284 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 65. which induced him to return. The Lords had asked Bowes categorically w r hether his mistress would make the King an allowance, and Bowes had been unable to give them the answer which they had a right to expect. Mary Stuart meanwhile having waived her scruples about James's title, French agents, well supplied with money, had made their appearance at Edinburgh. An ambassador was promised, and was said to be coming immediately, bringing in his hands proposals for a new organization of parties, the dissolution as well of the English alliance as of the new connection with Spain, and the union of all factions in the interests of the French Court. Gowrie and Angus, weary of their un- gracious patron, and delighted to make her feel that they were not in her power, had all but consented to let Lennox stay, and to be reconciled to him. Ker and Seton and Maxwell had joined Lennox in the Western Highlands after he had relanded, and were threatening a march on Stirling. They had hesitated only from a fear that either the King would be murdered, or that Elizabeth, in spite of herself, would then be forced to send troops from Berwick :* and French diplomacy would thus have solved the situation by a reconciliation of all parties, to the ruin of the English connection, had not the ministers of the Kirk held the secular poli- ticians in check. 2 1 ' El no hacer demostraciones es por no obligar a que la Reyna entre con mano armada en favov de los con- jurados ; 6 en ultima desesperacion que los fuerqe a matar al Rey, con- fundiendo lo todo.' Mendoza al Rey, I Noviembre : MSS. Simancas. 2 'Escribe Sir Juan Foster que
