I  thought,  on  the  occasion  of  La  Mothe's  arrival,  to  draw  them
out  somewhat,  and  make  them  seek  me,  in  the  fear  that  I  might
withdraw  from  the  country;  and  the  moment  I  received  your
Majesty's  despatch  I  published  that,  in  consequence  of  my  indis-
position, your  Majesty  had  promised  to  give  me  leave.  But  they
did  not  move  a  hair,  and  from  this  and  the  action  of  the  French
ambassador,  I  can  only  conclude  that  the  French  are  merely
using  tlie  Scotch  business  as  a  lever  to  compel  the  Queen  to  help
Alen9on,  and  the  Queen-mother's  tricks,  whilst  this  Queen  is
holding  off  as  long  as  possible,  so  as  to  keep  her  money,  and  at
the  same  time  to  settle  affairs  in  Scotland  to  her  own  liking.  She
will  then  be  able  to  continue  to  disturb  your  Majesty  by  helping
the  rebels,  upon  which  course  she  bases  her  own  tranquillity.  I
understand  that  M.  de  la  Mothe  brings  four  blank  grants  of
pensions  from  the  king  of  France,  two  of  2,000  crowns,  one  of
1,000,  and  one  of  500.  With  the  two  largest  they  will  tempt
Lord  Hunsdon  and  James  Crofts  the  controller,  who  are  needy
persons,  and  the  1,000  crowns  pension  they  have  offered  to  my
second  confidant,*  who  has  refused  it,  saying  that  there  is  no  need
for  resorting  to  such  means  to  pledge  him  to  French  interests.  He
says  this,  in  order  not  to  break  off  his  communications  with  the
French,  which  enable  him  to  give  me  minute  accounts  of  everything
they  do,  without  anyone  dreaming  of  such  a  thing,  as  he  never
asks  for  any  information  from  me,  except  after  your  Majesty's
health.
