Elizabeth was almost speechless with rage. Cecil answered, he said, “as warily as I could.” But to no avail. Elizabeth was so incensed, she once more threatened to declare war on the Scots. She refused all Cecil’s protests and counterarguments. It was one of their classic rows, and it turned on the nature and power of monarchy. Mary was an anointed queen, accountable to God alone. Elizabeth wanted it demonstrated that no such coercion would be tolerated. She particularly had her own English subjects in mind. Now it was she and not Mary who was brooding over the potential for a domino effect.
