1566.] THE MURDER OF DARNLEY. 495 was present when purposes were held in his audience tending to any unlawful or dishonourable end, he spoke wickedly and untruly.' 1 But Mary herself how did she receive the dark sug- gestion ? This part of the story rests on the evidence of her own friends, and was drawn up in her excuse and defence. According to Argyle and Huntly she said she ' would do nothing to touch her honour and conscience ; '
- they had better leave it alone ; ' ' meaning to do her
good it might turn to her hurt and displeasure/ 2 She may be credited with having refused her consent to the proposals then made to her ; and yet that such a conversation should have passed in her presence (of the truth of the main features of it there is no room for doubt) was serious and significant. The secret was ill kept : it reached the ears of the Spanish ambassador, who, though he could not believe it true, wrote an ac- count of it to Philip. 3 The Queen was perhaps serious in her reluctance ; perhaps she desired not to know what was intended till the deed was done. ' This they should have done, And not have spoken of it. In her 'twas villany ; In them it had been good service.' Those among the lords, at all events, who were most 1 Reply of Murray to the declar- ations of the Earls of Huntly and Argyle : KEITH. 2 Declarations of Huntly and Argyle: KEITH. 3 'Habia entendido que viendo algunos el desgusto que habia entre estos Reyes, habian ofrecido a la Reyna de hacer algo contra su marido, y que ella no habia venido en ello. Aunque tuve este aviso de buena parte, pareciome cosa que no se debia creer que se hubiese tratado con la Reyna semejante platica.' De Silva to Philip, January iS- MS. Sfmancas.
