Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/41

 1569-] ENGLISH PARTIES. a; vision made, her Highness and the realm would take commodity ' by her marriage with the Duke, if the Duke himself would agree to it. The Bishop of Ross undertook that his mistress would do anything which the Queen of England and the no- bility desired. The Duke, ' with all manner of earnest- ness/ as if he had waited for this assurance, professed himself willing. ' Although/ he said, ' he would prefer to remain unmarried, yet, if the Queen of Scots would accept him, he would be content to sacrifice himself ; for ' the welfare of his country/ 1 Richard Cavendish, a son of Lady Shrewsbury by a previous marriage, went down to the Queen of Scots on behalf of Leicester, with presents and compliments. 2 The Queen of Scots confirmed the Bishop's engage- ments for her ; and it was agreed that, when the ar- rangements were sufficiently advanced, Maitland should come up from Scotland, and, in the Regent's name, make a formal proposal for the marriage. All this the Duke of Norfolk concealed carefully from Don Guerau. To the ambassador he represented himself as seeking for nothing but a return to com- munion with Rome. He was playing with all sides for all events ; in case Elizabeth fell, or was compelled to 2 Among the presents ' as she seemed to be afraid of poison' Leicester sent her ' three special preservatives ; ' 'a stone in a gold box,' ' a silver box with Mithridate,' 1 Examination of the Earl of Pembroke, September 29, 1569 ; Examination of Sir Nicholas Throg- morton, October 10, 1569 : Burghley Papers, vol. i. Confession of the Duke of Norfolk, November 10, 1571: MSS., MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, Rolls ' and a horn of some beast.' Nor- folk's Confession : Ibid.