There  are  some  great  plots  being  carried  on  through  Leicester
and  Walsingham  with  the  earl  of  Angus,  the  nephew  of  Morton,
and  other  rebels  here,  with  the  object  of  getting  possession  of  the
King.  Besides  the  offers  I  have  already  mentioned  they  inade  to
the  earl  of  Arran,  they  are  promising  him  fresh  things  every  day,
and  have  sent  money  to  gain  over  people  and  make  head  against
d'Aubign}' ;  Arran  being  the  man  who  now  leads  the  Protestants,
and  especially  the  ministers,  who  are  becoming  daily  more
suspicious  of  a  change  of  religion.  For  this  reason  it  is  of  great
importance  that  your  Majesty  should  send  me  instructions  as  to
how  I  am  to  deal  with  the  Scots,  in  order  that  they  may  not  lose
heart,  as  they  are  already  so  distrustful  of  help  being  sent  them.
I  have  informed  the  queen  of  Scotland  of  this,  and  sent  her
despatch  immediately  to  d'Aubigny ;  so  as  to  animate  and  comfort
them.  I  have  also  written  again  to  the  Jesuit  Father  William
Holt  to  continue  in  the  same  course.  The  Scottish  Jesuit  William
Creighton,  a  prudent  and  learned  man,  has  also  been  sent  thither
from  France,  and  has  been  extremely  well  received.  Father
Persons  assures  me  that  as  soon  as  he  receives  the  money  I  have
sent  him  to  Eheinis,  another  priest  will  leave  for  Scotland.
The  Scottish  ministers  inform  this  Queen  that  his  Holiness  and
tlie  Christian  princes  have  sent  a  personage  to  the  king  of  Scotland
recommending  him  to  request  his  mother's  release. — London,
19th  March  1582.
20  March.  234.    Bernardino  de  Mendoza  to  the  King.
