prisoner told him that he was locked up for a debt of
only twenty crowns, and that his desire to be at liberty was so great
that if M. de Chateauneuf would pay that sum for him he would undertake
to deliver the Queen of Scotland from her danger, by stabbing Elizabeth:
to this proposal, M. de Trappes, who saw the pitfall laid for the French
ambassador, was greatly astonished, and said that he was certain that M.
de Chateauneuf would consider as very evil every enterprise having as its
aim to threaten in any way the life of Queen Elizabeth or the peace of
the realm; then, not desiring to hear more, he returned to M. de
Chateauneuf and related to him what had just happened. M. de
Chateauneuf, who perceived the real cause of this overture, immediately
said to Mr. Stafford that he thought it strange that a gentleman like
himself should undertake with another gentleman such treachery, and
requested him to leave the Embassy at once, and never to set foot there
again. Then Stafford withdrew, and, appearing to think himself a lost
man, he implored M. de Trappes to allow him to cross the Channel with him
and the French envoys. M. de Trappes referred him to M. de Chateauneuf,
who answered Mr. Stafford directly that he had not only forbidden him his
house, but also all relations with any person from the Embassy, that he
must thus very well see that his request could not be granted; he added
that if he were not restrained by the consideration he desired to keep
for his brother, the Earl of Stafford, his colleague, he would at once
denounce his treason to Elizabeth. The same day Stafford was arrested.

After this conference, M. de Trappes set out to rejoin his travelling
companions, who were some hours in advance of him, when, on reaching
Dover he was arrested in his turn and brought hack to prison in London.
Interrogated the same day, M. de Trappes frankly related what had
passed, appealing to M. de Chateauneuf as to the truth of what he said.

The day following there was a second interrogatory, and great was his
amazement when, on requesting that the one of the day before should be
shown him, he was merely shown, according to custom in English law,
counterfeit copies, in which were avowals compromising him as well as M.
de Chateauneuf: he objected and protested, refused to answer or to sign
anything further, and was taken back to the Tower with redoubled
precaution, the object of which was the appearance of an important
accus