y saw coming upon them, and against which, it appears, they were not
provided with any proper defence. As soon as Murray opened his
charge, they endeavored to turn the conferences from an inquiry into
a negotiation; and though informed by the English commissioners, that
nothing could be more dishonorable for their mistress, than to enter
into a treaty with such undutiful subjects, before she had justified
herself from those enormous imputations which had been thrown upon her,
they still insisted that Elizabeth should settle terms of accommodation
between Mary and her enemies in Scotland.[****] They maintained, that
till their mistress had given in her answer to Murray's charge, his
proofs could neither be called for nor produced:[v] and finding that
the English commissioners were still determined to proceed in the method
which had been projected, they finally broke off the conferences, and
never would make any reply.

* Anderson, vol. ii. p. 115. Goodall, vol. ii. p. 1.

** Anderson, vol. ii. part ii. p. 165, etc. Goodall, vol.
ii.

*** Anderson, vol. ii. p. 192. Goodall, vol. ii. p. 76.

**** Anderson, vol. iv. part ii. p. 135, 139. Goodall, vol.
ii.

v Anderson, vol. iv. part ii. p. 139, 145. Goodall, vol. ii.

These papers, at least translations of them, have since been published.
The objections made to their authenticity are in general of small force:
but were they ever so specious, they cannot now be hearkened to; since
Mary, at the time when the truth could have been fully cleared, did in
effect ratify the evidence against her, by recoiling from the inquiry
at the very critical moment, and refusing to give an answer to the
accusation of her enemies.[*] [12]

But Elizabeth, though she had seen enough for her own satisfaction, was
determined that the most eminent persons of her court should also be
acquainted with these transactions, and should be convinced of
the equity of her proceedings. She ordered her privy council to be
assembled; and, that she might render the matter more solemn and
authentic, she summoned along with them the earls of Northumberland,
Westmoreland, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Huntingdon, and Warwick. All
the proceedings of the English commissioners were read to them: the
evidences produced by Murray were perused: a great number of letters
written by Mary to Elizabeth were laid before them, and the handwriting
compared with that of the letters delivered in