Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/271

 1570.] EXCOMMUNICATION OF ELIZABETH. 257 fit nor tolerable that three or four of the meanest sort among the Earls should presume to challenge to them- selves the rule of the whole realm ; or that the first in rank, the next of blood, the greatest for degree and ancientry, should be passed over, the meaner to com- mand, the greater as private men to obey. This was against all reason and all precedent ; and the Queen's party was thus increased with part of the King's. Pub- lic feeling was decisively declaring itself on her side, and yet her friends now understood that English troops were coming into Scotland to suppress them. They would of course, in that case, apply for help to France. De Yirac was waiting at that moment for their resolu- tion, and there could be no doubt what that resolution would be. The slightest of the evils which would follow would be a heavy expense to England ; and he wished to lay before her Majesty a few simple facts. She de- sired to retain Scotland at her devotion ; it was an hon- ourable object and not to be disallowed. But the road to that devotion did not lie through the support of a faction. The Scots were not so faint-hearted, but they had courage to provide for their safety. Force would accomplish nothing, while, by way of treaty, Elizabeth might bring all parties to accord, pacify the country, and deserve and win the gratitude of the whole country. They would then think no more of France, and the fire of the civil war which was on the point of bursting out would be extinguished/ l Leicester before this letter arrived had been at work 1 Maitland to Leicester, March 29, abridged : MSS. Scotland. VOL. IX. 17