Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/25

 THE JESUIT INVASION. May. Edinburgh was in a wild state. ' I find right strange humours here/ wrote Bowes when he arrived, 'and matters standing in doubtful condition ; the nobility no less in division than the people in fury, and ready to take part according to their affections.' The Protestant leaders had planned a second seiz- ure of James's person. They intended to decoy him into the Castle and close the gates upon him. 1 But James, as Bowes expected, was not to be caught so easily, nor did the Queen's message to him when it was delivered produce much effect. A hint that if he Lent himself to d'Aubigny's intrigues his hopes in England might be cut short by Parliament, for a moment seemed to alarm him. ' He appeared much perplexed ; he said he would follow her Majesty's advice, and require her counsel in all his affairs.' But his young cousin had ' won his affections ' so completely, that the ambassador ' dared not assume any long continuance of his promise.' With Jame& himself there was nothing to be done. ' The wise ' however, with whom Bowes took counsel, ' considered the matter though hard not desperate to be recovered.' Though ' Morton was fallen from his high estate,' the ' experienced ' thought that he might again 1 'The King will be moved to visit the Castle of Edinburgh, and I think it. is either done or will be done this night, but I look it shall not take effect to thedesire of themovers.' Bowes to Burghley and Walsing- ham, April 27 : MSS. Scotland. It is noticeable that Elizabeth only half trusted Burghley in Scotch matters. "Wulsingham bade Bowes direct his general letters to himself and the Lord Treasurer ; but if there was ' any specially private matter,' he was to write it in cipher to Wal- singham singly, ' to be by him con- veyed alone to the Queen.' Wal- singham to Bowes, May 3 : MSS. Scotland.