REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 52. than it was thought she had deserved ; ' but he must examine her coffers and her servants' boxes, and send all the papers that he could find to the Court. 1 Mary Stuart had taken the precaution to burn her letters be- fore she left Wingfield, Lord Shrewsbury, for his own sake perhaps, having given her the opportunity. The Earl's followers were rude chamber- grooms, and had not cared before entering the Queen of Scots' apartments to take the pistols out of their belts. She was furious at the insult. She protested as usual that she had done nothing to deserve suspicion. 2 She stormed at Hunt- ingdon, and said she would make him feel what her credit was in England. 3 It was like handling a wild cat in a cage, and the Earl could but pray God to ' assist her Majesty and her council with the spirit of wisdom and fortitude of mind, which two things were neces- sarily required, considering the person they had to deal with. 54 The search of course had been vain, and so far there was nothing against Norfolk but presumption from his own conduct. A Queen's messenger followed him to Keninghall with a command that ' without manner of excuse ' he should return immediately. Had he obeyed, he would have probably fared no worse than his com- panions in the council, and he might have succeeded 1 The Queen to Huntingdon, September 25 : MSS. QUEEN of SCOTS. 2 'She took grievously our search, pleadeth greatly her innocency to the Queen's Majesty, of whose deal- ing to her she speaketh bitterly.' Huntingdon to Cecil, September 27; Burghley Papers, vol. i. 3 Huntingdon to Cecil, October 10 : Ibid.
- Ibid.
