In my capacity of Lord Chancellor of the realm,
I would order his imprisonment, and would see to
it that his lips were sealed until I had obtained the






184 The Romance of Gentle Will

Queen's signature for his execution* You may rest
assured I would lose no time in delivering him to the
headsman."

"By my faith/' said Philip II, "you should have
been a Spaniard. You make a famous conspirator.
What say you, Famese, to the plot ?*'

The Duke of Parma shook his head.
"Your Majesty," he answered, "Norfolk is too
old a bird to be caught with chaff. Unless a suitable
guarantee could be given him that his bride would be
delivered into his hands he would make no attempt
to free her, but would rather carry the news of your
overtures to Queen Elizabeth in the hope of currying
favour at your expense and advancing his cause by
ridding England of your presence."

"You have a serpent's wisdom. Our hands are
tied in that direction," grumbled the King.
"Could we not effect her release ourselves, your
Highness?" asked Alva. "By bribing the food-
bearers from the kitchen, we might guise ourselves
in their uncouth apparel, and muffling our faces
might gain access to the Queen's cell. The keepers
would not dare to raise their hands, when once they
discovered your royal presence in the Tower, and we
could most easily slay them, and likewise this soft-
hearted fool. Sir Amias Paulet. Sir Thomas could
so arrange that the way might be clear for our
escape."

The King shuddered at thought of exposing his
precious body to personal danger.
