Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/405

 iy;i.] THE RIDOLF1 CONSPIRACY. 391 termined. Divided counsels had spoilt the first rising-, and before Philip would think of moving he would in- sist on seeing his way before him. Was Elizabeth to be deposed at once ? or was she to be allowed to reign for the term of her life, with a Catholic council at the head of the Government and the Queen of Scots for successor ? Who was to be the Queen of Scots' husband ? was it to be Don John, as the Catholics desired ? was it to be the Duke of Norfolk, the favourite of the great English country party ? Norfolk had most friends, but he had not been reconciled to the Church, and the Pope and Philip could not move to give the throne to a Pro- testant. Was there sufficient security for his conversion in the event of a revolution being accomplished ? The latter question was submitted by Ridolfi to the parties principally concerned just at the time when the restitution treaty was hanging fire in London. The Duke of Norfolk, irresolute as ever, had drifted on between falsehood and loyalty, trusting partly that his friends would bring Elizabeth to consent to his mar- riage with the Queen of Scots, on the terms originally conceived between himself and Leicester and Pembroke, partly looking to the contingent insurrection if other means should fail. By hesitating at the critical moment he left his friends in the North to failure and exile ; when the Stanleys would have raised the standard again, he was still uncertain and would not sanction their ris- ing ; but the Queen of Scots was now determined to force him to a resolution, and she sent him word, through the Bishop of Ross, that he must make up his