Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/478

464 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 56. of second trust in the Bishop,' and he swore that no extremity should force him to reveal anything. Ap- pealed to thus earnestly, the Bishop sent a friend to the Marshalsea, who found Herle ' plunged into the depths of wretchedness, and lamenting that he was re- garded with mistrust/ He complained of Baily, ' utter- ing his speech/- as he triumphantly described it, ' in such piteous forms, his irons jingling up and down by meet occasions, as the fellow wept and sobbed/ 1 Following up the favourable impression, he wrote again to the Bishop, that ' he was between the anvil and the hammer ;' but whatever was thought of him, ' his right hand should play Mucius's part before he would break his faith ; ' ' they should rather rend his poor carcase than he would betray the least tittle of what had passed ; ' ' He spoke it with sorrow of mind, and he would seal it with his blood/ ' esteeming no torment greater than unjust jealousy conceived of a true friend/ With mild reproaches for the discouraging of his honest service, he said that he looked for consolation at his Lordship's hand, protesting, ' that for any that would maintain he was dealing otherwise than honestly, he would make them liars in their throats/ 2 The Bishop was taken in to the extent of again be- lieving Herle to be honest ; but the rascality was thrown away so far as practical results arose from it. Baily had told all which Cecil* desired to hear, except the 1 Herle to Burghley, April 29 : MSS. QUEEN OF SCOTS. 2 Herle to the Bishop of Ross, April 29 : MSS. MARY QUEEN OP SCOTS.