Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/294

 280 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54. Bull once out, Spain or France was expected to strike in. The Catholics, with their misgivings about Mary Stuart dispelled by the pamphlets, were to rise simul- taneously in all parts of England. Norfolk would march on Tutbury, and Elizabeth would fall in a few weeks at most. This was the programme, and this was the meaning of the Bishop's complacency in the treaty. The ' De- fence ' was unfortunately inconsistent with the humility of his attitude. It was the first indication to the Eng- lish Government that the plea of innocence would seriously be set forward in the Queen of Scots' behalf. He was sent for to Bacon's house and required to ex- plain what he meant by saying that the nobility disbe- lieved her guilt. He said that she had offered to defend herself in the Queen of England's presence : the Queen of England had refused to hear her, and she was there- fore held acquitted of the charge. Bacon carried ' the books ' to the Queen, and the yielding humour which would have allowed the scheme to ripen was instantly hardened. Arundel, to coun- teract .the effect, brought forward La Mothe, and the Queen was told that France could not and would not allow Mary Stuart to be kept in England. Elizabeth fired up in her proudest style. ' She was astonished,' she said, ' that the King of France should think so lightly of the Queen of Scots' enormities. Her friends had given shelter to the Eng- lish rebels, and with her aid and connivance they had In vied war against her with fire and sword. No Sove-