matters  were  entirely  diiFerent.  Notwithstanding  all
Elizabeth's  and  Randolph's  efforts,  Morton  had  been
sacrificedj  and  the  star  of  D'Aubigny  (Lennox)  was  still  in
the  ascendant.  It  is  true  that,  being  half  a  Frenchman,
D'Aubigny  was  at  first  looked  upon  with  some  sus-
picion by  the  Spaniards,  but,  as  he  was  presumably  a
Catholic,  Mendoza  thought  he  might  be  approached  on
purely  religious  grounds.  He  therefore  began  operations
through  the  brothers  Tresham  and  other  leading  English
Catholics  (page  169).  "  I  pointed  out  to  them,"  he  says,
"  that  in  view  of  the  present  position  of  neighbouring
"  countries,  and  of  the  Netherlands,  the  first  step  to  be  taken
"  was  to  bring  Scotland  to  submit  to  the  Holy  See.  This  I
"  said  would  cause  this  Queen  more  anxiety  than  anything
"  else."  The  hint  was  taken,  and  six  English  Catholic  lords
met  and  swore  to  devote  themselves  to  the  task  indicated.
They  sent  a  priest  (Creighton)  to  Scotland  to  sound  James
and  D'Aubigny,  and  promised  that  when  the  king  of
Scots  submitted  to  the  Pope  they  would  raise  the  English
north  country  and  demand  the  restoration  of  the  Catholic
church  in  England,  proclaim  James  heir  to  the  crown,
and  release  his  mother.  The  lords  assured  Mendoza  that
they  were  "  Spanish  and  Catholic  at  heart,  and  did  not
"  wish  to  have  anything  to  do  with  Erance  "  (page  170).
