Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/479

 157I-] THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 46$ names of the English noblemen designated by the ciphers, and these the Bishop saw no reason for trust- ing to Herle's curiosity. Other and more honourable measures therefore had now to be substituted. On the 1 3th of May, Sir Ralph Sadler, Lord Sussex, and Sir Walter Mildmay repaired to the Bishop's house. He was obliged to admit them, and he was then questioned on his servant's confession. He was required to tell what he knew about Eidolfi's mission. His previous story served him in good stead. Eldolfi, he said, had carried a petition from his mistress to the Duke of Alva, the Pope, and the King of Spain for assistance against the rebels in Scotland. He was asked to explain the ciphers 30 and 40. l He first denied any recollection of them. Then he said that 30 was the Spanish ambassa- dor, and 40 was his own mistress. The examiners in- quired what had become of the letters which had been addressed in these figures. He said that he had burnt them. They asked why, and he could give no explana- tion. 2 They knew that he was not telling the truth, but the rack could not safely be applied to an ambassa- dor, especially on mere suspicion, nor could Cecil ven- ture prudently to commit him to the Tower. His papers were sealed up, his servants separated .from him, and he himself placed under the charge of the Bishop of Ely, to whose house in Holborn he was soon after removed. That he had given a false account of the figures was easily ascertained. Don Guerau was asked 1 The addresses on Ridolfi's I 2 Examination of the Bishop of letters to Norfolk and Lumley. j Ross, May 13 : MUBDIN. VOL. ix 30