1585-] THE BOND OF ASSOCIATION. 529 mere delusion. Those likely to fight for her were ' few in number, partial, and passionate,' and that an in- vasion could not prudently be attempted with less than forty thousand men. 1 Well might such letters make Mary Stuart i5 8 5- desperate. She was to be left then in confine- ment for the general good of the cause ; and to be tricked, after all, out of the prize for which she had intrigued and conspired from her girlhood. If the worst came she could, at least, by yielding, revenge herself on the false friends who were using her so ungraciously. Her eagerness for release was increased Avhen she found herself consigned to a new residence disagreeable in itself and full of painful memories, where the respect due to her rank had been first forgotten and her rooms had been searched in her presence by armed men. She had been removed from Sheffield, when Sir Ralph Sadler first took charge of her, to Wiugfield, another house not far distant, belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury. The Earl's people had remained in attendance upon her. "Wingfield was unfortified, and many of these persons were attached to her interest and were not too obedient to the stranger who was placed at their head. Sir Ralph declined to be responsible for her, unless in a stronger position and with his own men about him. It was decided therefore that she should be removed once more to Tutbury Castle. Engleficld to the Queen of uary 1525, 1585 : MSS. MABY Scots, December 515, 1584, Jan- QUEEN OF SCOTS. 34
