le fidelity in the observance of his
engagements towards his own adherents, had enabled him to form,
effectually protected him from experiencing any decline of his political
influence. Of this a proof appeared soon after, when in consequence of
further disclosures of the dangerous designs of the catholics, a form of
association, by which the subscribers bound themselves to pursue, to the
utmost of their power, even to the death, all who should attempt any
thing against the queen in favor of any pretender to the crown, was
drawn up by this nobleman and obtained the signatures of all orders of
men.

This was a measure which the queen of Scots perceived to be aimed
expressly against herself, and of which she sought to divert the ill
effects by all the means still within her power. She desired to be one
of the first to whom the association should be offered for subscription;
and she begged that this act might form the basis of a treaty by which
all differences between herself and Elizabeth might be finally composed,
and her long captivity exchanged at length, if not for absolute freedom,
at least for a state of comparative independence under articles
guarantied by the principal powers of Europe. These articles, far
different from the former claims of Mary, appeared to Walsingham so
advantageous to his mistress, by the exemption which they seemed to
promise her from future machinations on the part of the queen of Scots,
that he strenuously urged their acceptance; but it was in vain. Mutual
injuries, dissimulation on both sides, and causes of jealousy on the
part of Elizabeth from which all her advantages over her captive enemy
had not served to set her free, now, as ever, opposed the conclusion of
any terms of agreement; and the imprudent and violent conduct of Mary
served to confirm Elizabeth in her unrelentingness. Even while the terms
were under discussion, a letter was intercepted addressed by the queen
of Scots to sir Francis Englefield, an English exile and pensioner in
Spain, in which she thus wrote: "Of the treaty between the queen of
England and me, I may neither hope nor look for good issue. Whatsoever
shall become of me, by whatsoever change of my state and condition, let
the execution of the _Great Plot_ go forward, without any respect of
peril or danger to me. For I will account my life very happily bestowed,
if I may with the same help and relieve so great a number of the
oppressed children of the Church.... An