Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/369

1565-] THE DARNLE Y MARR1A GE. ^49 presence an an unworthy traitor. Sir James Melville does but follow an official report which was drawn up under Elizabeth's eye and sanction, to be sent to Scot- land and circulated through Europe. It was thus there- fore that she herself desired the world to believe that she had spoken ; and one falsehood more or less in a web of artifice could scarcely add to her discredit. For Murray's sake however it may be hoped that he was spared this further ignominy, and that de Silva's is the truer story. If the Earl did not declare in words however that Elizabeth was unconnected with the rebellion, he allowed her to disavow it in silence, and by his forbearance cre- ated for himself and Scotland a claim upon her grati- tude. He was evidently no consenting party to the de- ception ; and after leaving her presence he wrote to her in a letter what he had restrained himself from publicly declaring. 'Her treatment of him would have been more easy to bear/ he said, ' had he known in what he had offended ; 9 l he had done his uttermost with all his power to serve and gratify her ; ' and ' the more he con- sidered the matter it was ever the longer the more grievous to him : ' noblemen who had suffered in former times for maintaining English interests in Scotland, 4 when their cause was not to be compared to the pre- sent, had been well received and liberally gratified ; ' while he who had ' endeavoured to show a thankful heart in her service when any occasion was presented, could in no wise perceive by herHighness's answer any affection towards his present state ; ' ' her declaration