Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/475

 1566.] THE MURDER OF DARNLEY. 455 not a single voice either from Peers or Commons was found to second him. Unable to do anything through others, the Queen sent for the principal noblemen con- cerned to remonstrate with them herself in private. The Duke of Norfolk was the first called, and rumour said, though she herself afterwards denied the words, that she called him traitor and conspirator. Leicester, Pembroke, Northampton, and Lord William Howard came next. Norfolk had complained of his treatment to Pembroke : Pembroke told her that the Duke was a good friend both to the realm and to herself; if she would not listen to advice and do what the service of the com- monwealth required, they must do it themselves. She was too angry to argue ; she told Pembroke he spoke like a foolish soldier, and knew not what he was saying. Then seeing Leicester at his side, ' You, my lord/ she said, 'you! If all the world forsook me I thought that you would be true ! ' 1 Madam/ Leicester said, ' I am ready to die at your feet ! ' ' What has that to do with it ? ' she answered. ' And you, my Lord Northampton/ she went on turning from one to the other ; ' you who when you had a wife of your own already could quote Scripture texts to help you to another ; 1 you forsooth must meddle with marriages for me ! You might employ yourself better I think.' She could make nothing of them nor they of her. 1 Northampton's divorce and second marriage had been one of the great scandals of the days of Edward.