1564-] THE EMBASSY OF DE S2LVA. 191 the turn which it had taken was unknown except by rumour to the public. Lady Catherine Grey was still, though pining in captivity, the hope of the Protestants; and John Hales, Clerk of the Hanaper report said with Cecil's help and connivance collected the sub- stance of the arguments in her favour ; he procured opinions at the same time from Italian canonists in sup- port of the validity of her marriage with Lord Hert- ford ; and out of these materials he compiled a book in defence of her title which was secretly put into circula- tion. The strongest point in Lady Catherine's favour the omission of the Scottish line in the will of Henry the Eighth could only be touched on vaguely, the will itself being still concealed ; but the case which Hales contrived to make out, representing as it did not only the wishes of the ultra-Protestants but the opinions at this time of Lord Arundel and the Howards, was strong enough to be dangerous. Elizabeth, who in addition to her political sympathies cherished a vindictive dislike of her cousin, sent Hales to the Fleet and inflicted on Cecil the duty of examining and exposing what she chose to regard as conspiracy. 1 The imprisonment of Hales was accepted as little less than a defiance of the Protestant party in England, and as equivalent to a public declaration in favour of the Queen of Scots. The long- talked- of meeting of ' In this matter I am by com- { nee ad sinistram ; and yet I am mandnient occupied, whereof I could be content to be delivered; but I will go upright neither ad dextram not free from suspicion.' Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith, May, 1564 : WRIGHT'S Elizabeth, vol. i. "
