y of state. The duke's secretary was then
sent for and examined. This man, who was probably in the pay of
government, not only confessed with readiness all that he knew, but
produced some letters from the queen of Scots which his lord had
commanded him to burn after decyphering them. Other concurring
indications of the duke's guilt appearing, he was recommitted to the
Tower in September 1571.

After various consultations of civilians on the extent of an
ambassador's privilege, and the title which the agent of a deposed
sovereign might have to avail himself of that sacred character, it was
determined that the laws of nations did not protect the bishop of Ross,
and he was carried to the Tower, where, in fear of death, he made full
confession of all his machinations against the person and state of
Elizabeth. In the most guilty parts of these designs he affirmed that
the duke had constantly refused his concurrence;--and in fact, weak and
infatuated as he was, the agents of Mary seem to have found it
impracticable, by all their artifices, to bring this unfortunate
nobleman entirely to forget that he was a protestant and an Englishman.
He would never consent directly to procure the death or dethronement of
Elizabeth; though it must have been perfectly evident to any man of
clear and unbiassed judgement, that, under all the circumstances, the
accomplishment of his wishes could by no other means be attained.

This affair was regarded in so very serious a light, that the queen
thought it necessary, before the duke was put on his trial, to lay all
the circumstances of his case before the court of France; and the
parliament, which was again assembled after an interval of five years,
passed some new laws for the protection of the queen's person from the
imminent perils by which they saw her environed.

The illustrious prisoner was now brought before the tribunal of his
brother-peers; and a perfectly fair and regular trial, according to the
practices of that age, was accorded him. Whatever his intentions might
have been, his actions appear to have come clearly within the limits of
treason; and the earl of Shrewsbury, as lord-high-steward for the day,
pronounced upon him, with tears, a verdict of Guilty. But the queen
hesitated or deferred, from clemency or caution, to sign his death
warrant, and he was remanded to the Tower under some uncertainty whether
or not the last rigor of the offended laws awaited him.

The name of sir Ni