50 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 57. and in the highly wrought condition of Catholic imagin- ation, 'to the Scottish Queen's prayers and fastings.' 1 But Elizabeth, among many faults, had two qualities which were extremely honourable to her. She detested political executions, and much of her popularity was attributed by her to the cessation of the scenes which had made Tower Hill so hideous. 2 She possessed, be- sides, an insensibility truly regal to personal fear. Never at any time in her whole career was she driven by panic into cruelty. She had lived too long in the expectation of death to be frightened at the sound of it. The very weakness of Norfolk's nature touched her. She let herself hope from the constancy of his denials that he had been less guilty than he seemed ; and as he had accused Barker of perjury, she desired that he should be confronted with him. The Duke flinched from the ordeal, 3 but Barker was re-examined by Knowles and Wilson, and made the most of every point which could tell in his master's favour. He blamed the Bishop of Ross, he blamed Southampton, Montague, Lumley every one more than the Duke ; he said that they were for ever complaining of the Duke's backwardness. 4 1 Notes in Cecil's hand : MSS. Hatfield. 2 'The Queen's Majesty has been always a merciful lady, and by mercy she has taken more harm than by justice, and yet she thinks she is more beloved in doing herself harm.' Burghley to Walsingham, January 23 : DIGGES. 3 The Duke hath told me he would in no case be brought face to face with Barker for talking of that matter.' Skipwith to Burghley, January 20 : MSS. Domestic. 4 'When I brou 6 nt the Duke the instructions from Eidolfi, he said if the Princes would help the Queen of Scots they might, but we were subjects ; and if such a thing should come he saw another inconvenience, for then some should have that they long looked for, and that was, to rise
