Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/451

 1584-] EXPULSION OF MENDOZA. 43$ could not be accused of partisanship. The brothers undertook, if she would restore them, to break up the present faction which ruled the King. She sent them down to the Border, and made a show of collecting a force at Berwick. Mar and Glamys stole back from Knockfergus, and an unnatural alliance was secretly formed between the chiefs of the Protestant faction and the sons of the Duke of Cbatelherault. Gowrie, Rothea, Angus, and several others undertook to surprise the King, and deal with him as might afterwards be found convenient. If they failed, or if they could find no convenient opportunity, their plan was to fall back upon the Border. The Hamiltons were then to join them, and their united parties were to march on Edinburgh, draw- ing supplies from Berwick, and perhaps attended by an English fleet. 1 Elizabeth's promises however were still ambiguous. She gave good words in plenty, but neither from her nor from Sir Robert Bowes could the Lords obtain a 1 Mauvissiere, writing on the 23rd of April, says distinctly that they looked for help from England, but they were purposely misled by Sir Robert Bowes, whose instruc- tions were to tempt them to commit themselves while evading a distinct engagement on the part of his own Government. ' By such discreet messengers as I employed,' he wrote, ' I satisfied the chief solicitor in this cause and tbe rest of the party, of his late letters sent to me. In this I have advised to behold the goodwill showed in like matters in time past, whereby they may have good experience that neither the good cause nor the well- affected have been abandoned in time of necessity. I have not nor dare not write any particular pro- mise or comfort to them otherwise than by words and eifects rehearsed with like generalities, to continue them in good hopes, without any bond or promise from me.' Bowes to Walsinghain, April 4 -14 -M&S. Scotland.