ibid.] [Footnote 24: NOTE X, p.226.The detail of this conspiracy is to be found in a letter of the queen of Scots to Charles Paget, her great confidant.

This letter is dated the 20th of May, 1586, and is contained in Dr.Forbes's manuscript collections, at present in the possession of Lord Royston.

It is a copy attested by Curie, Mary's secretary, and endorsed by Lord Burleigh.

What proves its authenticity beyond question is, that we find in Murden's Collection, (p.

516,) that Mary actually wrote that very day a letter to Charles Paget; and further she mentions, in the manuscript letter, a letter of Charles Paget's of the 10th of April.