1569.] ENGLISH PARTIES. fate of Count Montigny, 1 it might not seem altogether safe. 2 But Cecil had another argument, which the Duke, a poor, mean creature, crippled with debt and hungry for money, was in no condition to resist. The great cause of the Dacres estates was coming on before the Court of Chancery. If Norfolk could carry his point, he would not only secure the heiresses for his sons, but the administration of the whole vast property during their minority. Cecil promised the influence of the Government on his side, and thus succeeded for a time in separating him from the rest of his party. The in- tended revolution had brought up from the country Leonard Dacres himself, Lord Montague, the Earl of Cumberland, and other Catholic knights and gentlemen. The Bishop of Ross hurried up from Wingfield, all eager to be present at the arrest of Cecil. 3 Montague and Cumberland were Dacres' brothers-in-law, and devoted to his interests. They arrived only to find a litigation in process, by which one of the few remaining noble families of the old blood was to be sacrificed to the Duke 1 Sent on an embassy from the Low Countries to Philip and pri- vately put to death at Simancas. 2 ' Y despues tambien salio vana la determinacion de enviar a Espana, lo qual estos Senores me lo hacian saber con confusion sin declararme la del todo, y pus6 el mismo incon- venientes despues, diciendoles que si iban por ventura los detendrian en Espana, y assi esto tanpoco hubd efecto.' Don Guerau to Philip, June 15.
- ' Estos caballerosdaban parte del
dicho negocio a la Serenissima Reyna de Escocia y para aquellos dias qu> ellos habian senalado hicieron venir aqui al Obispo de Ross, para que se hallase en la detention de Cecil que ellos pensaban hacer. Tambien sa- bian dello Milord Montague y el Conde de Cumberland y otros Catoli- cos que para aquel effecto vinieron aqui.' Don Guerau to Philip, June
