Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/312

 298 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54. Glencairn, Mar, Morton, the Master of Graham, Lind- say, Kuthven, Borthwick, Ochiltree, all the Lords re- maining on the side of the little King, had assembled at Stirling to receive the answer to their petition, and when it came in such a form ' their long silence mani- fested the heaviness of their hearts.' When Sussex received the Queen's second letter he sent Randolph on to them, and Randolph was able in some degree to reassure them ; but they told him distinctly that if they were to hold together they must and would appoint a Regent. They sent again to Elizabeth to say that ' it was impossible for them to continue as they were ; ' and Sussex, who trusted that his mistress had recovered her senses, added of himself that the idea of sending back the Queen had better be abandoned once and for ever. ' If her Majesty would be pleased to command him, he would himself take the castles of Edinburgh and Dumbarton in twenty days, and either bring all Scotland to the King's obedience in like time after, or leave the Queen's friends not a castle standing/ l Elizabeth however was like a jaded horse, stung by the lash into momentary action, but lapsing speedily into lagging and weary motion. She brooded over the Pope's excommunication. She harassed herself with the belief that she was to be the object of a European crusade. The Duke of Norfolk plied her from the Tower with letters which were piteously submissive. Sussex to Cecil, June 19 : MSS. Scotland,