If,  when  I  received  your  letter,  I  had  been  in  the  same  state  as
when  M.  de  Meyneville  left  me,  the  arguments  you  employ  would
have  impelled  me  to  seek  to  increase  my  fame  by  trying  to  gain  my
liberty,  but  thank  God,  the  plan  which  I  had  to  commence  and

*  In  the  King's  hand  : — "  I  do  not  understand  what  circumstance  thii  can  be,  if  the
matter  had  been  well  arranged."  Probably  this  refers  to  Throgmorton's  plot  to  kill  the
Queen.
•f  These  words  have  been  underlined  by  Philip  II.  ^bo  writes  in  the  margin ;  "  H«  if
quite  ready  to  confess  them  himself,"


ELIZABETH.  503


1583.
carry  through  myself  has  succeeded  so  well,  by  the  aid  of,  a  little
patience  and  prudence  with  which  God  has  endowed  me,  that  I
have  extricated  myself  from  the  difficulties  which  surrounded  mo
by  my  own  contrivance  and  the  aid  of  a  few  faithful  servants  and
subjects  chosen  by  me  for  the  purpofse.  I  thus  placed  myself  at
liberty  without  trouble,  and  almost  unexpectedly,  and  am  ready  to
avenge  myself  as  opportunity  may  present  itself.  I  have  learnt  by
your  letters  of  the  great  affection  and  friendship  you  constantly
show  to  ray  mother  and  myself,  and,  by  her  letters  of  13th
August,  of  the  complete  confidence  she  has  in  you,  and  her  wish
that  I  should  follow  your  guidance  above  that  of  any  other  of  our
relatives.
