Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/474

460 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 56. his privilege as ambassador. Finding no comfort there, he let fall, when he returned to his house, a passionate expression ' that those who lived a month would see strange changes.' To keep up Baily's spirits he sent him a note to entreat him to be firm, to bid him ' comfort himself in God, and remember the noble heroes who had suffered death rather than betray their masters/ * The treacherous messenger carried the paper, and the report of the Bishop's words, to Cecil, and the following brief order was sent to Sir William Hopton, Lieutenant of the Tower : 'You and Edmund Tremayne 3 are to examine Charles Baily concerning certain letters written by him in cipher from the Marshalsea to the Bishop of Ross. You will ask him for the alphabet of the cipher, and if he shall refuse to show the said alphabet, or to declare truly the contents of the said letters in cipher, vou shall put him upon the rack; and by discretion with putting him in fear, and as cause shall be given afterwards, you shall procure him to confess the truth with some pain of the said torture.' 3 A few hours later Baily was seen staggering back to his dungeon, ' scarce able to go,' ' discoloured and pale as ashes.' 4 He had told nothing, so far ; but the 1 Bishop of Ross to Charles Baily, May -i : MURDIN. 2 Younger brother of the two Tremaynes who were killed at Havre, a man of special ability, much trusted by Cecil, whose name will be heard of hereafter in connection with Irish matters. 3 Burghley to the Lieutenant of the Tower : Hatfield MSS. 4 Herle to Burghley, May i : Cotton. MSS. CALIG. iii. . . The Spanish ambassador said that, though racked, he had been more frightened than seriously hurt. ' Con haber tornado a aquel criado