Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/71

 1 569. ] F. KGLISH PAR TIES. 5 7 doubted loyalty to Elizabeth. The mind by which they were composed it was probably Cecil's own was truer to her than her present humour allowed her to be to herself. The Queen of Scots was contemplating a future con- siderably different from what was thus marked out for her, and Elizabeth's evident weakness encouraged her most sanguine anticipations. But she knew Elizabeth to be changeable. The approaches which were here made to her came from those who had been most keenly opposed to her restoration in any form. Could she gain their confidence or neutralize their opposition, she could feel assured that her imprisonment would soon be at an end. Norfolk's own honour would require that she should be replaced on her throne before the mar- riage could take place ; and any promises either to him or to others might be interpreted as having been made in confinement, and therefore as of no obligation. She might either accept Norfolk then and she knew that he would be as clay in her hands or she might throw herself upon Philip and take Don John, or, if Philip refused, she might tempt Catherine de Medici to give her another of her sons. The Queen of Scots never threw a chance away or refused an offered hand. To the two first questions she replied with unre- served acquiescence. For the third she referred to her original instruc- tions to her commissioners, which also were entirely satisfactory. About the league she consented also. She professed