give up my claim to her crown, and change religion in my realm to the form which is established here. My Protestant subjects detest it as much as I do; but she is using her advantage-not indeed that she cares about the miserable thing in itself—to force me and the poor Catholics to agree; and though for my own part I would sooner be murdered, yet you had better consider the possibilities, and send word to the King your master.' 1

Could Knowles have read this letter over her shoulder he would have been spared some mistakes and more disappointments; but for the present she had riveted her chains upon him. The wonderful woman had mastered the precisely correct form of words on ‘Justification by Faith.' Knowles was proud of his pupil, and elated at the progress which she was making under his charge.1

His satisfaction indeed was but short

1 The Queen of Scots to de Silva, | and give her rather occasion by July 31: MSS. Simancas.

2 Knowles had spoken to Herries with some contempt of the furs and tippets of the Anglican bishops, and Herries had made Elizabeth angry by repeating the words. Knowles wrote to Cecil to excuse himself. His letter shows how cunningly the Queen of Scots had wrought upon him.

'As touching the fault that is found with me at the Court, that my commending of the religious usages in Scotland after the form of Geneva did so much disallow the formularies of England as thereby I might hinder the Queen's disposition to embrace the forms of England,

misliking of both to rest in the old, which her Majesty thinketh very prejudicial to the purpose she intendeth; I answer that it is an easy thing for the Court of England to find fault with me being a simple poor man. I commended not the form of Geneva before the form of England; but however the Court doth expound my letters, I am sure there is never a man here that doth think that my speeches hath hindered the disposition of this Queen to favour either the form of the Common Prayer or the truth of the religion of England.

'My Lord Herries understood me and so did this Queen, howsoever

lived. The Catholics in the neighbourhood of Bolton had been disturbed by a report that she was going over. She could not admit them to her confidence, and it was dangerous to mislead them too far. She took an opportunity, when a large number of the Yorkshire gentlemen were assembled at the castle, to make a public declaration that she was still of the Papist religion. Sir Francis reproached her gently for her backslidings; and she allowed him to see the price which was to be paid for her conversion. 'Would you have me lose France and Spain, and all my friends in other places,' she said, 'by seeming to change my religion, and yet I am not assured that the Queen, my good sister, will be my friend to the satisfaction of my honour and expectation ? '1

She had so far the advantage in the game that she

my Lord Herries make religion to | the religion of the Gospel, namely, serve his policy. They understood justification by faith only: and she me that under pretence of favouring | heareth the faults of Papistry revealed the forms of England, such a rigorous condemnation of the forms of Geneva might be brought into Scotland that all the learned men of Scotland that have consciences there might thereby be banished or put to silence; and they being so defaced, a high way should be made open to Papistry.

by preaching or otherwise with contented ears and with gentle and weak replies, and she doth not seem to like the worse of religion through me. She does not dislike my plain dealing. Surely she is a rare woman: for as no flattery can lightly abuse her, so no plain speech seemeth to offend her, if she think the speaker thereof to be an honest man; and by this means I would make you believe she thinks me an honest man.'Knowles to Cecil, August 8: MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS, Rolls House.

1 Knowles to Cecil, September 21: MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS.

understood what she wanted, and played her cards accordingly. Elizabeth, having struck into a crooked road, was stumbling perpetually into uncertainties, doubts, and contradictions. To the Queen of Scots her language was always uniform: Put yourself in my hands without reserve; I will listen to nothing which shall be said against you; your honour shall be safe, and you shall be restored to your throne.' When she used these words she meant them. The Earl of Lennox applied for permission to appear at the investigation, to give evidence against the Queen.1 Elizabeth found that if he were examined too much might be discovered, and he was forbidden to be present. Yet, at other times, her mind misgave her before the shadow of coming troubles. She told de Silva that the Queen of Scots should be restored, but restored without power, and her acquittal should be so contrived that a shadow of guilt should be allowed still to remain. She had too 'many friends in England, and to declare her entirely innocent would be dangerous to the country and to herself.3

1 The form of Lennox's request was that he might be present at "the trial for the murder of his son, the chief actor wherein was at present in England.'-Lennox to Cecil, August 18: MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS.

2 Le Conte de Lennox a fort, pressé la Reyne qu'il luy feust permis de se trouver en ceste assemblée de Seigneurs, pour la déclairer ce qu'il la veu et sçayt de la mort du feu Roy son filz à l'encontre de la Reynel

d'Escoce. Ce que la dicte dame luy a desnyé tout a plàt.'-M. de la Forest à la Reyne-mère, August 25: TEULET, vol. ii.

3 'La Reyna me dixó que lo que pensaba hacer era que volviese á su Reyno con nombre de Reyna, mas que lo que toca al gobierno no habia de tener nada, y pensaba en lo de su justificacion hacer de manera que aquello quedase en dubio; porque si se declaraba su innocencia, para

Where there was so much uncertainty and vacillation neither the Lords nor the Queen of Scots could tell what to look for. To Murray it seemed certain that Elizabeth would declare for his sister. He could but entreat that his cause should not be determinately condemned or impaired before it might be duly heard ;'1 and, as Cecil advised, he made the most of the time that was left to him in scattering and breaking up the assemblies of Mary Stuart's friends wherever they collected.

1

She, on her part, had but to work in their support with every implement which sentiment or policy or religion placed within her reach. Leaving her message to work on Philip, she besieged France with fresh and fresh petitions. George Douglas and Lord Claude Hamilton joined Chatelherault at Paris, praying that if the King would not help them, they might be at least allowed to raise volunteers. The Queen's dowry provided funds, and a thousand men at least were expected to land either at Dumbarton or Aberdeen, led by Chatelherault in person.*

September.

At one moment Mary Stuart was so confident that they were coming, that she sketched a programme for their proceedings as soon as they should be on shore: and while she tried to throw Elizabeth off her guard by assuring her 'that she desired to

las cosas deste Reyno seria peligroso, y por los amigos que tenia, y se contra ella tambien tenia sus inconvenientes.'-De Silva to Philip, August 9: MSS. Simancas.

1 Knowles to Cecil,.September 6: MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS.

2 Drury to Cecil, August 21: Cotton. MSS. CaliG. C.

dedicate her life and heart to her for ever,'1 she was directing her party in Scotland to lead the French to Stirling or Edinburgh, destroying the country as they went; to get possession, if possible, of the person of the Prince; and if they could catch the Regent or his friends, to hang them without delay.2

The French did not come, and these intentions therefore could not be executed. Meanwhile time wore on. First August and then September had been appointed for the investigation: but Elizabeth was still irresolute. No steps had been taken, and the Queen of Scots began to hope that she might escape it altogether. Although unconverted, she had not lost wholly the power of charming Knowles. She made pretty presents to his wife. She begged him to travail for her private access to her Majesty;' she had something to say 'which would turn to her Highness's singular commodity,' and to her Highness she desired to devote herself for ever.1 To Elizabeth herself she wrote that

1 'Je desire vous dedier ma vie | hand of our rebels, spare them not, et cueur pour jamais.'-Mary Stuart but dispatch them hastily and speto Elizabeth, September 1: LABAN- cially.'-Marie Stuart à un Eveque OFF, vol. ii. Écossais, September 9: LABANOFF, vol. ii.

2'We pray you that incontinently so soon as the Frenchmen are arrived, 3 'You see how she corrupteth ye cause all our nobility and their me. The token to bestow upon my forces to pass forward with them in wife is a pretty chain of pomander diligence towards our son, to see if beads, finely laced with gold wire.' he may be gotten in hand, or else to-Knowles to Cecil, September 1: Edinburgh, destroying all the coun- MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS. try thereabout that our enemies get no vivres. And if it be possible that ye may get any of their great men in

4 Knowles to Cecil, August 26: MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS.