Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/517

i57i-j THM RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. $6$ hearted, or the English nature did not understand the art of murder. Spaniards and Italians could do it ; Scots could do it excellently ; but the English, from some cause or other, were wanting in the necessary qualities. Ridolfi, when questioned on the possibilities that way, gave unsatisfactory answers. There was not one among Norfolk's friends about the Queen who could be thoroughly relied upon for any desperate enterprise. 1 There were seven or eight noblemen however, he said, any one of whom would make the necessary opportuni- ties, if some one else could be found to do the thing, and all would be ready to come forward afterwards. He named Windsor, Lumley, Southampton, St John, Arundel, Worcester, Montague especially and pecu- liarly Montague; and Chapin Yitelli, who had come from the Netherlands for this particular purpose, now presented himself to help the council in their dilemma. They would give him credit, he said, for being disinter- ested, for he was going to risk his own life. He, if the matter was trusted to him, would take or kill the Queen. He knew England. He was acquainted with the noble- men whom Bidolfi mentioned. It could not be done in London ; but at the end of the summer Elizabeth would go on progress. She travelled inadequately guarded. She stayed at different country houses. He would go over with ten or fifteen companions ; and when she was as she need not fail to be the guest of Montague, or some other of the set, he would obtain access to her 1 ' El Duque no tiene persona de los que estan con la Eeyna en quieii hucer fundamento.'