Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/313

 1 5 70. ] EXCOMMUN1CA TION OF ELIZAS E TH. 299 His physician wrote that his health was breaking under his confinement, and that if he remained in the Tower lie would die. 1 The Bishop of Ross reported from Chats worth that his mistress was so anxious to please the Queen that Cecil might dictate his conditions. Title, religion, alliances she would make no difficult- ies about any of them. ' After so many storms her wish was to live in quietness ; ' and for his own part, the Bishop would count himself most happy if he could unite their Majesties in heart, mind, and bonds indis- soluble. 2 Elizabeth was on her guard against the Bishop, and the smooth words would have produced no effect had the Catholics retained their ascendency July. in France. But just at this time an op- portune victory of the Huguenots in Poitou recovered to them the strength and prestige which they had lost at Moncoutour, changed the policy of the French Court, and brought about another short-lived recon* ciliation between the Queen-mother and the leaders of the Protestant League. Disinclined to encounter further the chances of a war which no battles seemed to end, the Court determined to give way. The Duke of Guise, who had aspired to the hand of the Princess Margaret, was driven in disgrace from the Court. The war spirit was suddenly extinguished, and with it the 1 Norfolk to the Queen, June 18 ; Report of the Duke of Norfolk's health, June ; Norfolk to Cecil, July 4 : MSS. .Domestic. 2 The Bishop of Ross to Cecil, June 26 : Cotton. MSS. CALIG. C. ii. 15. Cf. MSS. MABY QUEEN OP SCOTS, June 26, June 29, Rolls House.