The king and Arran were convinced that the mission of Gray had been an entire success. To deepen this impression the banished lords had been commanded to remove from Newcastle towards Cambridge or Oxford (Letter of Colville, 31 Dec. 1584). Wotton meanwhile co-operated with Gray in a plot against Arran, and in preparing the recall of the banished lords. With the approval of Elizabeth, Gray contrived a plot for Arran's assassination, but when it was about to be put into execution, Elizabeth deprecated recourse to violence. Gray replied that unless his own life was in danger he would do nothing violently against his enemies (Gray to Walsingham, 31 May 1585, Cal. State Papers, Scottish Ser. p. 496).
Gray and Arran gradually became aware that each was conspiring against the other. On 22 June Robert Carvell informs Sir John Forster that there had been great ‘disdaining’ between Arran and the Master of Gray (ib. p. 498). All attempts to ‘draw Arran from the king’ were, however, vain (several letters of Wotton, ib. pp. 498–9), and finally on 30 June Wotton intimated that proceedings against him were to be deferred till after the conclusion of the league (ib. p. 500). An attempt at a reconciliation between Arran and Gray (ib.) followed, and they were reported to be ‘carrying a better countenance towards each other’ (Wotton to Walsingham, 8 July, ib.) Lord Russell, son of the Earl of Bedford, was soon afterwards killed in a border affray by Kerr of Ferniehirst, an intimate friend of Arran. Wotton expressed his strong suspicion that this ‘brave young English nobleman’ owed his death to Arran's instigation, and the king agreed to commit Arran to the castle of St. Andrews. But the ruin of his enemy at this particular stage of the proceedings did not suit the purpose of Gray, and with a daring stroke of policy, which amounted to genius, he persuaded the king to transfer Arran from his close imprisonment in the castle of St. Andrews to nominal confinement in Kinneil House. With an admirable pretence of penitence for his folly, Gray admitted to Wotton that the large bribes of Arran had been more than his virtue could resist; and Wotton, from the hopes he entertained of ‘recovering him [Gray] thoroughly,’ represented to Walsingham ‘the expedience of overlooking his fault’ (Wotton to Walsingham, 6, 7, and 9 Aug. Cal. State Papers, Scott. Ser. p. 504). Gray's affected kindness to Arran was a ruse to influence Elizabeth. To deliver Elizabeth prematurely from her fear of Arran was to deprive her of one of her chief motives for coming to terms with James. He saw that it was only by the return of the banished lords that he could hope to overthrow the influence of Arran with the king. The Duke of Guise, during the suspension of negotiations, had, at the instance of Arran, entered into negotiations with the Scottish king. On 25 Aug. 1585 Wotton informed Walsingham that the Master of Gray was of opinion that they were running a wrong course in seeking to disgrace Arran with the king, and that the only method certain of success was to ‘let slip’ the banished lords, who would be able to take Arran and seize on the person of the king. The ministers of Elizabeth were unanimous in approving of the proposal, but as usual Elizabeth hesitated. At last Gray plainly informed Wotton that if another fortnight were allowed to elapse ‘he would shift for himself,’ and accept the offers of France (Wotton to Walsingham, 22 Sept.) The threat decided Elizabeth. The plot was now developed by Gray and Wotton with a rapidity and skill which completely outwitted Arran and the king. The universal hatred that prevailed in Scotland against Arran assured its complete success. On the movement of the lords in England becoming known, Wotton made his escape to Berwick. Arran breaking from Kinneil denounced the Master of Gray, then absent in Perthshire collecting his followers, as the author of the conspiracy. The king sent a summons to Gray to appear and answer the charge. It was probably part of Gray's plan to be present with the king when the lords should appear, and with marvellous audacity he resolved not to be baulked of his purpose by the accusation of Arran. He could plead that he had stood Arran's friend against the accusations of the English ambassador, and when he indignantly denied all knowledge of the plot, his denial was at once accepted by the king. In despair Arran and his friends had determined as their last hope to stab Gray to death, even in the king's presence, when news arrived that the banished lords had already reached St. Ninians, within a mile of Stirling (Relation of the Master of Gray, p. 59). Thereupon Arran escaped in disguise by the water-gate. The king also stole down unobserved to a postern gate, but Gray had taken care to have it locked. Gray was now employed by the king to arrange terms with the conspirators, with whom he was acting in concert. These he conducted in such a manner as at the same time to divert any suspicion that he was concerned in the conspiracy, and to secure the gratitude of the king. He was able to announce to Elizabeth that the banished lords were in as good favour as ever they enjoyed (Gray to
