Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/356

 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 66 either Alenon or any other person, and as all efforts to gain him over had been tried in vain, his life had been sought for some years past by the indirect means which are either murder or legitimate execution according to the character of the victim. 1 Bothwellhaugh, who killed Murray, had been employed to assassinate him in 1573, and party after party of English Catholic officers had tried it afterwards. In 1579 a youth introduced himself to Don Bernardino, in London, with a letter of credit from a merchant of Bruges. He said that he was in possession of a poison which if rubbed on the lining of a man's hat would dry up his brain and would kill him in ten days, and if the ambassador approved, he was ready to try its effects upon the Prince of Orange. Don Bernardino, not expecting much result, yet gave him his blessing, and bade him do his best. 2 Other experiments more promising were tried after- wards, but none had hitherto succeeded. Finally Philip declared the Prince outlawed, and promised a public reward to any one who would put him out of the way in the service of God and his country. The King's pleasure being made known, Don Pedro Arroyo, father of one of the royal secretaries, announced that he knew a man who would make the venture. Philip offered eighty thousand dollars, with the Order of St lago ; and the reward being held sufficient, Don Pedro gave 1 The English Government had bought the head of Desmond. In our own time a reward has been of- fered for Nana Sahib, dead or alive. 2 Don Bernardino de Mendoza to Philip, February 26 March 8, 1579: MSS. Simancas.