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 THE FIRST EARL OF SALISBURY 175

taken by him in opening up this secret communi- cation, a full assurance of the state of the Queen's mind, and plain advice with respect to James's future conduct." He protests his absolute loyalty to the Queen.

" I do herein truly and religiously profess before God, that if I could accuse myself to have once imagined a thought which could amount to a grain of error towards my dear and precious Sovereign, or could have discerned (by the overtures of your ministers) that you had enter- tained an opinion or desire to draw me one point from my individual centre, I should wish with all my heart that all I have done or shall do, might be converted to my own perdition."

But when he heard of the " foul impressions " which James continued to receive concerning him, he found it necessary

" to pluck up quickly by the roots those gross inventions of my conspiracies. . . . For when I perceived that the practices which were used to disgrace me, must conse- quently have settled an apprehension in you of an aliena- tion of heart in her Majesty towards you, which must have mortised an opinion in your mind, that she must needs be inclined (if not resolved) to cut off the natural branch and graft upon some wild stock, seeing those that held the nearest place about her were described to be so full of pernicious practices against your Majesty, I did think it my duty to remove that inference, by that occasion which was offered me upon your Ambassadors being here, though I assure myself, it being known would prejudice me in her Majesty's judgment, of whom that language which would be tunable in other princes' ears would jar in hers, whose creature I am. But, Sir, I know it holdeth so just proportion, even with strictest loyalty and soundest

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