at
by those very counsellors whose persuasion had induced him to incur
the guilt, and who had promised to countenance and protect him. He was
condemned to imprisonment during the queen's pleasure, and to pay a
fine of ten thousand pounds. He remained a long time in custody; and the
fine, though it reduced him to beggary, was rigorously levied upon him.
All the favor which he could obtain from the queen, was sending
him small supplies from time to time, to keep him from perishing in
necessity.[**]

* Camden, p. 536. Spotswood, p. 358.

** Camden, p. 538.

He privately wrote an apology to his friend Walsingham, which contains
many curious particulars. The French and Scotch ambassadors, he said,
had been remonstrating with the queen in Mary's behalf; and immediately
after their departure, she commanded him, of her own accord to deliver
her the warrant for the execution of that princess. She signed it
readily, and ordered it to be sealed with the great seal of England. She
appeared in such good humour on the occasion, that she said to him in
a jocular manner, "Go, tell all this to Walsingham, who is now sick;
though I fear he will die of sorrow when he hears of it." She added,
that though she had so long delayed the execution, lest she should seem
to be actuated by malice or cruelty, she was all along sensible of the
necessity of it. In the same conversation, she blamed Drury and Paulet
that they had not before eased her of this trouble; and she expressed
her desire that Walsingham would bring them to compliance in that
particular. She was so bent on this purpose, that some time after she
asked Davison whether any letter had come from Paulet with regard to the
service expected of him. Davison showed her Paulet's letter, in which
that gentleman positively refused to act any thing inconsistent with
the principles of honor and justice. The queen fell into a passion, and
accused Paulet as well as Drury of perjury; because, having taken the
oath of association, in which they had bound themselves to avenge her
wrongs, they had yet refused to lend their hand on this occasion. "But
others," she said, "will be found less scrupulous." Davison adds, that
nothing but the consent and exhortations of the whole council could have
engaged him to send off the warrant: he was well aware of his danger;
and remembered that the queen, after having ordered the execution of the
duke of Norfolk, had endeavored, in a like manner, to t