Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/253

 1 $ ?o. ] EXCOMMUNICA TION OF ELIZA BE TH. Protestant party (and in their present state of dis- organization Mary Stuart would either be murdered by them immediately or at no distant time would be set at liberty) ; or else to keep her permanently in England, to be a perpetual occasion of internal trouble. She might have made up her mind to this last alternative, could she be assured that the House of Lorraine would not regain their influence at Paris ; but it was unsafe to calculate on French policy for two months together. It was always possible that the fanatically Catholic element in France might obtain the complete control of the Government. France and Spain might then be brought together by the Pope, and the Queen of Scots would be a pretext for a joint declaration of war. The Scotch nobles who were on the Queen's side would be- come permanently hostile to England, and throw them- selves wholly on the French alliance. To keep Halt- land, Argyle, and the Gordons therefore in dependence upon herself; to prevent them from joining with the Hamiltons, who were and always would be the deter- mined enemies of England ; l to discover at last some 1 The Hamiltons, though nomin- ally on Mary Stuart's side, were as usual working rather for themselves than for her, and were looking steadily on the possible reversion of the Scotch crown. Mary Stuart had named Chatelherault Regent in her absence ; but Chatelherault and his family were contemplating the con- tingency of a fresh inquiry into the Burnley murder, which might term- inate both in the Queen and the young Prince being set aside, and ir their own establishment upon the throne supported by France. ' In case,' Chatelherault said in a commission which he sent to France and Spain, ' in case all were not dis- solved which proceeded of the Earl of Murray and his complices, and thereby the Queen's Grace was not found worthy (as God forbid) to brook the Government, the Prince will not succeed as it is supposed,