Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/434

 418 RETGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 66. pose half overthrown. He left her, if not penitent, yet unwilling, till his scruples could be re- moved, to proceed further, and he wrote to Morgan to tell him so. 1 February. 1 The letter was found among Morgan's papers at Paris, and is beyond doubt in Parry's hand. 'London, Feb. 24, 1583-4. ' Good Mr Morgan, ' I do most heartily thank you for your friendly letter of the 6th, and am glad that by your and my dear friend Mr Charles Paget's example I may so safely send to you. I have not been careless of the debt under- taken, but bring meanly satisfied before my departure from Paris, I laboured by conference with a sin- gular man * on this side to be fully informed what might be done with conscience in that case for the com- mon good. I was very learnedly and substantially in reason, policy, and divinity overruled, and assured it ought not to fall into the thought of a good Christian. The difficulties besides are many, and in this vigilant time full of despair. The service you know did never pass your hand and mine, and may therefore with more ease and less offence be conoealed and suppressed. I am out of doubt that the divine with whom I had confer- ence in Paris by your appointment is secret and honest. If you will tra- vail to satisfy the greatest and to re- tain my better sort of friends in good opinion of me, I shall hold it for a singular pleasure, and if you can use me in any other possible service on this side for you and yours, be bold and assured for me. I have not been careless of the Lord Paget and his brother. Neither do I yet, notwith- standing the proclamation, see any great cause why they should be hasty or overforward in seeking or embracing foreign entertainment. I find the Queen very calm, and heard that she termed some cormo- rants for their greediness in seeking men's livings. Mr Charles Arundel is condemned to have dealt unthank- fully with the Queen, unkindly with his friends, and unadvisedly with himself. I write thus much of them to you to the intent you may make them privy to it, for I know you do honour and love them all. ' Eead and burn. W. PARRY.' The 'greatest' who was to be satisfied was either Guise or, more likely, the Queen of Scots. Philip evidently knew what was intended, and so did other Spanish statesmen. "Writing to Count Olivarez of the discovery of the general conspiracy, he adds, ' Siento mucho lo que pa- descen, y quiera Dios no se acabe de descubrir lo principal.' El Rey al
 * This was probably "William Crichton. See Holinshed, vol. iv. p. 572.