Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/255

 1 5 70. ] EXCOMMUNICA TION OF E LIZ ABE TH. 24 1 A dread of war, a hatred of expense, a sympathy for a sister Sovereign, a dislike of rebellion however necessary or defensible, an intellectual pleasure in a subtle and intricate policy, all these elements worked perhaps together in Elizabeth's mind, and made her persist in a line of action which she could pursue only in the teeth of her own promises. The effect so far had been a dangerous conspiracy at home, a partial insur- rection, and the murder at last of the best friend that she possessed out of her own kingdom. The position was at present complicated by the presence of the refugees on the Border, for whom in the friends of Mary Stuart she had provided only too efficient pro- tectors, while there was another peril which she might have foreseen but which she apparently overlooked. The union of parties which she was trying to bring about in the interests of England, might be effected with equal likelihood in the interests of France. If after the experience of the rebellion she still persisted in endeavouring to thrust the Queen of Scots back upon them, the Protestant noblemen might anticipate her, as Maitland endeavoured to persuade them to do at York, by themselves inviting the Queen of Scots' return. Scotland would at least escape the civil war which was otherwise impending. The demand of a united people, supported as they would be by the French Court, Eliza- required.' ' I see,' continued Ran- dolph, ' that both he and the Lord Boyd take great heed of the Queen's Majesty's words, and by such talk allure many to their purposes who were not long since of another mind. ' Randolph to Cecil, February 27, 1570: MSS Scotland. VOL. IX. 16