Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/527

THE RIDOLPI CONSPIRACY In this there was an unexpected difficulty. Fitz- william went down to Sheffield to deliver the packets from the Duke of Feria. The Queen of Scots had been kept close prisoner since the confession of Charles Baily, and Shrewsbury had been commanded to allow no one to have access to her, except with an order from the Government. It was not safe to admit Shrewsbury into the secret of Hawkins's treachery, and unless Fitzwilliam could sustain his character of a bona-fide Catholic conspirator, the Queen of Scots would be on her guard. Hawkins consulted Cecil. 1 The release of May. the prisoners, which was Hawkins's principal object, was considered a sufficient excuse to cover the application. Cecil wrote to Shrewsbury, say- ing merely that some poor friends of Fitz- 1 ' Your good Lordship may be advertised that Fitzwilliam has been in the country to deliver his tokens, and to have had some speech with the Queen of Scots, which by no means he could obtain. Wherefore he hath devised with me that I should make some means to obtain him license to have access to her for her letters to the King of Spain for the better obtaining of our men's liberty, which otherwise are not to be released ; which device I promised him that I would follow, and that if it shall seem good unto your Lord- ship he may be recommended by such credit as to your Lordship shall seem best ; for unless she be first VOL. IX. spoken with and an answer from her sent to Spain, the credit for the treasure cannot be obtained. If your Lordship think meet that Fitz- william shall be recommended to speak with her, if I may know by what sort your Lordship will ap- point, there shall be all diligence for his despatch used, and hereof I humbly pray your Lordship's speedy resolution. ' Your good Lordship's ' Most humbly to command, 'JOHN HAWKINS. ' The Right Honble May 13. The Lord BURGHLEY.' MS$. QUEEN OF SCOTS, Rolls House. 33