d8 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 52. Murray out of the country. 1 She wrote herself to up- braid them, and, perplexed as they were among many councils, they submitted to be guided by her. When the second conference came off at Edinburgh, which was to have healed all wounds and opened the way for Maitland's mission to Elizabeth, Chatelherault ' was moved to such repentance that he exclaimed, in tears, he knew no authority but the Queen's.' Huntly and Argyle would agree to nothing ; and the assembly broke up in confusion. 2 The Duke of Alva meanwhile had issued Norfolk's proclamation. A copy was sent to England, and inasmuch as Alva charged the Queen with having acted against the advice of the nobility, Cecil, offering a full front to the danger, drew an answer of indignant denial, to which he announced that he would require the council to attach their signatures. A meet- ing was called for the purpose, at which the leaders of the conspiracy refused to be present. Norfolk was many times summoned, and Aruiidel also, but they would not attend ; and the Queen at last consented, or desired, that the difficulty should be waived and the proclama- tion be left without reply. 3
1 Mary Stuart to La Mothe Fene- lon, April and April 18 : LABAN- OFF, vol. ii. 2 La Mothe, May 6 : Depeches, vol. i. 3 ' Sicel comedo responder con otro Placarte al qual habia ordenado con palabras muy arrogantes; y porque el Duque de Alva dice que estosprogresos de la Reyna son contra la voluntad de la mayor parte de los Nobles, Cecil lo queria hacer fir mar no solo a los del consejo pero aim a los mas principales del Reyno. El Duque de Norfolk y el Conde de Arundel nunca quisieron ir al con- sejo, y les enviaron muchas embaja- das los del parte de Sicel ; pero al fin la Reyna ha sido contenta que no se responda al Placarte del Duque.' Don Guerau to Philip, April 23.
