Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/266

 252 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54, Protestants were those whom she really favoured, were flying about the country with Westmoreland and Dacres in their company, holding meetings in Mary Stuart's interest. Although Charles IX. had told Norris that he did not mean to interfere, he told the Scots that he would abstain only while Elizabeth abstained. M. de Yirac came to Dumbarton with money and promises, ' scatter- ing doubt, division, and uncertainty.' The refugees professed to represent the English aristocracy and the political sentiment of England, and a paper of conditions was circulated calling itself the opinion of the Peers, on the measures to be taken for a general settlement of the whole island. A complete amnesty was to be pro- claimed for the late rebellion ; the Queen of Scots was to be restored and accepted as Elizabeth's successor; while the religious differences were to be composed by universal toleration, to which the Pope and the Catholic Powers might be expected to consent. 1 Such terms could not have been enforced, even in Scotland, till many a homestead had been made desolate. Damley's ghost still wandered unrevenged. The mur- der at Linlithgow was fresh, and these were not wounds to be skinned over with pleasant remedies. A black banner was hung out in Edinburgh, on which again, as at Carberry, there was wrought the figure of the King under the tree, the infant James with clasped hands lifted up to heaven, and beside them ' the Eegent in his bed as he died with his wound open.' 2 But the poli~ 1 Questions to be proposed if the Pope's Holiness and the foreign princes will thereto agree, April 3 : MSS. Border. 2 Randolph to Cecil, March I : MSS. Scotland.