Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/55

 1569.] ENGLISH PARTIES. 41 thenceforth to live together as loving and affectionate sisters. 1 It was unfortunate for them both that Eliza- beth never could understand the mischief of exagger- ated language, and that she was but teaching her pri- soner to despise as well as distrust her. The Queen of Scots enclosed Elizabeth's letters to La Mothe Fenelon, with a few words of most expressive contempt. ' The Queen of England has changed her note/ she said, 'be- cause of Jarnac, although she would persuade me that Jarnac is nothing. I believe this as much as I believe her fine words.' 2 The Huguenots, it was clear, were to be left to their fate. Towards Philip however the attitude was firm as ever, and Don Guerau began to be anxious for the pro- mised deposition of Cecil. The lords had talked large- ly to him, but nothing had been done. The reputation of the English was rather as men of action than as men of words, and the ambassador accounted for their slowness by supposing that the national character had degenerated. 3 The first step, when at length they re- solved to move, was not calculated to restore his confid- ence. To create difficulties in the city, without which it seemed they durst not stir, Arundel and Norfolk drew up a proclamation, which they sent to Don Guerau, and desired that it might be published by Alva in the Netherlands. The purport of it was, that the arrest of 1 Mary Stuart to Elizabeth, April 8 ; Mary Stuart to Cecil, same date : LABANOFF, vol. ii. 2 Mary Stuart to La Motte Feuclon, April : Ibid. 3 ' Pienso que aquellos Senores se hubieran declarado mas y mas presto, sino que esta nacion no tiene al corazon que antes solia ' Don Guerau to Alva, March 15.