380 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 66. that it was not God's pleasure that this easy method should prosper. Paget's errand answered better. He went over to the coast of Sussex in disguise, accom- panied by one of the Throgmortons. He saw the Earl of Arundel, and he saw also the Earl of Northumberland, gave Guise's message, and obtained all the assurances and all the information which Guise desired. He took soundings in Rye harbour. He fixed apparently on Rye as the most appropriate landing-place, and returned safely to France, having been seen and suspected, but having escaped arrest or identification. No more could be done till the coming of the fleet. Guise wrote to Mendoza asking him candidly for his opinion as a soldier how far the English Catholics were to be depended on. 1 He apparently was satisfied with the answer, and waited only till Philip sent the means to carry him over. While the mine was thus dug under her feet, and on the point of explosion, Elizabeth was totally unconscious that she was in unusual danger. Rumours had reached her of intended mischief, but such only as she had been accustomed to hear every day for twenty years. She was uneasy about Scotland, but rather for the ultimate consequences of the revolution there than for any mis- que es muestra de que procedia con llaneza y que Dios no quiere que se haga el negocio en aquclla raanera.' Autograph of Don Bernardino to Secretary Idriaquez, August 19 29 : MSS. Simancas. 1 ' Me pedia le advirtiese prccisa- mente como soldado lo que se podria esperar de los Catolicos de Inglaterra y parciales de la de Escocia, con lo cual el se satisfaria, y no con relacion de otra ninguna persona.' Don Bernardino al Rey, 19 de Agosto, 1583: MSS. Simancas.
