1 9 S REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 43. no opportunity of urging the Queen to severe measures. If Cecil can once be dismissed from the council, the Catholic religion and your Majesty's interests in England will all be the better for it. Lord Robert, who is your Majesty's most faithful friend, believes that this book may be the knife with which to cut his throat. If the Queen can be prevailed upon to part with him much good will follow, and I am strongly advised to use Lord Robert's assistance. ' I have said that I shall always welcome Lord Robert's help, that your Majesty I was well aware would wish me to do so, and that in the present matter I will do what I can ; but I mean to move cautiously and to see my way before I step/ DE SILVA TO PHILIP II. July 2.
- Lord Robert is more pressing than ever in offering
his assistance to your Majesty. The gentleman of whom I spoke tells me that Lord Robert has still hopes of the Queen ; and that if he succeeds, the Catholic religion will be restored. Again cautioning me to be secret, he informed me that Lord Robert was in communication with the Pope about it, and had agents residing con- tinually at the Papal Court. He spoke of his intentions in the warmest terms, especially with reference to the restoration of the truth. ' The interests at stake are so weighty, there are so many pretensions liable to be affected, and such a multi- tude of considerations on all sides which may not be
