Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/246

 232 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54. policy of the predominant party. Accordingly, during the first weeks of the year, the despatches of Sir Henry JSTorris from Paris were filled with warnings of ap- proaching danger. Elizabeth was to be punished for the encouragement which she and her subjects had given to Coligny. ' The open talk at Paris was of war with England, for the release of the Queen of Scots and the toleration of Papistry.' The Queen-mother told Norris ' that she thought God had sent the be- ginning of a rebellion to warn his mistress how she assisted rebels against their princes ; if the first lesson sufficed not, she must look for sharper scourges/ An army was to be thrown across the Straits, which the Duke of Anjou was to lead, and the Duke was to be re- warded with the hand of the Queen of Scots. The success of Bothwellhaugh had been so encouraging, that the Cardinal of Lorraine engaged a party of assassins to attempt a similar service on Elizabeth. He offered Alva a share of the enterprise, and requested him to make a diversion in Scotland, while Anjou moved on London and Tutbury. That Alva would accept a second part in March. . x such a business was exceedingly unlikely. The marriage of the Queen of Scots and the Duke of Anjou was one of the most alarming spectres in Philip's imagination. Don Guerau however suggested that, under shelter of the expected French enterprise, the Duke might attempt the surprise of Tutbury on his own account ; it was of great importance that the Queen of Scots should be at liberty, and equally so that