Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/538

 524 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 56. perameiit which, never would allow her to move directly and openly towards any object, however excellent, how- ever just, however expedient. She had played fast and loose so often with the Pro- testants that, but for the interest of their common re- ligion, they would long ago have fallen off from her. As it was, the position of parties was briefly this. The Re- gent, supported by Mar and Morton, held Stirling, Glas- gow, and Dumbarton. The Laird of Grange and Maitland were in Edinburgh Castle, where, after the execution of the Archbishop of St Andrews, they were joined in force by the Hamiltons, with Buccleuch, Fernihurst, and Lord Hume, and then took possession of the town. The North and West, with the Gordons, Argyle, and Athol, were for the Queen. From Stirling to St Andrews, and south till within thirty miles of the Border, the farmers and peasants were mainly Protestants. The French were more liberal of money than Elizabeth. Elizabeth re luctantly doled out a thousand pounds to the Regent on a single occasion. Mary Stuart's dowry was regularly paid to the other side, with four thousand crowns a-month in addition from Charles and Catherine. So matters stood on the arrest of Charles Baily and the partial discovery of Ridolfi's plot. Elizabeth, as usual, was roused for a time into resolution. Drury was sent to Edinburgh to remonstrate with Grange and Haitland ' for occupying the city in warlike manner/ And to inform them that if he or his party ' brought in strangers/ 'the Queen would avenge their obstinacy against the common peace.' Cannon were prepared in