Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/77

 1569-] ENGLISH PAR TIES. 63 ' for having communicated so weighty a matter privately to him, rather than by open dealing to have endangered both the State and him.' 1 He wrote to Cecil that he could not answer on the spot. He would make as much haste as the gravity of the matter would permit. for Scotland ; and however dangerous it might seem, he thought himself debt-bound to accept it.' 2 But he must consult his friends, and the Queen should learn their decision on his return from the North. The journey, so far as concerned its im- mediate object, was eminently successful. Huntly offered no resistance. Argyle promised to do as Huntly did. The mere display of force brought present quiet ; but Elizabeth, in her existing humour, was only the more exasperated. When there was a question of receiving back a deposed Sovereign, a meet- ing of the nobles was no unreasonable preliminary ; but her impatience could ill endure even the few days' delay which it required. She wrote again to Murray, saying she was surprised that he should have hesitated for a moment in gratifying her desire. She ' had thought it convenient therefore to admonish him/ ' She wished him to think that the protracting of time to consider such weighty causes might prove so disadvantageous, that he would himself be sorry to have pretermitted the opportunity which she had offered him.' 3 1 Murray to Elizabeth, June 5 : JlfSS. Scotland. 2 Murray to Cecil. Ibid. 8 Elizabeth to Murray, July 17: MSS. Scotland.
 * What was good for the Queen of England was good