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 1565.] THE DARNLEY MARRIAGE. 339 knew not what to do ; l while to Cecil, not knowing how deeply Cecil was responsible for the Queen's, conduct, he wrote in serious sorrow. In a previous letter he had spoken of ' the Lords of the Congregation/ and Eliza- beth had taken offence at a term which savoured of too advanced a Protestantism. ' The poor noblemen/ he now said, ' rest so amazed and in so great perplexity they know not what to say, do, or imagine. My terming them Lords of the Con- gregation was but used by me because I saw it re- ceived by others ; for that it is not plausible, I shall omit it henceforth, wishing from my heart the cause was plausibly received, and then for terms and names it should be no matter. The Earl of Murray I find constant and honourable, though otherwise sore per- plexed, poor gentleman, the more the pity. As her Majesty means peace we must use the necessary means to maintain peace ; albeit I know that the Queen useth against the Queen's Majesty our sovereign all such re* proachful and despiteful words as she can ; besides her practices with foreign realms, which her Majesty's father I am sure would have thought much of. Yet as her Majesty winketh at the same, I must know what I am to do, whether in dealing with the wardens on the Border I am to recognize commissions signed by the Lord Darnley as King of Scotland.' 2 Randolph, ashamed and indignant at the deception of which he and Throgmorton had been the instru- 1 Bedford to the Queen, October 13 : Scotch MSS. Rolls House. 2 Bedford to Cecil, October 13 and October 26 : MS. Ibid.