Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/250

 236 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54. beth had promised that if the charge against her proved to be unfounded, her accusers should be punish- ed, and she herself should be restored to her estate. The evidence however proved so unexpectedly weighty, that the Queen of Scots herself put an end to the in- quiry, and refused to allow it to be prosecuted further. Elizabeth had forborne to use the advantage which was thus placed in her hands. She had stood between the Queen of Scots and the infamy with which she would have been overwhelmed had the proofs of her guilt been published, and, in return, the Queen of Scots had stirred up an open rebellion, professedly in the interests of religion, but aimed in reality against Elizabeth's throne and life. This person she was now called upon to set at liberty, or restore to her crown ; and to do so would be an act of dangerous folly, which no indifferent person should in conscience require. ' She would not,* Elizabeth said distinctly 'she would not be herself the author to hazard her own person, her state and honour, the quietness of her realm and people, without further consideration how in doing it she could main- tain her crown and public peace among her subjects. She dared to appeal to the judgment of any prince or potentate in the world that would profess indifference in judgment : the Queen of Scots herself, and her most aftectioned friends, could not think her to deal therein unreasonably.' * Could the French Government have answered that 1 Instructions to Sir H. Norris : Conway MSS. } 15 70. Rolls House.