The
Protestant nobility and gentry, united by the consciousness of such
unpardonable guilt, alarmed for their new possessions, well acquainted
with the imperious character of the house of Guise, saw no safety for
themselves but in the protection of England; and they despatched Morton,
Glencarne, and Lidington, to express their sincere gratitude to the
queen for her past favors, and represent to her the necessity of
continuing them.
Elizabeth, on her part, had equal reason to maintain a union with
the Scottish Protestants; and soon found that the house of Guise,
notwithstanding their former disappointments, had not laid aside the
design of contesting her title, and subverting her authority. Francis
and Mary, whose counsels were wholly directed by them, refused to
ratify the treaty of Edinburgh and showed no disposition to give her
any satisfaction for that mortal affront which they had put upon her, by
their openly assuming the title and arms of England. She was sensible
of the danger attending such pretensions; and it was with pleasure she
heard of the violent factions which prevailed in the French government,
and of the opposition which had arisen against the measures of the duke
of Guise.
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