492 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 61. It seemed therefore that he was actually coming, and when she found that she could not escape, she af- fected fervently to desire it. The pill had been gilded with flattery, and she had been persuaded that the mere sight of such a paragon of loveliness as herself would prove reward sufficient for him, even if she sent him back disappointed of his hopes. 1 Yet to the last it was uncertain what she would do. The time approached, but she had given no orders for the Duke's reception. 2 The passports were brought to her to sign. She could not do it. Tenderness for Leicester, tenderness perhaps for Hatton, passions of all kinds grew more and more tempestuous as the moment ap- proached. All seemed uncertain again, when Simier discovered, and was able to reveal to her, that Leicester was secretly married to her cousin, Let'tice Knowles, the false wife and widow of Walter, Earl of Essex. The August. ' Desea hervorosamente la ve- uida de Alen9on ; y aunque de sus consejeros se han dicho los inconve- nientes que dello podrian succeder, han podido mas los de la parte con- traria, y con ella no poco el parecer Je que se entiende que sus partes y hermosura son tan grandes que por solo ellas huelga de venir a su reyno, sin estar asegurado de que sera suraarido.' Descifrada de Don Ber- nardino, 24 de Junio : MSS. Siman- cas. 2 ' It is given out that Monsieur will he here at the time limited, and yet her Majesty gives no order for the receiving of him, which maketh us to muse what will become of the I matter ; and therefore it is suspected that between her Majesty and Simier for few others are made acquainted with the cause it is concluded that he shall come over shortly in secret manner. I am of opinion that the wise men of France will never assent thereto, but matters of love and af- fection be not guided with wisdom. God send the cause better success than I hope after, for I am more afraid of the event hereof than of James Fitzmaurice's attempt' (allud- ing to a Tanding in Ireland to be related in the next chapter). "Wal- singham to Burghley, August 6 : MSS. Domestic.
