Life of William Davison : secretary of state and privy counsellor to Queen Elizabeth

Preface

So many works have recently appeared on the reign of Elizabeth, that it is necessary the motives which have produced another should be explained, lest the idea that nothing new can be said on any of the events which occurred in that period, should create a prejudice against the present publication.

The connection of William Davison, one of the Secretaries of State to Queen Elizabeth, with the fate of Mary Queen of Scots, has obtained for him the notice both of Historians and Biographers, and he is in a great degree identified with that event. In examining his conduct on that occasion, that of Elizabeth is necessarily reviewed ; hence every thing which relates to it is of great

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IV

PREFACE.

interest , as additional light is thrown on an obscure point of history, and new traits are developed in the character of that extraordinary woman. From the original matter inserted in this volume, sufficient evidence is perhaps adduced to form a conclusive opinion of her real intentions towards her kinswoman.

Some of the manuscripts in the British Museum were found to contain very important particulars of Davison : especially, two circumstantial narratives of what occurred between Elizabeth and himself relative to the warrant for Mary’s execution ; a copy of his examinations in the Tower, by two Privy Counsellors ; and his pathetic appeal to the Queen’s feelings : neither of which documents have, it is presumed, been before noticed.

The will of Davison, which has hitherto escaped observation, affords considerable information about him after his dismissal from Elizabeth’s councils, at which epoch of his life all his former Biographers have left him ; and very little has been known of him subsequent to his commitment to the Tower.

PREFACE.

V

Several letters from the most illustrious of Davison’s contemporaries are introduced; of these a few have already been published ; but the one from King James to Archibald Douglas, all of those from Sir Philip Sydney, and the majority of the others, were copied from the originals, and are for the first time printed.

The Appendix contains the four Narratives, or, as they are termed, “Apologies,” left by Davison. The two first, and which are the fullest and most satisfactory, have never before, it is believed, been cited or published ; and although the third may be found in many works, it was thought advisable to collect the whole of the evidence which exists on the subject. The fourth is given in Robertson’s “History of Scotland;” but it is inserted for the same reason. The three examinations of Davison, whilst he was a prisoner in the Tower, a paper written by him, relative to the conduct of Lord Burleigh towards him, and two copies of his trial before the Star Chamber, will also be found at the end of the volume.

The question of the guilt or innocence of the Queen of Scots is not in the slightest vi

PREFACE.

way discussed; nor are Davison’s sentiments on the necessity of her destruction either approved or defended : all which is claimed for him on that point is, that he was guided by the most conscientious feelings, and that the opinions he expressed were dictated by his anxiety for Elizabeth’s personal safety, his zeal for the Protestant Religion, and his devotion to the welfare of his Country. That these excitements might have misled his judgment is by no means improbable, for his inflexible integrity was no protection against the prejudices and errors of his times. It is admitted that he was Mary’s political enemy; but he was a generous and open adversary; and although a mistaken patriotism induced him to advise the Queen to execute the sentence passed on her, his love of justice made him reject with abhorrence every suggestion for putting her to death by sinister or illegal means. As this was the most momentous transaction in Davison’s life, an apology can scarcely be required for the space appropriated to the relation of it.

Considerable trouble has been taken to obtain all the information which is extant concerning this celebrated Statesman ; and

PREFACE.

Vll it is sanguinely hoped that such particulars of him have been discovered as will be interesting to the Publick, and attain the object which has actuated his Biographer in submitting this Memoir to its notice — that of exhibiting the character of the unfortunate Davison in its true colours, of removing those suspicions which have prevented his greatest advocates from totally acquitting him of guilt or imprudence, and of vindicating that reputation which it was the wish of his ungenerous Sovereign to traduce and destroy.

DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.

Fac-Similes of the Hand-writing of William Davison

[ to face the title.

— — of the Earls of Leicester and Essex, Lord

Burleigh, and Sir Francis Walsingham P. 26

of Sir Philip Sydney P. 30

of Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of

Scots, and James I P. 72

Genealogical Table P. 213

LIFE

OF

SECRETARY OP STATE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH.

It is the province of Biography to collect those particulars of the lives of men who have been eminent in the service of their country, which are too minute for the historian, and to enter into that extensive indagation of their conduct which the nature and object of history entirely preclude. A wish is often entertained to become acquainted with the private characters of statesmen who attained the plenitude of power and prosperity ; and a strong desire

N.

B is generally felt to learn what befel them after the sun of royal favour, to which alone they sometimes owed their celebrity, had entirely set. The historian necessarily leaves those who possessed his attention, when they cease to be concerned in the transactions which he records ; but the biographer, like a faithful friend, attends them wherever adversity may drive them ; and steadily follows the luminary, whose rise and apex excited his admiration, through its obscurations and wane, to its natural and total extinction.

Few men have ever so severely experienced the vicissitudes attendant on public life, or suffered so cruelly from the selfish policy and injustice of their sovereign, as William Davison, one of the Secretaries of State to Queen Elizabeth.

Of the ancestry of this celebrated individual nothing is known, and even the time and place of his birth have not been ascertained. Whilst the guest of Sir James Melvill, during his residence in Scotland, as secretary to Mr. Killegrew, he told Sir James “that he was come of Scotsmen from

* Memoirs of Sir James Melvill, ed. 1735, p. 314, 315.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

this remark it lias been concluded that he was either bom in Scotland, or descended from natives of that country. * His name f renders it very probable that his family were Scotch; but, from his being a genealogist, and nothing relative to his own pedigree being given in his manuscripts, it may fairly be presumed that it was obscure ; and this opinion is supported by his having had a grant of arms, the registry of which is the only record of him in the Heralds’ College. The cause of his introduction to the court of Elizabeth, and the appointment he first held in it, are subjects of conjecture : by his marriage he was allied to many persons of considerable importance ; amongst others to the celebrated Earl of Leicester, who addressed him in all his letters as his cousin ; to Sir William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burleigh ; and to Sir Henry

* Kippis’s Biographia Britannica.

f In a letter, given in Collins’s Peerage (ed. 1779, vol. II. p. 402), from Henry Percy, eighth Earl of Northumberland, to the Earl of Shrewsbury, dated Alnwick, 6th August 1557? he speaks of a “ Richard Davyson who was mortally wounded in a skirmish in the town of Eenwick ; and describes him as one of the “ best borderers and guides” which the Scotch forces possessed.

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Killegrew, * with whom he commenced his diplomatic career, but it is not likely that the connexion was formed sufficiently early to allow his first appearance in public life to be attributed to that cause. To Sir James Melvill’s memoirs f we are probably indebted for the earliest information respecting him : it appears from them that he accompanied Mr. Killegrew, in June 1566, as Secretary to the embassy to congratulate the Queen of Scots on the birth of her son. The passage from which we learn this, contains also an insinuation against him, which is transcribed, in order to point out its injustice : — “ He (Davison) had been in Scotland before, and was at my house, in company with Sir Henry Killegrew, my old friend, when he was resident in Scotland ; at which time he acknowledged to me that he was come of Scotsmen, and was a Scotsman in his heart, and a favourer of the King’s right and title to the crown of England. He desired me to keep all secret from Mr. Killegrew, promising, if he could find the means to be employed

* Vide Genealogical Table.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

here, that he would do good offices.” * It is difficult precisely to understand what is meant by this observation, unless the author intended to assert, that Davison entertained designs at variance with his integrity and duty. The inaccuracy of part of the paragraph from which the above has been extracted has been already alluded to ; f and the injustice of the insinuation is apparent from the improbability of his making any communication to Sir James Melvill which he wished to be kept secret from Mr. Killegrew, on an occasion when the latter was present. A possibility certainly exists that this conversation occurred with Melvill in the very words in which he relates it ; if so, the presumption is, that Davison had a political object in professing his attachment to Scotland, and that Killegrew was perfectly acquainted with it; although it might be necessary to persuade Sir James that his zeal for the interest of that country entirely arose from personal feelings, and that it was not only imconnected with his official situa-

* Melvill’s Memoirs, p. 314,315. t Kippis’s Biographia Britannica.

tion, but in opposition to the duties which it imposed. When, however, it is remembered that part of what is attributed to him was in unison with his opinions on the succession of James to the throne of England, it is most probable that Melvill5s memory on that occasion was imperfect ; for until Davison's appointment as Secretary of State, his very enemies have admitted the unblemished integrity of his political character. His talents and acquirements, united to the extraordinary address and assiduity which always distinguished him, caused him to be selected to accompany Mr. Killegrew.* For nearly ten years nothing farther is known of him. Killegrew returned from Scotland in the July of the same year ; f but whether Davison remained after his departure, or came back with him, is uncertain. His biographers remark, that there are strong reasons for believing that he remained attached to the court, and was employed in affairs of importance during that period. J

* Biographia Britannica.

f Burleigh’s Notes of the Reign of Elizabeth, in Murdin’s Burleigh Papers. f Biographia Britannica.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

The grounds for this supposition are not stated; but it must be observed, that he is not mentioned in any work on the reign of Elizabeth between the years 1566 and 1576.

On the death of Zuniga, governor of the Low Countries, and commander of Requesens, in February 1576, Davison was sent to the States as her Majesty’s agent, to continue the treaty of peace. * His instructions are dated March 29, 1576 : f they command him to assure the States of her Majesty’s commiseration ; to deny the accusation made against her, that she nourished their civil wars ; and to advise them to continue in their allegiance to the King of Spain : but the real object of his mission was to observe the state of affairs, with the view of enabling Elizabeth to proceed with the greater policy relative to the applications made to her by the Prince of Orange and the people of Holland. J He executed the commission with which he was entrusted so much to the Queen’s satisfaction that he

* Lord Burleigh’s Notes. t Biographia Britannica.

f Lansdown MSS. 155.

was sent over, on the 2d of July 1577,* to reside as her Majesty’s agent at Antwerp ; and by instructions dated the 2d of August following, he was ordered, on Namur being seized by Don John, to proceed to that city, f His conduct was as highly approved by Elizabeth as it was agreeable to the States : he taught them to hope for the Queen’s aid and support ; and on their pointing out that they absolutely required a sum of money for their defence, he immediately engaged to procure it, on their giving adequate security. The valuable jewels and plate which had been pledged by Matthias of Austria to the States of Holland were, in consequence, sent to this country. Lord Burleigh, speaking of them in his notes, says, “ May 1579. Mr. Davison brought over jewels from the States for a pawn for <^28,000 ; which jewels were delivered to the Lord Cobham and Mr. Secretary Walsingham, with consent of the Arch-duke Matthias, governor there after Don John’s death but the total sum advanced appears

* Burleigh’s Notes.

f Lansdown MSS. 155.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

to have been <§£50,000.* The different instructions given to Davison by the Queen during his residence in Holland, together with his letters to the Earl of Leicester, &c. are still preserved : they throw considerable light on the affairs of the States at that period, and upon Elizabeth’s conduct towards them ; their contents, however, are more connected with the history of that country than with the life of Davison. They completely prove that throughout his negociations with the States of Holland he evinced the greatest diplomatic ability, and that he had the singular good fortune not only to obtain the approbation of his own Sovereign, but also to acquire the esteem of the States General, f

* Cottonian MSS. Galba, c. vi. part II. f. 110.

f The MSS. in the British Museum relating to Davison's negotiations in Holland are,

Copies of six instructions from the Queen to Mr. Davison, of different dates between March 29, 1576, and September 19,

1578. (Lansdown MSS. 155. Harl. MSS. 285.36. Cottonian MSS. Galba, c. vi. part II.)

Seven letters, containing instructions, &c. from Sir Francis Walsingham to Mr. Davison, of various dates ; the first from Odiham, Oct. 22, 1578, and the last from Richmond, Jan. 20,

1579. (Cottonian MSS. Galba, c. vi. part II.)

Two letters from Mr. Davison to Lord Burleigh, relating to

Mr. Davison returned from Holland in April or May 1579 ; and the manner in the affairs of Holland; the one dated Brussels, April 16, and the other April 21, 1576. (Cottonian MSS. Galba, c. v.)

Eight letters, on the same subject, from Mr. Davison to the Earl of Leicester, of various dates, between Oct. 3, 157 7, and March 26, 1579. (Cottonian MSS. Galba, c. vi. parts I. and II.)

The Prince of Orange’s answer to several points proposed by Mr. Davison, April 1578.

Minutes of proposals made by Mr. Davison, May 20, 1578.

Articles proposed by Mr. Davison to the States General, with their answers, May 29, 1578.

Bond from the States of the Low Countries for money borrowed of Queen Elizabeth, Antwerp, Nov. 3, 1578.

Remonstrance ' made by Mr. Davison to Prince Casimir, concerning his conduct at Ghent, Nov. 10, 1578.

Prince Casimir to Queen Elizabeth, complaining of Davison’s remonstrance, Nov. 14, 1578.

A paper relating to the Sum of ,§£50,000 lent by Queen Elizabeth to Brabant and Flanders in 1578.

Memorial of Mr. Davison to confer with the Prince of Orange, with the Prince’s answers, 1578.

Articles proposed by Mr. Davison to the States General, with the answers of the States, May 20, 1578.

Another memorial for Mr. Davison to confer with the Prince of Orange, with the Prince’s answer.

A Letter from Sir Francis Walsingham to Don Casimir, denying that he was the cause of Mr. Davison’s negociation, which had offended the Duke, 1578. (Cottonian MSS. Galba, c. vi. part II.)

A letter from the States General to the Queen, regretting Davison’s departure, and requesting that he or another might

WILLIAM DAVISON.

which he had conducted the delicate affairs committed to his guidance gained him so high a reputation at court that he was employed on every object which required nice and difficult management. * * Probably as a reward for the services he had performed, Elizabeth granted him, by letters patent, dated 19th January, in the twenty-first year of her reign [1578], the reversion of the situations of clerk of the Treasury and Warrants, and Gustos Brevium of the King’s Bench ; f but he did not succeed to them until many years afterwards.

In 1582 the affairs of Scotland wore a serious aspect : the influence of France

began to be considerably felt, and it became desirable that an effort should be made not only to counteract it, but to induce the King and the people to slight the offers made them by that country, and to depend speedily be sent them ; also on the subject of the deposit of Jewels, &c. ; Antwerp, May 22, 1579.

“ A Remembrance for ‘my Cosen Cheeke’ of such Particulars as he is to declare unto Her Majesty concerning the present State of the Low Countries, 1578.” (Cottonian MSS. Galba, c. vi. part II.)

* Biographia Britannica. t Harl. MSS. 830.

upon England only for assistance. So important a mission required talents and address of the highest order, and Davison, from possessing both in a superior degree, was selected as her Majesty’s ambassador to the court of Scotland. Lord Burleigh’s notes inform us that he and Mr. Bowes went into Scotland in February 1582-3. It is certain that Davison succeeded in gaining considerable influence both with James and the Earl of Arran ; and this is admitted, even by a writer who speaks of him with direspect : * the Lord Treasurer’s notes also state that “Davison was revoked from Scotland in September 1583 but it is positive that he was there in September 1584. f

* Fontenay’s letter to Mary Queen of Scots, in Murdin’s Burleigh papers, p. 552.

f The following part of Davison’s correspondence whilst ambassador to the court of Scotland is in the British Museum.

Thirty-five letters from Mr. Davison to Secretary Walsingham, on the affairs of Scotland, between January 1582-3 and September 17, 1584. (Cottonian MSS. Caligula, c. vii. and c. viii. Harl. MSS. 291.)

Two letters from Mr. Davison to Lord Burleigh ; the one

WILLIAM DAVISON.

From Davison’s correspondence it appears that in January 1582-3 he had an audience of the King ; that he was soon after at Newcastle ; and, in the March following, at Edinburgh. In the dispatch from Mr. Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, dated at Edinburgh, March 28, 1583-4, he says, that Mr. Davison and Manningville were then about to return : he was, however, at Berdated Jan.3, 1582-3, and the other, from Berwick, MayS, 1584. (Cottonian MSS. Caligula, c. vii. and Harl. MSS. 291.)

A letter from Mr. Davison to Sir Christopher Hatton, Edinburgh, 6th September 1584. (Harl. MSS. 291.)

Several letters to and from Davison, and other papers, relating to his Embassy. (Ibid.)

A letter from Secretary Walsingham to Mr. Davison and Mr. Bowes, Feb. 27? 1582-3. (Ibid.)

Articles presented by Mr. Davison and Mr. Bowes, for the better satisfaction of Her Majesty, March 1, 1582-3. (Cottonian MSS. Caligula, c. vii.)

Also, Queen Elizabeth’s instructions to Mr. Davison. ( Harl. MSS. 291.)

A letter from the Queen to Mr. Davison, dated August 1584. (Ibid.)

Directions to Mr. Davison for employing the sum of ^*2000, signed by Lord Burleigh, dated 25 April 1584. (Harl. MSS. 286. Caligula, c. viii.)

The King of Scotland’s passport for Mr. Davison, dated at Holyrood, 26 May 1584. (Harl. MSS. 291.)

wick in May 1584, in which month his passport is dated; and on the 1 7th of September he states, in his letter to Secretary Walsingham, that he was on his return from Scotland. Robertson thus speaks of the object and success of Davison’s mission : “ Henry III. sent De Motte Fenelon, his ambassador at Elizabeth’s court, to Edinburgh, to endeavour to place James in a situation more suitable to his dignity than to be in the hands of a party devoted to the English. As Elizabeth could not refuse him liberty to execute this commission, she sent Davison (‘a man of abilities and address’ *) to attend him into Scotland as her envoy, under colour of concurring with him in the negociation, but in reality to obstruct his success. James received Fenelon with great respect ; but finding himself watched by Davison, and distrusted by the Nobles, he returned to England without having succeeded in his object.” f About this period Mr. Davison was clerk of the Privy Coun-

* History of Scotland, vol. II. p. 283.

f Ibid.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

cil ; * but the date of his appointment to that office has not been discovered. Early in 1585 the States of the Low Countries became obliged to throw themselves on the Queen’s protection, and after Antwerp was seized by the Spaniards, she was necessitated to adopt decided measures. Elizabeth determined to assist them in their resolution of defending their freedom by force of arms ; and Mr. Davison was selected as her Majesty’s ambassador to form the treaty with them, which was to be the basis of their alliance with England : he went into Holland, according to Lord Burleigh’s account, in August 1585 ; who thus notices his departure : “August 1585, Mr. William Davison sent of special message into the Low Countries, with 40 shillings diet.”f His instructions, which are still extant, J are without date, and consist of nine articles : the principal point in them is, to assure the States that the Queen had taken them under her

* Strype’s Annals, vol. III. p. 290. f Lord Burleigh’s notes, t Cottonian MSS. Titus, b. ii.

protection ; with some directions as to his conduct in particular contingencies. The most explicit information relative to his negociation in Holland is given in the following note to the life of Davison in Kippis’s “ BiographiaBritannica.” It is chiefly taken from Strype’s “ Annals” * and the “ Cabala;” but these works have been referred to without finding all the letters and intelligence which it is said are contained in them. “ The treaty with the States was negociated between their ministers and a committee of the Privy Council here ; but the carrying it into execution was entirely remitted to the care of Mr. Davison.

“ The Queen’s instructions to him, countersigned by Secretary Walsingham, are still preserved, and consist of nine articles ; but they are without datef. It appears, however, that in September 1585, his negociation was far advanced ; for upon the fifth of that month the Queen sent him a commission to take possession of Flushing in her

* Vol. III. p. 290. f Cottonian MSS. Titus, b. ii.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

behalf, and to put the Brill into the hands of the person whom General Norris should appoint. There are also letters extant from him to the Earl of Leicester and Secretary Walsingham, relating to these affairs, as also a very remarkable dispatch from the Commissioners who had concluded this treaty to Mr. Davison, dated October the 3d, in which they acquaint him of her Majesty’s entire approbation of his conduct, and signify that the discontent which it seems had been already shewn about this treaty, did not in the least regard him ; but referred to those who had the administration of affairs in Holland, who are said to have shewn a spirit of over-reaching ; and as they were composed of traders and advocates, the former respecting nothing but their profit, and the latter flying naturally to quirks and tricks, there was no better to be expected from them. Upon the whole, it appears that no Minister could have greater trust reposed in him ; or desire a more ample approbation of his services than he met with. In one thing only he seems to have been a little uneasy, and that was the narrowness of his allowance, which made him very desirous to return to England, c that the rise of his reputation might not be purchased by the ruin of his estate. He was not, however, recalled till after the Earl of Leicester went over thither ; and we find the Lord Treasurer Burleigh entreating him to give his advice to Mr. Thomas Cecil, his eldest son, appointed Governor of the Brill, at the same time that Sir Philip Sydney succeeded Mr. Davison in the command of Flushing/' *

The Earl of Leicester arrived in Holland

* The following documents and letters relative to Mr. Davison’s mission to the Low Countries, are among the manuscripts in the British Museum.

Queen Elizabeth’s instructions to Mr. Davison on his going over (without date). (Cottonian MSS. Titus, B. ii.)

Ibid. 24 December 1584. (Harl. MSS. 285.)

Ibid. 3 September 1585. (Harl. MSS. 36.)

Ibid. 27 April 1586. (Cottonian MSS. Galba, C. ix.)

Queen Elizabeth’s Warrant for Mr. Davison’s return, April 24, 1586. (Harl. MSS. 285.)

A letter from Mr. Davison to Sir Francis Walsingham, Flushing, October 31, 1585. (Lansdown MSS. 150.)

A letter from Mr. Davison to Mr. Herle, London, Feb. 17? 1585-6. (Cotton. MSS. Galba, C. viii.)

Nine letters from Mr. Davison to the Earl of Leicester, of various dates, between Oct. 5, 1585, and Feb. 28, 1585-6. (Ibid.)

A letter from Mr. Davison to a Dutch Minister, Hague, March 10, 1586. (Ibid.)

WILLIAM DAVISON.

about the 12th of December, 1585, as appears from his letter to Sir Francis Walsingham, dated the Hague, 22d January, 1585* [1586] : in this dispatch, he speaks very highly of Mr. Davison, and of the services he had rendered in Holland, and requests that he might be sent back to him with increased powers. Davison’s repeated solicitations to be allowed to return to England, were at length complied with : the Queen’s warrant for his return is dated 24th April 1585 f [1586] ; it states that the reason of

A letter from Maurice de Nassau, Prince of Orange, to Mr. Davison, Hague, 15S5. (Cotton. MSS. Galba, C.viii.)

Remembrance from the Earl of Leicester for Mr. Davison. (Cotton. MSS. Galba, C. ix.)

A letter from Mr. Davison to the Earl of Leicester, London, Feb. 17, 1585-6. (Ibid.)

Ibid, last day of Feb. 1585-6. (Ibid.)

Ibid. London, July 2, 1586. (Ibid.)

Two letters, Ibid. Nov. 4 and 5, 1586. (Cotton. MSS. Galba, C.x.)

A letter from the Earl of Leicester to Mr. Davison, March 10, 1585-6. (Harl.MSS. 285.)

Ibid. April 24, 1585. (Ibid.) From the contents of this letter, the date assigned to it must be erroneous. It was probably written in November 1585.

A letter from Sir Philip Sydney to Mr. Davison, dated Amsterdam, 19 March, 1586. (Ibid.)

Ibid. Flushing, 14 April, 1586. (Ibid.)

* Harl. MSS. f Harl. MSS. 285.

his being recalled was her “ Understanding his earnest suit, and desire to be revoked.” The cause of this request, it has been said, was the smallness of his allowance ; and if his embassy afforded him no other sources of emolument than the allowance of forty shillings a day, which Lord Burleigh tells us was his pay, we can easily imagine that his private fortune must have suffered considerably. Mr. Davison was, however, in London two months before the date of his recall : the following extracts from his letter to Mr. Herle, dated London, February 17th 1585 * [1586], are curious. He informs him that he arrived in town on the preceding Sunday, “and on the same day repaired to the court, but found a very cold welcome, and things strangely interpreted/' That Lord Leicester's conduct “ was utterly disapproved, and that Sir Thomas Heneage was dis-

* Cottonian MSS. Galba, C. viii. It is to be remarked that in many of the copies of original letters, given in this Memoir, although the original expressions are strictly preserved, the orthography is modernized. This has been done because many of the MSS. particularly those of Mr. Davison, are so very illegible, that it was almost impossible to decipher every letter ; hence, as it could not be done with exactness, it was thought best not to attempt it.

WILLIAM DAVISON.

patched to undo and overthrow all that was done after his arrival he says, “ my first object was to discover from Mr. Secretary, and then from the Vice Chamberlain, whether her Majesty, having knowledge of my arrival, had sent for me.” “ The first part of my audience with the Queen was exceeding sharp, not only against his Lordship, for presuming so far without her privity and consent, and against her express commands ; but also against me for not dissuading him, and opposing myself to it.” “ Of the success of my arguments with her Majesty,” he continues, “ you may learn from my letters to my Lord, and to others ; and I may be bold to assure you, that had I not arrived, my Lord would have been utterly dishonoured, and the cause overthrown.” Although he had successfully exerted himself to convince the Lord Treasurer that the measures adopted were necessary, and his Lordship had in consequence urged Elizabeth on the subject, he adds, “ the Queen is indisposed to revoke Sir Thomas, but I have induced her to qualify her message ; but even now, it would be little acceptable to the Earl, or profitable to the cause :” that Sir Thomas was then in Kent, detained by wind and weather, intending to go by Flushing “ if the journey held;3' but which he had some idea would not be the case, as he found cc her Majesty decline daily in the heat of her offence against his Lordship,’5 who, he observes, “ owes more to the constant friendship of Mr. Secretary than to all the others at Court :55 after expressing his hopes that Mr. Herle5s wife and his friends were well, he tells him that “ my poor self being now in some part unburdened of my business, am preparing to go towards the Bath, about the middle of next month, where I shall be more able to pray for you, than able to do you service ;55 and concludes by assuring him of his friendship. In a postscript, he adds, that Sir William Pelham was then at his house in the country, from whom he had heard once or twice, and who, he remarks, “ had been hardly dealt with.55 *