Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/137

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 117 July. he talked freely of the rebellion, telling all that he knew ; excusing Westmoreland and taking the blame upon himself; and Hunsdon, touched with his 'simplicity/ endeavoured to move Elizabeth in his favour. She paid no attention to his intercession. The Earl had been attainted, and his trial was therefore no longer necessary. The second week in July an inti- mation came down that a warrant was to be issued for his execution, that he was to suffer at York, and that Hunsdon must conduct him thither. Lord Hunsdon, irritated at his failure, replied that it was not his business to carry noblemen to execution, and briefly, he would not do it ; ' he would suffer some imprisonment rather ; ' if it was to be done at all, Sir John Foster, the Warden of the Middle Marches, was the proper person; and if the writ came directed to himself, he would not act upon it. 1 There was a slight pause, of which he took advan- tage to intercede again. The Earl's death, he said, would be of no advantage either to the Queen or to the State. Sir Henry Percy, who would succeed to the title, had been implicated with Ridolfi, and was as guilty as his brother. ' Her Majesty had and did show mercy to a number that had as well deserved to die as he/ 2 and ' she would do herself a worse turn by setting up Sir Henry than by keeping the Earl alive.' 3 Elizabeth found afterwards that Hunsdon was right, 1 Hunsdon to Cecil, July 1 1 : 3fSS. Border. 2 Hunsdon to Burghley, July 14 : MSS. Border. 3 Hunsdon to Burghley, August 9: Ibid.