Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/511

 1571-1 THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 497 heads, 1 The same misgiving crossed his mind at first which had occurred to Alva, that Ridolfi might at bottom be an agent of Cecil ; but it passed off ; Don Guerau's letter satisfied him that on this ground there was nothing to fear. At length, the closing week of June, Ridolfi came. ' He has arrived at last/ wrote Philip, giving an account to Don Guerau of his appearance. 'I have received your letter with those also from the Queen of Scots and the Duke of Norfolk. Eidolfi has brought me also a note from his Holiness. I am most anxious to do something, not for any object of my own or for any human interest, but merely and simply for God's glory. What I can and ought to do shall be done, and I shall now decide what it is to be. You will say thus much from me to the Catholics, and bid them be secret and quiet. Oppressed and ill-treated as they have been, they may possibly be too precipitate in their thirst for venge- ance and may move before the time. Tell them that of all things they must keep still till our preparations are complete ; if not, they may share the fate of the two Earls ; their cause will be lost, the Queen of Scots will be put to death, and all the other misfortunes which they can easily imagine will follow. I have sent a courier to the Duke of Alva to desire him at once to place himself in communication with you, and to direct you from time to time how you are to conduct yourself.' 2 To resolve to do something was by no means the 1 Philip II. to Don Guerau, June 20 : MSS. Simancas. 2 Philip II. to Don Guerau, July 13. VOL. ix. 32