fered to bow the knees of my body, I humbly crave to speak with your Highness, which I would not be so bold to desire if I knew not myself most clear, as I know myself most true. And as for the traitor Wyatt, he might peradventure write me a letter, but on my faith I never received any from him; and for the copy of my letter sent to the French King, I pray God confound me eternally if ever I sent him word, message, token, or letter by any means:[1] and to this my truth I will stand to my death your Highnesses most faithful subject that hath been from the beginning, and will be to the end.
'I humbly crave but one word of answer from yourself.'
Had Elizabeth known the history of those words of the Queen to her, to which she appealed, she would have spared herself the trouble of writing this letter. Sussex fulfilled his promise, and during the delay the tide turned, and the barge could not pass London Bridge till the following day. The Queen could not venture to send the Princess through the streets; and in dread lest, at the last moment, her prey should be snatched from, her, she answered the appeal only by storming at the bearer, and at his friends in the council. 'They
- ↑ As soon as Noailles learnt that his enclosure formed part of the case against Elizabeth, he came forward to acquit her of having furnished him with it; 'jurant et blasphémant tous les sermens du monde pour la justification de la dicte Dame Elizabeth.'—Renard to Charles V., April 3: Rolls House MSS.
