Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/40

 26 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 52. where she was to continue to reside. The guarantee for her good behaviour would be her marriage with Norfolk, and her own ambition and the vanity of Scotland was then to be gratified by the entailment upon her of the English crown. This arrangement, it was supposed, would satisfy the moderate of all parties in both countries, and would take from France and Spain their best pre- text for invading England, and their best chance of success if they made the attempt. Elizabeth was not to be consulted till the Queen of Scots' consent had been obtained, and till every security had been provided for herself which she could possibly desire perhaps till she could be tempted with a hope of receiving at last, as part of the same arrangement, the hand of her adored Leicester. He, at all events, was the most active in the negotiation. The Bishop of Ross suggested that Leicester should himself marry the Queen of Scots, but the Earl ' for many reasons considered himself unmeet for that honour.' He said, ' he did not suppose the Duke would think of it, except it was for the benefit of the Queen and the realm ; ' but ( he considered there was no better remedy for so dangerous a woman, and it would be well to make a virtue of necessity, if the Queen's Majesty would allow it.' Pembroke used the same language. The Queen, he thought, would find herself unable to keep the Queen of Scots prisoner ; ' and, seeing the estate of things so greatly changed in France and Spain, and the Earl of Murray standing in so tickle terms in Scotland/ he was ' of opinion,' and Sir Nicholas agreed with him, ' that for these causes and others, with pro-