Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/61

 1569-] ENGLISH PARTIES. 4? Murray ; could Norfolk at the same time nave separated himself from his more dangerous associates, and become as loyal as he pretended to be to his mistress; it is likely it may be called certain that Elizabeth, in her desire for peace, would in time have given her own con- sent to the marriage. The French, for their honour's sake, were compelled to press for Mary Stuart's restor- ation restoration in some shape and restricted by any conditions, if only they could escape the accusation of having abandoned her to her prison. Her re- establish- ment as Norfolk's wife and as a member of the Church of England, would have given peace to Scotland, would have restored at once a good understanding between Paris and London, and have quieted the uneasiness of the mass of Elizabeth's subjects. All however depended on the good faith of the principal parties, and of this the signs were ominous. The first act of reconciliation had been played out at Glasgow. Mary Stuart, when she heard that her friends were giving way to the Regent, burst into tears. ' Her lips and face were swollen with weeping. She would eat nothing at supper, but wept as she sat.' 1 Her true mind was fastened upon revenge and triumph. She had hoped that her party in Scot- land would have led the way to the universal rising which was to raise her from her prison to a throne. She deplored their cowardice. ' With her authority and theirs, and three quarters of the people at her devotion/ she trusted rather to have heard that they had hurled 1 Shrewsbury to Cecil, April 8, April 27 ; MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS.