Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/69

 1569-] ENGLISH PARTIES. 5$ merely of pills, but she had calculated justly on the alarm of the Queen of England, who dreaded nothing so much as any serious illness of her prisoner which the world would attribute to poison. 1 Cecil and Bacon did their utmost to modify their mistress's anxiety, but the stream was too strong for them. In one way or the other she was determined to wash her hands of the nuisance which was clinging to them. She told the Bishop of Ross that ' she could not of her honour nor friendly and loving duty suffer the Queen her good sister to perish without help : ' the resignation at Lochleven had been extorted by force, and should be treated as if it had no existence. If she would not ratify the treaty of Leith, it should not be insisted on ; if Murray's Eegency was unpalatable to her, it might be terminated : she must promise only a general amnesty, and undertake to be guided for the future by a council of State which could be selected by a commission out of the nobility. If she preferred to remain a Catholic, she need only tolerate the Reformed religion, and agree generally to such stipulations as should be considered necessary by the Queen of England and the Peers ' for the security of her Highness's person and the weal of both realms.' 2 It appeared as if Leicester and Pembroke June, had been right in their fears, and as if their mistress, in her eagerness to be quit of the Queen of 1 'La dolencia de la Reyna de Escocia fue fingida para mover al anirao de esta Reyna, y habia hecho buen efecto con ella segun el obispo me dice.' Don Guerau to Alva, June i. 2 Articles delivered to the Bishop of Ross at the Queen Majesty of England's commandment, May , 1569 : MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS.