Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/417

IS73-] THE SPANISH TREATY. 397 talked on religion with the Bishop of Lichfield, but she had told him she could never find two clergymen agree in anything except in hating the Pope, and instead of being converted to their opinions she had been the more confirmed in her own/ She ceased to be present at the prayers of the household. She obtained a chap- lain from abroad, who lived with her as one of her servants. His character was known, but he was not interfered with, and he had special powers granted him by the Pope. Certain Englishmen in Shrewsbury's service were useful to her, who would be sent away if known to be Catholics. They took the sacrament, by permission, in the Earl's chapel, the priest giving them absolution after each of their acts of iniquity ; while for herself Mary Stuart obtained as a special grace from his Holiness, that when she prayed before the holy wafer, when she bore patiently any injury from a heretic, or if at the moment of death she repeated the words Jesus Maria, all her sins should be forgiven. 1 She was afraid of being poisoned. She I 574- did not suspect the Queen of being likely to sanction her murder, but Shrewsbury himself hinted to her that Elizabeth might not prove implacable if she was disposed of without her knowledge ; 2 and Lady prieres.' Mary Stuart to La Mothe Fenelon, November 30, 1573 : LABANOFF, vol. iv. 1 Mary Stuart to Gregory XI 1 1., October 13, "1575: LABANOFF, vol. de ladicte Royne m'empoissonnait il s<javoit de bon lieu qu'elle leur en S9auroit bon gre de 1'oster de si grande peine.' Mary Stuart to the Archbishop of Glasgow and the Car- | dinal of Lorraine, March 29. 1X74 ' l Quo si quelqu'un sans le sqeu { LABANOFF, vol. iv.