Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/338

 324 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54. September. keep the peace and would not bring in French or Spaniards. The Earl of Argjde, Huntly, and others assembled to sign it at a house of Lord Athol's, and ran a narrow chance of being surprised and murdered. The bond however was completed and sent up. The Regent was lectured into behaving himself. Lady Lennox made an effort to induce Elizabeth to pause. The Queen of Scots had tried to persuade her that she had been accused unjustly of the murder, and had promised 'to love her as an aunt and re- spect her as her mother-in-law/ if in future they could be friends. Lady Lennox replied with a protest to Cecil against the restoration as tending to obscure the memory of the crimes of which she was indisputably guilty. 1 1 LADY LENNOX TO CECIL. ' September 8. ' Good Master Secretary, You shall understand that I have heard of some Commissioners that shall go to the Queen of Scotland to treat with her of matters tending to her liberty to go thither, of which she herself doth already make assured account. The knowledge thereof is to me of no small discomfort, con- sidering that notwithstanding the grievous murder which by her means only upon my son her husband was executed, divers persons in this realm doth yet doubt, and a great many doth credit, that since her coming hither she is found clear, and not to be culpable of that fact ; because, as they say, since all the conventions and conferences had between the nobility touching that matter, it has not been published and made known that the said Queen was found in any way guilty tberein. Much more when they already deceived shall see her released to go home at her plea- sure (though upon some devised con- ditions to serve the present), their former conceits shall be verified ; and therein they being satisfied it may appear that she hath sustained in sufferable wrongs to be for no offence so long restrained within this realm. The rest thereof I refer to your wis- dom. I am enforced to crave your friendship herein, and to impart this my meaning to her Majesty, whose Highness I trust will hold me. ex- cused, considering whereupon I