1581.] THE JESUIT INVASION. 97 have now combined for the liberties of their country. They will reveal their plans to no one but myself, but they have sworn to stand by one another with their lives and lands. They will send a priest to Edinburgh, to obtain if possible a private interview with d'Aubigny, and let him know that if the King will return to com- munion with the Holy See, the English Peers and gentle- men', supported, as they may reasonably expect to be, by the Pope, by your Majesty, and also by France, will demand the release of his mother and his own nomin- ation as next heir to the crown. Otherwise, d'Au- bigny must not deceive himself. The King, if he per- sists in remaining Protestant, will find them more determined enemies to his succession than the heretics themselves. ' Supposing d'Aubigny to listen, and the King to show a disposition to comply, a brother of one of them will then repair to his Holiness, and entreat his good offices with your Majesty. 'I committed myself to nothing beyond observing that their object being the conversion of their country, and therefore purely disinterested, I recommended them to have as little as possible to say to the French. In this view of mine they coincided fully. They have all Catholic and Spanish hearts, and will be guided wholly by your Majesty's wishes. The King of Scots having become a Catholic they will send their sons to Rheims to be out of the way; and when the Scotch army is over the Border, they will rise with the whole North in his favour. If your Majesty will then help them, they VOL. XL -
