and intended king, disconcerted for that time the CHAP. formidable conspiracy.

The other lords obeyed their summons; were interrogated, and gave their individual answers; 19 but altho future evidence shewed that they were then concerned in the unknown plots, yet their secret dealings were still undiscovered, and nothing was elicited from them beyond the intended marriage.20 The conspirators, as the king of Spain had remarked, were so faithful and guarded, that no further information was obtained." The bishop of Ross, a principal in the hatching treason, was also as ineffectually questioned.22 Northumberland and Westmoreland were then sent for; 23 but, instead of attending, happily for Elizabeth, from the apprehensions of their own consciousness of guilt, were hurried by their personal alarms, and by the contrivances and persuasions of others, either too frightened, or too

19 See the questions in Haynes, 534, 5; and the answer of Pembroke, p. 535-541, of Lumley, p. 536.

20

Lumley was questioned on 29 Sept. if he had not been at the Spanish ambassador's, but he baffled this inquiry, by admitting that he had been only once, and for the recovery of a debt of 1,100. which the lady Cecilie oweth unto him;' and that Ridolfi was privy to it, 'as a party to the debt.' Haynes, p. 537.

21 The examination of Pembroke, who was the lord high steward, leads us to recollect Catena's intimation, that an 'intendimento' had been established, nel palagio e guardia d'Elizabetta.' p. 118. We learn from Cecil's letter of 3 Oct. The queen hath been also grievously offended with lord Leicester; but considering that he hath revealed all that he saith he knoweth of himself, her majesty spareth her displeasure the more towards him.' Cabala, 157.

The examinations of this prelate, and of sir Nicholas Throckmorton, on 10 Oct. shew that the government had then traced nothing beyond the project of the marriage. They are printed in Haynes, 541-8. Nor was more obtained from Cantrel, the duke of Norfolk's servant. ib. 548–550.

23 The queen's letters to them are dated 10 Nov. 1569, from Windsor Castle, Haynes, 552; and on 14 Nov. she desired from some vague perception that cautionary measures were become necessary, the earl of Cumberland to make himself ready to withstand and suppress all unloyal attempts of any person in those parts.' ib. 553.

XXVIII.

BOOK sanguine to judge soundly of the wisest conduct, into an instantaneous revolt.24

II.

They had secretly concerted that forces from Scotland, and also from the duke of Alva, should have met them at Hartlepool, when the preparations for their insurrection should be complete." But being stimulated by the papal emissaries," they rushed from that undermining hypocrisy, which is always dangerous, by spreading conspiracy in its unseen paths, with more treacherous effect; and advanced to Durham in daring and palpable rebellion." The suddenness and audacity of the explosion implied such a confident certainty in the means of its support, that the queen and her friends could not at first measure the possible extent and progress of its consequences." She had, with provident sagacity,

28

24 Northumberland was roused by a fictitious disturbance in the dead of the night, by some too eager partisans, and led to believe that a party was advancing to apprehend him. The earl, trembling, rose out of his bed, and withdrew himself to his lodge, and the next night to Branspeth, an house of the earl of Westmoreland, where many, not ignorant of the matter, were assembled already.' Camden, Eliz. p. 114.

25 Camden, 114. Lord Westmoreland informed the spy constable, 'that the duke of Alva had in readiness all the ships he had made of late, and had stayed all others that came within his reach, in order to carry men and horses into England. The earl knew this to be true, because Scotchmen had come to Leith, where ships had been thus detained, and who had stolen away on foot, and sailed from other places.' Const. Lett. 12 January 1570. Sadler, p. 112.

26 Camden says, Nicholas Morton, priest, stoutly thrusting them forward.' p. 114. We shewed from Sanders, in note 58 of the foregoing chapter, that Pius V. had sent this man to England, to incite the nobility to a revolt.

Here they tore the Bible in pieces, overthrew the communion table, and called upon the people to take their parts in behalf of the Romish religion. Elizabeth's letter in Haynes, 555. She also remarks that one of these earls has already so wastefully spoiled his own patrimony, as he will not let to spoil and consume all other men's that he may come by.' 556. But this previous dilapidation of his estate, which made him more accessible to a corrupt conspiracy, unfitted him to support his rebellion.

25 We see this in the language of Elizabeth to her northern general:

made Windsor Castle her residence while she prosecuted her inquiries; and as soon as the unknown peril had taken this visible shape, after duly weighing the measures which her northern commander had advised,29 she issued those orders to him for suppressing the rebellious movements, which united vigor, resolution, and mercy.30 The lord-lieutenants of the other English counties were also instructed to put the whole force of their able men, both horse and foot, in readiness to move upon an hour's warning, to extinguish any insurrectionary commotion."1 The rebel earls sent their protestation or manifesto to the earl of Derby, which is remarkable for its declaring that their undertaking had been devised by the duke of Norfolk, the earls Arundel and Pembroke, and by divers of the antient nobility of

'The doubt that you have conceived of the stedfastness of our subjects of that county, that are to go with you on this service, seemeth somewhat strange unto us.' She directs him therefore to chuse such as are most likely to be faithful, and to forbear using the service of other.' Haynes, 557.

6

She says to Sussex, You put us in remembrance on the one side, what may be hoped for by granting pardon unto the earls and their partakers; and on the other, what may be doubted of by hazarding of battle against desperate inen.' ib. 557.

30 And truly as we have been always of our own nature inclined to mercy, and have shewed and continued the same from the first beginning of our reign, peradventure, in further degree than might well stand with the surety of our estate and person, yet, in a matter that toucheth us so near, we can in no wise find it convenient to grant pardon unto those that do not humbly and earnestly sue for the same; and we doubt not but you can consider that it standeth not with our honor to pardon the earls, and their principal adherents, without farther deliberation; but for the mean sort, that have not been principal doers in the rebellion, we have already authorised you to grant our pardon, as you shall, by your discretion, think convenient.' Eliz. letter to Sussex, November 1569. Haynes, 557.

"Haynes has printed these official letters of 20th November, p. 559, 560; and to the lord admiral and earl Shrewsbury, p. 561. The numbers ordered out from 12 of the counties were, horse 1,312, and 10,000 foot, to assemble between 8th and 12th December. p. 562, 3.

СНАР.

XXVIII.

II.

BOOK the realm; 32 and that they meant to place the issue on the sword.33 Thus dangerously put forward as a confederating traitor, when he was not prepared to co-operate successfully, the duke chose to prefer his safety to his honor, by a denial of his participation." He was closely questioned on his intended marriage with Mary, which was the only feature of the conspiracy which the cabinet had detected: but he persisted to declare, that his only object in it was to prevent a papist prince from obtaining her. His confessions disclosed some secret dealings; but all treasonable machinations were carefully concealed.37

35

32 Haynes, 565. They state their object to be, to make known to all persons, to whom, of mere right, the true succession of this crown appertaineth,' meaning to Mary, considering, like the Romanists, Elizabeth to be the queen only de facto, and not of mere right.

33 After inveighing against the queen's ministers, they add, Their unjust and ambitious policies and practices can, by no submission of our part be avoided, but only by the sword.' ib.

3 His letter to the queen, of 3d December, is in Haynes, 567. The vice-chamberlain, by her command, shewed him a copy of Northumberland's proclamation, which implicated him. On this he answers, 'I assure your majesty of my poor honesty, that I never dealt with any of those rebellious persons. I hope I shall not be so unhappy to be the first that shall taste the extremity of your highness's displeasure, which hath taken more of my wretched carcass than I think your majesty's pitiful heart would require. Yet, I assure your highness, the heart in my body never had yet any undutiful thought to your majesty's person nor realm.' ib. We can only place the duke's denial against the express charge of the two papal secretaries, and of the English earls, and the circumstances that will be hereafter noticed. Pembroke from Wilton, and Arundel from Nonsuch, on 5th December, equally disowned it. Hay. 568, 9. The government could then make no further discovery and on 14th December apprised Pembroke, that the queen would admit him again to her presence as lord steward, a wise and courageous act to recover and preserve him if he had deviated. He died at Hampton-court, the 16th of the ensuing March. Stowe, 669. 35 On 12th December he wrote to the queen, Now that I see how unpleasant this matter of the queen of Scots is unto your majesty, I never intend to deal further therein;' but he declined marriage any other where,' on the ground of ill health.' Haynes 571.

36 See his lett. 15th December, in Haynes, 572.

37 The charges made against him, on the 20th January 1570, on this

XXVIII.

Precipitate as this rebellion was in the time of its CHAP. occurrence, yet from the extent and effect of the preceding plots, it was not at first ascertainable, how wide its tempestuous range and disasters would spread. By the last week of November, they had advanced to Sherborn and Tadcaster, and commanded the roads between Doncaster and York.38 Lord Hunsdon, a zealous friend of the existing government, crossed the Humber to Hull, where Sadler and Sussex joined him, and they proceeded together to the northern metropolis.30 The advanced force of the rebels did not seem formidable." The peril lay in the uncertainty, who would rise and co-operate with them, and who would refuse or hesitate to act against them. For, even the lord-lieutenant's brother had associated himself with them."1

By this alarming fact, the sincerity of Sussex himself, the descendant of the notorious minister of Richard III. became a subject of doubt and anxiety: but the able and faithful sir Ralph Sadler confidentially vouched to the queen for his zealous fidelity."

subject, and his answers, are in Haynes, p. 575-7. They state that he had confessed that he had written to her ten or twelve letters in cipher, and sent her a ring; and that he had received letters from her in cipher, p. 575; and had also sent secretly to the rebel earls and others, for their allowance of it.

38 Letter sir R. Sadler, of 23d November 1569. Sadler's Papers, v. 2, p. 36, 7. So that lord Darcy could not move from Doncaster to reinforce Sadler as he wished, nor sir Th. Gargrave from Pomfret Castle. ib. 37. 39 Ib. 37, 41, 2.

6

40 Sadler described them on 23d November, as about 3,000 men, of which 700 are horse. The horse are well appointed. The footmen are for the most part unarmed, and a number of them very raskalls; such as by force and sinister means the heads of the rebels have drawn to them. Sadl. P. 38.

"This was Egremont Ratcliff. ib. 43.

49 Lett. 42. The express

'assured her that nothing was more

grievous to him than his brother's traitorous dealing.' p. 43.