Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/439

 I571-] THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 425 and the navy, and the expenses of the Border, and the secret-service money taking the form chiefly of subsi- dies to the Prince of Orange and the Huguenots were making demands upon the exchequer which no economy could meet. The lands of the Northern Earls could not be touched till they were attainted, and in some form or other the Bull of Pope Pius required an answer from the nation. The Houses were to meet on the 2nd of April. The forty noblemen who were parties to the Ridolfi plot would be in London with their re- tinues ; and the Queen of Scots, who had reason to believe that measures might be introduced unfavourable to herself, and who recollected how Morton. Lindsay, and Ruthven had broken up the Parliament at Edin- burgh which was to have attainted Murray, conceived that the same game might be repeated by her present friends with equal success. The Duke of Alva's willing- ness to assist her would be proportioned to the energy of the English Catholics themselves. The Duke of Norfolk, though released from the Tower, was not to be allowed to take his seat among the Peers. The great party of which he was the leader was deeply affronted, and their resentment might be utilized to practical effect. The servants and followers of the Lords would be sufficient, if combined, to overcome the utmost re- sistance which could be offered by the Court ; and the Queen of Scots once more endeavoured to spur her languid lover into energy. She recommended him and Arundel to surprise the Queen, seize her and Cecil,