Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/301

 I57Q-] EXCOMMUNICATION OF ELIZABETH. 28; of Cecil and the Lord Keeper, recommended the recall of Drury, the immediate resumption of the negotiations, and the release of the Queen of Scots at the earliest possible moment : some, like Arundel, were deliberately treacherous, some were frightened, some sincerely be- lieved that the course which they advised would be the best both for their mistress and for England. All agreed however in one conclusion, and Leicester, as if taking upon himself to speak for the Queen, said that violent measures were found too dangerous to be ventured further ; her Majesty intended to take the opinion of the more moderate of her councillors, to come to an understanding with France, and replace the Queen of Scots on her throne. It was no time for euphuisms or delicate phrases. The Lord Keeper had been forced to attend. The Queen desired his opinion, and she should have it. ' Her Majesty/ he said, ' was deceived and trifled with. The men whose advice she was pre- paring to follow were the secret servants of the Queen of Scots. The French ambassador threatened war ; but he spoke for the Cardinal of Lorraine, and not for 'the King. The King his master had work enough on hand at home, and would not meddle with England. land/ he continued, ' you cannot now turn back : cour- age alone is safety, courage and persistence. Go on as you have begun, and there will be soon no Queen's party, no French party, 110 Catholic party to trouble that country more. English influence will be supreme there,
 * After what you have done and are doing in Scot-