Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/99

 1569] ENGLISH PARTIES. 85 Hampton Court. The Duke, at the close of the invest- igation, had disclaimed to her, in the most indignant language, all intentions of forming a connection so dis- honourable. 1 When she discovered that at that very moment he had been intriguing for the Queen of Scots' hand with the Regent, her worst suspicions were con- firmed. The Duke had gone for a day or two to London to arrange matters, as was afterwards known, for the rescue of the Queen of Scots from Wingfield. She sent an order to him to come back to her immediately. He obeyed, and she spoke to him with a sharpness which convinced him at once he had nothing to hope from her. The conditions had thus arisen under which it had been agreed that the Confederates were to take arms. The Duke left the Court without taking leave. He wrote a brief note to Cecil, in which he said he was sorry he had given offence ; he trusted the Queen would learn in time to distinguish her true friends, 2 and then galloped back to Don Gruerati and the Bishop of Ross. By them the signal for the insurrection was to be sent down to the North, while the Duke himself was to call into the field the gentlemen of Norfolk and Suffolk. In the presence of immediate danger, the whole force 1 ' Why,' he said, ' should I seek j justly charge me with seeking your to marry her being so wicked a woman, such a notorious adulteress and murderess? I love to sleep upon a safe pillow; and if I should go about to marry with her, knowing as I do that she pretendeth a title to the present possession of your Ma- jesty's crown, your Majesty might own crown from your head.' Sum- mary of matters wherewith the Duke of Norfolk has been charged : Muu- DIN, p. 1 80. 2 Norfolk to Cecil, September 15, from Andover : Hnrgh'ley Papers,