IS70-] THE RISING OF THE NORTH. 173 with the expenses, and quarrelling with the most loyal of her council, whom she accused of having involved her in them. She listened, if she listened at all, to those
- back councillors ' whom Cecil so much dreaded, and of
whom he so unceasingly complained. Still insisting that Murray should deliver Northumberland to her, she insisted at the same time that, as the rebellion was over, her army should be immediately dismissed ; and so hasty, so peremptory, she was on this last point, that Sussex was compelled to disband half the troops with no better pay ' than fair words and promises/ while Scotland was exasperated into fury, and three counties were being driven wild with wholesale executions, which were only so far discriminating that the poorest of the people were chosen to be sufferers. The opinion of the want of wisdom which Elizabeth was displaying in these matters is not the presumptuous censure of the half-informed modern historian. The disapprobation must have gone deep, when Cecil could have so written about her conduct as to call out the fol- lowing answer from her own cousin and her most faith- ful servant Hunsdon : LORD HUNSDON TO SIR WILLIAM CECIL. 1 'Berwick, January 13. ' I have received your letter of the 6th with a letter from her Majesty touching the Earl of Northumber- land and the rebels, whereof you are not ignorant. I Border MS S.
