XXVII. was busily employed in it at London and Westmin- CHAP. ster, and too efficaciously for the accomplishment of that part of it, which sought the depression or extinction of the French Reformation.141 141 The strange fact mentioned both in the letters of Pius V. and of Charles IX. that some of Elizabeth's counsellors were traitorously influencing her to conduct that favored the plannings of these potentates, reminds me of sir William Cecil's complaint of his want of influence, and of other advice being taken in the first part of this reign. On 22d Dec. 1561, he thus intimates it to his friend, sir N. Throckmorton: I might lament my place that I hold, being, to outward appearance, because of frequentation with her majesty, of much credit; and [but] indeed of none at all. My only remedy is, to leave the place; my grief is, to see likelihood of such successors as I am sure shall or will destroy all my good purposes. I may not write, but yet I may lament.' He then complains, that he had been forced to sell at that time 1501. of his lands; and that to pay the debts which still burthened him, he was proceeding to sell his office in the Common Pleas. He then adds this indication how his counsels were disregarded: I have carried in my head, with care, means how her majesty should from time to time conduct her affairs. I see so little proof of my travails, by reason her majesty alloweth not of them, that I have left all to the wide world. I do only keep an account for a show, but inwardly I meddle not, leaving things to work in a course, as the clock is left when the barrel is wound up. It is time to end these complaints to you who cannot remedy them; but yet because you wrote to me divers times of matters worthy your consideration, thinking that you have bestowed them well on me, in hopes that I will fashion and put them forth, when you see that I have no comfort so to do, I thought it not inconvenient to note thus much to you of my imperfection.' Letter in Hardw. State Papers, v. 1. p. 178. If we pity the French Protestants who were sacrificed by the treachery of those who succeeded in turning Elizabeth's mind from giving them effectual succor at the fluctuating and turning moment of the balance, when a decided interposition would have rescued both them and their cause from the powerful combinations which were overwhelming it; yet it is a consolation to find as we advance, that Elizabeth discovered the value of Cecil's fidelity and wisdom in time enough to save England, herself, and the Protestant succession in this country and in Scotland, by making him afterwards her guiding counsellor. He would have preserved the Reformation also in France if he had been her ruling prime minister in the year 1569. But being then successfully counteracted by others, the Guises obtained triumphs which his foreseeing policy and vigorous firmness might have prevented. CHAP. XXVIII. THE QUEEN INTERROGATES NORFOLK-THE EARLS OF WEST- BOOK WHILE the pontiff, the French ambassador and II. his sovereign, the duke of Alva and the king of Spain, Mary and her adherents, the English traitor nobles and the Catholic party in the island, were thus in active conspiracy for the destruction or deposition of Elizabeth, she was living in her usual manner, and attending to all her royal duties, in ignorance of the danger and treachery which were surrounding her, and which were penetrating even into her private chambers. In May 1569, ideas of her being in some danger had spread to Hamburgh, but were treated with contempt.' Spain was thought to be favorable; and the character of Elizabeth was transcending the highest reputation which any English sovereign had reached. The only intima 1 On 25 May 1569, Kyllygrew wrote to Cecil from Hamburgh, that the Spaniardsbe no ways able to annoy her highness, if all be sure at home; whereof there is vain talk abroad to small effect.' Haynes' State Papers, p. 516. The same envoy remarked, 'It is said the duke of Alva hath commission from the king, his master, to appease this jar with England, till better opportunity may serve them. You know the Spaniard will not yield till he be at death's door.' ib. 516. Such is the statement of this foreign minister, writing from the Elbe: 'I think the queen's majesty be more feared and honored this day of ALL countries, what religion soever they be of, than ever any of her predecessors before her was.' Haynes, 516. XXVIII. tion she received of something unusual being on СНАР. foot, was the information that the duke of Norfolk was projecting a marriage with the Scottish queen; and that the earl of Murray, in Scotland, was favoring it. This disquieted her; because, whoever had Mary's hand, would also have her pretensions to the throne as the materials of his ambition, and as a dangerous nucleus of domestic intrigue; but it was not known or supposed to be connected with any external confederacy. She desired explanations from Murray on this subject, while her noble officer at Berwick sent her his suspicions that it had been long in agitation, and was connected with something formidable." 5 6 Tho nothing but vague apprehensions could be yet traced, Elizabeth deemed it important to guard more vigilantly her royal competitor, without knowing that conspiracy was at that moment seeking to place her on the English throne; and as Shrewsbury was unwell, lord Huntingdon was sent to Tutberry Castle, to add his superintendence. They were This occasioned Cecil, on 9 September, to order Drury to state to the Scottish princess, that the queen hath of late found it very strange to hear it affirmed that she should labor to compass this marriage,' and yet not notify it to her. Haynes, 521. 6 H. Carey was sent, 21 September, to desire that the said earl should advertise us what he hath anywise done therein, and who in our realm have moved him therein.' Instr. ib. 525. Lord Hunsdon wrote, on 18 Sept. to the secretary, that he was ' right glad that her majesty doth so much mislike of the marriage, wishing her so to continue; for, truly, I fear that whosoever were the first beginners thereof, they meant neither faithfully to her majesty nor friendly to him, what pretence soever is now made. I may not write what I know; but sure I am, that, as the matter hath been long a brewing, so hath there been strange dealing, which I doubt not but will shortly appear.' Haynes, p. 522. 7 Murden has printed the queen's letters, of 22d Sept. to these two earls on this subject, p. 525, 6. The latter, in 25, reported Shrews BOOK II. ordered to search carefully for her secret correspondence; but she had previously burnt all but two ciphers, which they transmitted to the cabinet. 8 The sensation, from the undefined hints which got abroad, that something unknown was in agitation, occasioned the queen to send for those noblemen to court, to whom any doubtful circumstances applied. The duke of Norfolk, the earl of Arundel, the lord Lumley, and her own lord high-steward, the earl of Pembroke, were the first she summoned." Norfolk, instead of attending her at Windsor as she desired, pleaded an ague as his excuse for delaying immediate obedience for four days; 10 but inconsistently with his pretext of a disability from indisposition, went off into Norfolk to his castle at Kennynghall, from whence he addressed to the queen an epistle, half excuse, half complaint;" and to the bury's dislike to have a partner in this charge. I perceive also non facile patitur æqualem.' p. 530. *Lett. 27 Sept. p. 532. Lett. 29 Sept. p. 537. At Wingfield, one day, she consumed with fire very many writings.' ib. Elizabeth, on 1 October, answered them, ' We see it very likely that either you dealt not with such coffers, as wherein her writings were, or else that she has burned them all, as you guess. But you shall do well to require of her the letters which were sent to her about Easter last, signed by the earls of Pembroke and Leicester, which they both confess they sent to her by the bishop of Ross.' Haynes, 539. 9 Her letters to Arundel and Lumley are in Haynes, p. 529, 530. In August some insurgent movement was attempted in Suffolk, for Cecil then informed Norris' a lewd varlet motioned a number of light persons to have made a rout, in manner of rebellion, to have spoiled the richer sort; but the matter was discovered.' Cabala, 155. 10 Dating from Howard House, 22 Sept. he informed Leicester and Cecil, At my coming hither I found myself disposed to an ague, to avoid which I took a medicine yesterday, whereof I am afraid to go into the air so soon; but within four days I will not fail to come to the court accordingly.' Haynes, 527. "His apology for withdrawing was, that hearing of her displeasure, he thought no way so good,' to give a token of my sorrowful heart.' His complaint was of her mistrust. When we recollect Catena's disclosure concerning this duke's secret conspiracy with the pope and XXVIII. secretary, another promise to be with them in the CHA P. ensuing week. His object probably was to ascertain, thro his friends, how far his practices had become known, before he ventured to undergo any questioning about them, that he might shape his answers accordingly. Elizabeth answered his palpable evasion and manifest inconsistency, by a peremptory command for his immediate attendance, and censuring his apprehensions of any danger from her if he knew there was no cause." 13 He still lingered. He was too conscious how much he was really implicated, not to dread a possible discovery from the researches of the awakened cabinet.15 14 But Ridolfi, we cannot but feel that he was playing the part both of a pathetic and of a solemn hypocrite to Elizabeth. A nipping to my heart! That I, which knew my own faithful fidelity to your majesty, should now become a suspected person! I, your poor subject, who never, I take the Almighty God to witness, had ever one only thought against your highness, your crown, or dignity!' Lett. 24 Sept. from Kenynghall. Haynes, 528. How easy some minds can combine the most sacred protestations with conscious untruth! 12 It is singular, that to such a man as Cecil he should declare he was too ill to go from London to Windsor, and then travel more than double the distance to Kenynghall. Yet he again states from Norfolk, I have had this night a fit of an ague. So soon as I may, without peril of further sickness, which I trust her highness would not wish me to increase by over sudden journey, I shall wait upon her majesty, and that before Monday or Tuesday next at farthest. Kenyng. Sept.' Haynes, 528. 13 This we command you to do upon your allegiance; and as you mean to have any favor showed you by us, who never intended to minister any thing to you, but as you should in truth deserve.' Lett. 25 Sept. 1569. Haynes, 529. 14 Cecil wrote to him on the 28th Sept. recommending him, as a friend, to come. ib. 533. And on 3d October thus spoke of him to sir H. Norris: He is now on his way, whereof I am glad-whom of all subjects I honored and loved above the rest; and surely found in him always matter so deserving.' Cabala, 157. 15 His letter, on the first of the preceding July, to earl Murray, contains some passages which, tho unintelligible without Catena's account, become comprehensible when connected with it, and confirms its accuracy. In this he mentions his union with Mary as a certain tho a secret thing. To return to that you desire to be satisfied of-my marriage with the queen your sister-I must deal plainly with your lordship, as |