privateers at Scilly. Strangways, the pirate,
happened to be taken prisoner, and told something to the council about
them which led to their arrest; but though the matter was "true
enough," they bore down their accuser by mere courageous audacity of
denial; and their resolution and fidelity were held up as an example
in the secret meetings of the conspirators.[559]

[Footnote 559: John Throgmorton said to Bedyll,
Derick, and me, on this wise: "Whatsoever becomes
of any of us in this dangerous enterprise, we will
here promise, that albeit, I, you, and your nannye,
every of us, by name, should accuse any of us of
this, or any part touching this enterprise, bye and
bye to revile him with most taunting and naughty
rebukes that may be devised. And thereby setting a
stern countenance, and for our couraging and better
comfort herein, he shewed us of a matter that was
most true, and accused by Strangways against two
brethren, meaning [the] Tremaynes, who being but
little men in personage, so reviled Strangways,
accusing them before your honours, that because
Strangways had no further proof but his only
saying, and they so stoutly denying it, even to the
threatening of the rack (or whether they were
anything thereto constrained or no, as he said, I
do not perfectly remember); but at length
Strangways was in effect ready to weep, and think
he had accused them wrongfully, and so they
dismissed, and Strangways much of your honours
rebuked."--Thomas White to the Council: _MS. Mary,
Domestic_, vol. vii.]

{p.265} The active co-operation of France was an essential element in
the chances of success. From France, however, it became suddenly
uncertain whether assistance was to be looked for. The English
mediation in the European war had failed, because, after Mary's
disappointment, France refused to part with Savoy; and the emperor
could not bring himself to make a peace where the sacrifices would be
wholly on his own side. But the negotiations between the principals
were never wholly le