$14 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 6l. voke and bear at last the fate which the Government might order for them. The heads of the order knew better than to waste such metal as this in practising conspiracy. Those who were reconciled to a Church which declared Elizabeth deposed might be safely trusted to play the parts ex- pected of them when Guise should give the signal from Scotland. Devoted and single-hearted youths, inspired with zeal for their religion, were the most perfect missionaries of disaffection, though no word on politics ever issued from their lips. If the Government could be provoked to punish them, the odium of persecution would be fastened upon the Queen ; the cause would triumph in their martyrdom ; and the victims them- selves were eager to share the cup which their Saviour had drunk before them. The conspiracy was skilfully planned and boldly executed. The fortunes of the separate parties will be told in turn. The storm broke first in Ireland.
