he would go with him ' till he came in sight of their powers/ and ' then set upon him and overthrow him ; ' and this undoubtedly he meant to do, if the rebellion wore a complexion of success. But he had his own interests to look to also. He was not the man to com- mit himself to a falling cause ; and he might well think he could do better service to religion and Mary Stuart if he could secure his peerage and his inheritance by remaining loyal. At all events, he had misled the Queen as to the force which she had to depend on. He