Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/103

 I5 6 9-] ENGLISH PARTIES. 89 London and went down to Kenmghall, and thence he wrote a letter to her as mean as it was false. 'He grieved to hear that her Majesty was displeased with him/ he said : ' He took God to witness that he had never entertained a thought against her Highness, her crown or dynasty ; ' but ' finding cold looks at the Court, and hearing that he was to be sent to the Tower, he feared that he would not be able to show his inno- cence to her Majesty, and therefore had preferred to withdraw.' ' Thus much I protest to your Majesty/ he dared to say ; ' I never dealt in the Queen of Scots' cause further than I declared, nor ever intended to deal otherwise than I might obtain your Highness' s favour so to do.' 1 The confidence in the Duke's substantial loyalty was still almost universal. 2 Elizabeth knew too much to feel any such assurance. She was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. She sent an express to Tutbury to say that the Duke having withdrawn to Keninghall, and there being some uncertainty of his meaning, Lord Huntingdon must look well to his charge, and see that she did not slip through his hands. He might tell the Queen of Scots that no harm was in- tended towards her ; she would yet receive ' more good Norfolk to Elizabeth, Septem- I it meant not faithfully to her Ma- ber 24, from Keninghall : Burghtey Papers, vol. i. 2 On the 1 8th of September Hunsdon wrote to Cecil ' that he was right glad her Majesty did so mis- like the marriage. Whoever began jesty nor friendly to the Duke. It had been long brewing and there had been strange dealing, but he did not doubt the Duke would show himself nil obedient subject. Ibid.