Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/598

 $82 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. been.' 1 They did not believe, Wotton added in another letter, that the Queen's objections were sincere ; but her interference ' had bred conceits in their hearts.' ' Having her turn served, the peace concluded, and the King assured,' they thought she would as usual be indifferent to the fate of her instruments. James was known to be revengeful, and if Arran was killed blood might be ex- acted for blood. 2 In return, and not without justice, Arran had formed a counterplot to cut the throat of the Master of Gray. It is curious to observe how the open duel had fallen out of use in Scotland, and assassination become the re-? cognized method of getting rid of a political antagonist. 1 "Wotton to "Walsingham, May 31 June 10 : MSS. Scotland. 2 "Walsingham, or some secretary who had the care of his correspond- ence, erased the passages in "Wotton' s letters which refer to the proposed murder, but the ink with which the lines were blotted has faded, and the original words can be again read. June 5 15, "Wotton writes: 'The Master of Gray conferred with Se- cretary Maitland, who albeit he had been acquainted with the matter aforehand, and gave his consent thereto, began now to dislike thereof and to dissuade it ; the King would lay the fault on them all ; and the Queen having her turn served and trie peace concluded, and the King as- sured, would not trouble herself about what might become of them. Yet did he still think it to be a thing of that necessity that, without it was done, they could not promise any safety to themselves nor continuance of the League ; and thus the Master of Gray came to tell me. "What assurance was held of this enterprise before I came hither, I know not, and I cannot but marvel whence the difficulties that now are made thereof should proceed, I having been told that it should have been don e ere I came hither, which I rather wish had been than otherwise. But to be plain with your Honour, her Ma- jesty's last letter to the Master ad- vising him not to do aught that might make the King's favour de- cline from him hath bred conceits in their heads, and is the cause that it hath hanged so long, and that I am so often pressed for advice thereon, that of all men should be the furthest from the knowledge of it, the better to mediate for the doers.'