Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/118

 104 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 53. and did not shrink in any way from the responsibility of having advised it. So far as the lords had acted together, they had done nothing which could be termed disloyal. Cross- questioning failed to draw anything from them which incriminated the Queen of Scots, 1 and Pembroke both with success and dignity defended the integrity of his own intentions. 2 But he said that he was contented to submit to the Queen's pleasure, and it was not Cecil's policy to press upon him. None better understood than he how to build a bridge for men to retreat over out of a false position. The Bishop of Ross declared that ' he had never dealt with any other except such as had credit with the Queen. 3 Cecil, who had not yet learned the Bishop's power of lying, let the answer pass. To extract truth from Leslie required sharper handling than words. Conciliation, except with the two chief offenders, was the order of the day. Traces, though indistinct, had been found of the hand of Bidolfi. He was con- fined, rather as a guest than as a prisoner, in the house of Walsingham, and was desired to place in writing as 1 'La mayorfuer9a de laprobar^a tiraba a culpar la de Escocia, a. la qual descargaron todos como era justo.' Don Guerau to Philip, Octo- ber 8 : MSS. Simancas. 2 ' In those conferences that I have been at of the Queen of Scots' marriage it is not unknown to you, my Lord of Leicester and Mr Secre- tary, to whose knowledge in this behalf I appeal, with what earnest- ness I have always protested with my life, lands, body, and goods, the main- tenance of God's true religion now established by her Majesty, and the conservation of her Majesty's person, quiet, estate, and dignity against all the attempts yea, or motioners, of the contrary.' Pembroke to the Council, October, 1569. 3 Examination of the Bishop oi Ross, October 10 : Burghley Paper*. vol. i.