Undoubtedly I have allowed myself a good deal of licence and
speculation in treating certain unwitnessed scenes in "The
Barren Wooing." But the theory that I develop in it to account
for the miscarriage of the matrimonial plans of Queen Elizabeth
and Robert Dudley seems to me to be not only very fully warranted
by de Quadra's correspondence, but the only theory that will
convincingly explain the events. Elizabeth, as I show, was widely
believed to be an accessory to the murder of Amy Robsart. But in
carefully following her words and actions at that critical time,
as reported by de Quadra, my reading of the transaction is as
given here. The most damning fact against Elizabeth was held to
be her own statement to de Quadra on the eve of Lady Robert
Dudley's murder to the effect that Lady Robert was "already dead,
or very nearly so." This foreknowledge of the fate of that
unfortunate lady has been accepted as positive evidence that the
Queen was a party to the crime at Cumnor, which was to set her
lover free to marry again. Far from that, however, I account it
positive proof of Elizabeth's innocence of any such part in the
deed. Elizabeth was far too crafty and clear-sighted not to
realize how her words must incriminate her afterwards if she knew
that the murder of Lady Robert was projected. She must have been
merely repeating what Dudley himself had told her; and what he
must have told her--and she believed--was that his wife was at
the point of a natural death. Similarly, Dudley would not have
told her this, unless his aim had been to procure his wife's
removal by means which would admit of a natural interpretation.
Difficulties encountered, much as I relate them--and for which
there is abundant evidence--drove his too-zealous agents to
rather desperate lengths, and thus brought suspicion, not only