Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/95

 ENGLISH PARTIES. gi not a person of those about her who dared to give her different advice. 1 The situation, with the humours, passions, and pur- poses belonging to it and interwoven with it, is reflected in two letters from the Spanish ambassador to the Duke of Alva. The guard had been removed from Don Guerau's house, and the conspirators had now free access to him. DON GUERAU TO THE DUKE OF ALVA. ' August 30. ' The Bishop of Ross came to me this morning with a letter of credit from the Queen his mistress. He told me in her name that in the presence of so general a de- sire for her marriage with the Duke of Norfolk, she was unable to refuse. The Queen of England had so far been unwilling ; but in deference to the wishes of the council she had agreed that the Queen of Scots must be married to some Englishman or other, and when this was once done she would be restored to her crown if she had not pre- viously been invited back by her subjects. Almost all the English nobles, the Bishop says, are of the same opinion. The Queen has offered to call a general meet- ing of the Peers, and take their advice upon the person to be chosen. There is an impression however that she is seeking delay. She is supposed to have hinted to the Duke that he must not himself think of it. He has been for some days at the Court expecting her to begin le aconseje lo contrario.' Don Gue- rau to Alva, September 4 : MSS. Si- 1 ' En esta hora cntiendo del Conde de Pembroke que cree que la Reyna consentira en el casamiento del Duque por no haber persona que VOL. IX. mancas.