94 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [en. 41. munication with Philip, and since the visit of Luis de Paz she had heard no more from him. After a delay of some weeks she had replied to Ran- dolph's message, thanking Elizabeth for her advice ; to gain time and to avoid committing herself to a re- fusal, she desired to be told explicitly which of the many candidates for her hand would be ' allowed' in England and which would not ; and again with more distinctness what would be done for her if she married as Elizabeth wished. It is quite certain that the Queen of Scots had no real intention of being guided by Elizabeth. November. Quadra that she would not marry a Protestant even if her recognition was an accomplished fact. The inquiry therefore could only have been finesse. Elizabeth, with less temptation to in- sincerity, replied 'that the principal marriage which would make all other marriages fortunate, happy, and fruitful was the conjunction of the two countries and the two Queens ; ' but she warned the Queen of Scots that 'whatever mountains of felicity or worldly pomp' she might promise herself by going her own way, she would find her hopes in the end deceive her ; the fittest hus- band for her would be some English or Scottish nobleman ; but if she preferred to look elsewhere all Christendom was open, excepting only as the Queen of Scots desired her to be explicit the royal Houses of Spain, France, or Austria. A marriage into either of these could be construed only into a renewal of the schemes which she hud entertained ' in her late marriage with the
