Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/471

I57i.] THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 457 France and Spain for assistance to put down what she called the Rebellion in Scotland. He would gain credit by the seeming importance of the confession, while, though Elizabeth might be angry, she could not justly complain. Scotland was not hers, nor had she yet re- cognized any other authority there but the Queen's. But it was essential that he and Baily should tell the same story ; and as suspicion might be provoked if he moved in the matter himself, Don Guerau sent a serv- ant to the Marshalsea to ask permission to see the pri- soner under pretence of inquiring after the missing letters. The servant went, but did not return. Fore- seeing something of the kind, Cecil had given orders that any person coming to inquire for Charles Baily should be detained. An Irish priest whom the Bishop next employed was equally unsuccessful, and, as Cecil hoped, recourse was then had to Herle. By steady attention, by lamentations over the growth of heresy, by expressions of indignation at the hanging of the Archbishop of St Andrews, the wretch had won Baily's confidence, and as he had confederates outside the prison who were permitted to see him, he became the channel of intercourse between the Bishop and the prisoner. The letters each way passed through Cecil's hands. They were in cipher, but were carefully copied, and were then passed on to their address. Could they be read they would tell all which he desired to know ; but he could not trust them out of his hands, and the characters baffled his skill. He consulted Herle, and