Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/34

20 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [en. 52. government, and the arrest, and probably the death, of Cecil. The Earl of Leicester, who bore Cecil no good- will, and who feared the consequences to himself of a return to power of the old nobility, if he had not gained their goodwill beforehand, was prepared to act with them if they appeared likely to succeed. 1 It was a con- spiracy like that which had overthrown Cromwell so 1 A scene is described as having taken place at the palace, which is ohviously exaggerated or distorted ; but being related in almost the same language both by Don Guerau and by La Mothe Fenelon, is probably not wholly without foundation. Don Guerau says that on Sunday morn- ing, in the middle of February, Norfolk, Leicester, Northampton, Mildmay, and Cecil, were with the Queen. She was talking at one end of the room with Leicester and Cecil, and was persuading the former to agree to something which Cecil had proposed. Leicester, who was vio- lently angry, told her that her throne would never be safe, till Cecil's head was off his shoulders. The Queen swore she would send Leicester to the Tower, and spoke so loud that every one present heard her. Nor- folk observed aside to the rest that My Lord of Leicester was in high favour so long as he echoed Mr Secretary, but now, when he had an opinion of his own, he was to go to the Tower. ' By God,' he said, ' it shall not be ; some remedy shall be for this.' ' Pray God it may be so,' Northampton answered. 'I have ever wished it.' Mildmay also said that some change was necessary ; and the Duke, going up to the Queen, told her that he hoped when her anger Avas cooled, and she could re- flect quietly on the condition of the Realm, she would feel the need of making better provision for her own and her subjects' safety. He and his friends, as her faithful servants and councillors, would consider what ought to be done. The Queen left them in confusion showing signs of great distress. La Mothe Fenelor tells the same story, but says it hap pened on Ash Wednesday, in the evening before supper. ' The lords,-' he adds, 'intended to call Cecil to account for his whole administration from the beginning of the reign. Cecil had endeavoured to frighten Leicester by saying that he was as responsible as himself. Leicester answered that Cecil alone was to blame, and he should provide for his own safety.' Don Guerau to Philip II., February 22 : MSS. Simancas. La Mothe Fenelon au Roy, March 8. Memoire a part au Sieur de Sabran : Depeches, vol. i.