Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/39

 WILLIAM, LORD BURGHLEY 25

in the Tower, and though Cecil took no public part in his trial, a document in his handwriting exists, containing a list of questions to be put to the prisoner, all of a nature to compromise him. 1

Such conduct is not that of a hero. But Cecil was not cast in a heroic mould. He played for safety all his life, and was quite incapable of sacrificing himself to satisfy the demands of gratitude or friendship, especially as no action on his part could possibly have benefited his former patron.

In such a matter, as in all others affecting the relations between man and man, the standard of conduct is regulated by customs and conventions which vary from age to age; and a course of action which would meet with severe reprobation at the present day was then considered highly meritorious. Sir Thomas Morysine, Ambassador to the Emperor, no doubt echoed the general opinion when he wrote to congratulate Cecil on escaping his patron's fate, and added, " For it were a way to make an end of amity, if, when men fall, their friends should forthwith therefore be troubled." 2 That Sir William's friends thought him fortunate, rather than reprehensible, is shown by a letter from Sir W. Pickering, who wrote from Paris (October 27th, 1551) expressing his pleasure to hear " the form of your good fortune to be found undefiled with the folly of this unfortunate Duke." 3

1 Cotton MSS., Titus B. n. Quoted by Hume, p. 29.

2 Cal. S. P. Foreign, November i8th, 1551.

3 Tytler, II. 67.

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