Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/427

 I 5 8 4 ] EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. ness that could be produced against him, and that Throgmorton's confession had been extorted by the rack. He answered boldly that the council were dream- ing. The Queen of Scots was heir -presumptive to the crown. What, he asked, had she to gain by conspir- ing ? or he by conspiring with her ? She would but ruin her prospects, forfeit her French dowry, and throw the cost of her maintenance on the King of Spain. Experienced men did not hatch treason with boys like Throgmorton ; and with the Earl of Northumberland he swore that he had never exchanged a word. 1 He challenged Walsingham to prove his charges. What had he said, and when, and to whom ? How had he planned the Queen of Scots' escape ? Her Majesty found fault with him. She should look rather to what she had done herself. She had lent money to the re- volted States, and three thousand English under Eng- lish officers were serving at that moment in the Low Countries. She had assisted Don Antonio. She had supported the Duke of Alencon. Again and again and again she had taken possession of treasure belonging to Spain, and had always refused redress. If she wished him to depart he declared that he was ready to go ; he had no desire to remain where he was unwelcome; but i Telling the truth in this, as he explained to Philip, all his com- munications -with the Earl having passed through Mary Stuart. ' Como es verdad, no he hablado jamas al Conde de Northumberland, por haber procedido siempre en estas materias con gran, recato y de manera que no me pudiesen clarificar nada dellas, no habiendo platicado con persona fuera de la de Escocia de par- ticular ninguno, sino fuese escribien- do ella que confidentes suyos me ad- virtiesen dellos.' Mendoza al Rey, 1626 Enero, 1584: MSS. Si- mancas.