MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS > MIOM THE OHIO t JJAL Br JOHN WATSOW GORDOTT K.I.A. . HISTORY MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. BY JACOB ABBOTT. 35nfltabfnjjs. NEW YORK: HARPER of entrance into the palace were on the inside oi the court. The palace is now in ruins. A troop of sol- disrs came to it one day in time of war, after Mary and her mother had left it, and spent the night there : they spread straw over the floors to sleep upon. In the morning, when they wen/ away, they wantonly set the straw on fire, arid left it burning, and thus the palace was destroy- ed. Some of the lower floors were of stone ; bu1 all the upper floors and the roof were burned, and all the wood- work of the rooms, and the doors and window-frames. Since then the pal- ace has never been repaired, but remains a mel- ancholy pile of ruins. The room where Mary was born had a stono floor. The rubbish which has fallen from above has covered it with a sort of soil, and grass and weeds grow up all over it. It is a very melan- choly sight to see. The visitors who go into the room walk mournfully about, trying to imag- 'no how Queen Mary looked, as an infant in her 1542.] MARY'S CHILDHOOD. 1 Mary's father in the wars. His deaft mother's arms, and reflecting on the reckless, ness of the soldiers in wantonly destroying so beautiful a palace. Then they go to the win- dow, or, rather, to the crumbling opening in the wall where the window once was, and look out upon the loch, now so deserted and lonely ; over I heir heads it is all open to the sky. Mary's father was King of Scotland. At the time that Mary was born, he was away from home ensr^gajj in war with the King of England, '.vho had invaded Scotland. In the battles Ma- ry's father was defeated, and he thought that the generals and nobles who commanded his army allowed the English to conquer them on purpose to betray him. This thought overwhelmed him with vexation and anguish. He pined away under the acuteness of his sufferings, and just after the news came to him that his daughter Mary was born, he died. Thus Mary became an orphan, and her troubles commenced, at the very beginning of her days. She never saw her father, and her father never saw her. Hei mother was a French lady ; her name was Mary of Guise. Her own name was Mary Stuart, but she is commonly called Mary Queen of Scots. As Mary was her father's only child, of coursOj when he died, she became Queen of Scotland 10 MARY Q, u E E N OF SCOTS. Regency. Catholic religion. The Protestant* although she was only a few days old. It h customary, in such a case, to appoint some dis- tinguished person to govern the kingdom, in the name of the young queen, until she grows up : such a person is called a regent. Mary's moth- er wished to be the regent until Mary became of age. It happened that in those days, as now, the government and people of France were of the Catholic religion. England, on the other hand, was Protestant. There is a great difference between the Catholic and the Protestant sys- tems. The Catholic Church, though it extends nearly all over the world, is banded together , as the reader is aware, under one man the pope who is the great head of the Church, and who lives in state at Rome. The Catho- lics have, in all countries, many large and splen- did churches, which are ornamented with paint- ings and images of the Virgin Mary and if Christ. They perform great ceremonies in the* 1 churches, the priests being dressed in magnifi oent costumes, and walking in processions, will censers of incense burning as they go. Tilt Protestants, on the other hand, do not like these ceremonies ; they regard such outward acts of frorship as mere useless parade, and the imagoa J543.] MA.RY s CHILDHOOD. 17 England and France. The Earl of Arena as idols. They themselves have smaller and plainer churches, and call the people together iii them to hear sermons, and to offer up simple prayers. In the time of Mary, England was Protest- ant and France was Catholic, while Scotland was divided, though most of the people were Protestants. The two parties were very much excited against each other, and often persecuted each other with extreme cruelty. Sometimes the Protestants would break into the Catholic churches, and tear down and destroy the paint- ings and the images, and the other symbols of worship, all which the Catholics regarded with extreme veneration ; this exasperated the Cath- olics, and when they became powerful in theii turn, they would seize the Protestants and im- prison them, and sometimes burn them to death, by tying them to a stake and piling fagots of wood about them, and then setting the heap on fire. Queen Mary's mother was a Catholic, and for that reason the people of Scotland were not willing that she should be regent. There were one or two other persons, moreover, who claimed the office. One was a certain nobleman called the Earl of Arran. He was a Protestant. The Ib MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1543. The regency. Amn regent Earl of Arran was the next heir to the crown, so that if Mary had died in her infancy, he would have been king. He thought that this was a reason why lit should be regent, and govern the kingdom until Mary became old enough to gov- ern it herself. Many other persons, however, considered this rather a reason why he should not be regent; for they thought he would be naturally interested in wishing that Mary should not live, since if she died he would himself be- come king, and that therefore he would not be a safe protector for her. However, as the Earl of Arran was a Protestant, and as Mary's moth- er was a Catholic, and as the Protestant inter- est was the strongest, it was at length decided that Arran should be the regent, and govern the country until Mary should be of age. It is a curious circumstance that Mary's birth put an end to the war between England and Scotland, and that in a very singular way. The King of England had been fighting against Ma- ry's father, James, for a long time, in order to xm.juer the country and annex it to England ; And now that James was dead, and Mary had become queen, with Arran for the regent, it de- volved on Arran to carry on the war. But the King of England and his government, now that 1543.] MARY'S CHILDHOOD. 19 Hew plan. End of the war. Kxig Henry V1IL the young queen was born, conceived of a ne\v plan. The king had a little son, named Ed- ward, about four years old, who, of course, would becomo King of England in his place when he should himself die. Now he thought it would be best for him to conclude a peace with Scot- land, and agree with the Scottish government that, as soon as Mary was old enough, she should become Edward's wife, and the two kingdoms be united in that way. The name of this King of England was Hen- ry the Eighth. He was a very headstrong and determined man. This, his plan, might have oeen a very good one ; it was certainly much better than an attempt to get possession of Scot- .and by fighting for it ; but he was very far from being as moderate and just as he should have been in the execution of his design. The first thing was to ascertain whether Mary was a strong and healthy child; for if ho should make a treaty of peace, and give up all his plans of conquest, and then if Mary, after liv- ing feebly a few years, should die, all his plans would fail To satisfy him on this point, they actually had some of the infant's clothes re moved in the presence of his embassador, in or- der that the embassador might see that her form 20 MARY QUEEN OP SCOTS. [1543 King Henry's demand* was perfect, and her limbs vigorous and strong The nurse did this with great pride and pleas- ure, Mary's mother standing by. The nurse's nams was Janet Sinclair. The embassadoi wrote back to Henry, the King of England, that little Mary was "as goodly a child as he ever saw." So King Henry VIII. was confirmed in his design of having her for the wife of his son King Henry VIII. accordingly changed all his plans. He made a peace with the Earl of Ar- ran. He dismissed the prisoners that he had taken, and sent them home kindly. If he had been contented with kind and gentle measures like these, he might have succeeded in them, al- though there was, of course, a strong party in Scotland opposed to them. Mary's mother was opposed to them, for she was a Catholic and a French lady, and she wished to have her daugh- ter become a Catholic as she grew up, and mar- ry a French prince . All the Catholics in Scot- land took her side. Still Henry's plans might have been accomplished, perhaps, if he had been moderate and conciliating in the efforts which he made to carry them into effect. Bat Henry VIII. was headstrong and obsti- nate. He demanded that Mary, since she was to be his son's wife, should be given up to him 1513.J MARK'S CHILDHOOD. 21 Objections to thorn. Plans for M>rj to be taken into England, and educated there, under the care of persons whom he should ap- point. He also demanded that the Parliament of Scotland should let him have a large share 'n the government of Scotland, because he was going to be the father-in-law of the young queen. The Parliament would not agree to either of these plans ; they were entirely unwilling to al- low their little queen to be carried off to another country, and put under the charge of so rough and rude a man. Then they were unwilling, too, to give him any share of the government during Mary's minority. Both these measure* were entirely inadmissible ; they would, if adopted, have put both the infant Queen of Scotland and the kingdom itself completely in the power of one who had always been their greatest enemy. Henry, finding that he could not induce the Scotch government to accede to these plans, gave them up at last, and made a treaty of marriage between his son and Mary, with the agreement that she might remain in Scotland until she was ten years old, and that then she should come tc England and be under his care. All this time, while these grand negotiations Were pending between two mighty nations about 22 Linlithgow. MARY C^UEEN OP SCOTS. [1543 Plan of the palace her marriage, little Mary was unconscious of it all, sometimes reposing quietly in Janet Sin- clair's arms, sometimes looking out of the wic- dows of the Castle of Linlithgow to see the swans swim upon the lake, and sometimes, per- haps, creeping about upon the palace floor, where the earls and barons who came to visit her moth- er, clad in armor of steel, looked upon her with pride and pleasure. The palace where she lived was beautifully situated, as has been before re- marked, on the borders of a lake. It was ar- ranged somewhat in the following manner : PLAN OP THE PALACE OF LINLITHGOW a. Boom where Mary was born. . Entrance through great gatea . Bow-window projecting toward the wat>;r fhe coronntion Bconj. Linlithgow and Stirling. great gates of the castle, crossing a broad and Jeep ditch by means of a draw-bridge. You ;ntor then a series of paved courts, with tow- ?rs and walls around them, and finally come to the more interior edifices, where the private apartments are situated, and where the little queen was crowned. It was an occasion of great pomp and cere- mony, though Mary, of course, was unconscious of the meaning of it all. She was surrounded by barons and earls, by embassadors and prin ces from foreign courts, and by the principa. lords and ladies of the Scottish nobility, all dressed in magnificent costumes. They held little Mary up, and a cardinal, that is, a great dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church, plac- ed the crown upon her head. Half pleased with the glittering show, and half frightened at the strange faces which she saw every where around her, she gazed unconsciously upon the scene, while her mother, who could better understand its import, was elated with pride and joy. Linlithgow and Stirling are in the open an I cultivated part of Scotland. All the northern and western part of the country consists of vast masses of mou/ tains, with dark and somber glens among them, which are occupied solely 1545. J MARY'S CHILDHOOD. 29 Tbe Highlands and the Highlanders. Religious disturbance! by shepherds and herdsmen with their flocks and herds. This mountainous region was call- ed the Highlands, and the inhabitants of it were the Highlanders. They were a wild and war like class of men, and their country was seldom visited by either friend or foe. At the present time there are beautiful roads all through the Highlands, and stage-coaches and private car- riages roll over them every summer, to take tourists to see and admire the picturesque and beautiful scenery ; but in the days of Mary the whole region was gloomy and desolate, and al- most inaccessible. Mary remained in Linlithgow and Stirling for about two years, and then, a;> the country was becoming more and more disturbed by the struggles of the great contending parties those who were in favor of the Catholic religion and alliance with France on the one hand, and of those in favor of the Protestant religion and al- liance with England on the other hand they concluded to send her into the Highlands foi safety. It was not lar into the country of the High- lands that they concluded to send her, but only into the borders of it. There was a small lake on the southern margin of the wild and mount' 80 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1546 Lake Monteitk, Mary's companions. The four Mariea ainous country, called the Lake of Menteith. In this lake was an island named Inchmahomo / the word inch being the name for island in the language spoken by the Highlanders. This isl- and, which was situated in a very secluded and solitary region, was selected as Mary's place of residence. She was about four years old when they sent her to this place. Several persons went with her to take care of her, and to teach her. In fact, every thing was pro/ided for her which could secure her improvement and hap- piness. Her mother did not forget that she would need playmates, and so she selected four little girls of about the same age with the little queen herself, and invited them to accompany her. They were daughters of the noblemen and high officers about the court. It is very singular that these girls were all named Mary Their names in full were as follows : Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming, Mary Livingstone, Mary Seaton. Those, with Mary Stuart, which was Queea Mary's name, made five girls of four or five years of age, all named Mary. Mary lived two years in this solitary island 154G.J MARY'S CHILDHOOD. 31 Angry disputes. Change of plan. Henry's angei She had, however, all the comforts and conven- iences of life, and enjoyed herself with her four Maries very much. Of course she knew noth- ing, and thought nothing of the schemes and plans of the great governments for having hei married, when she grew up, to the young En- glish prince, who was then a little boy of rJbout her own age, nor of the angry disputes in Scotland to which this subject gave rise. It did give rise to very serious disputes. Mary's mother did not like the plan at all. As she was herself a French lady and a Catholic, she did not wish to have her daughter marry a prince who was of the English royal family, and a Protestant. All the Catholics in Scot- land took her side. At length the Earl of Ar- ran, who was the regent, changed to that side ; and finally the government, being thus brought over, gave notice to King Henry VIII. that the plan must be given up, as they had concluded, oil the whole, that Mary should not marry hi:? *ori. King Henry was very much incensed. Ho declared that Mary should marry his son, and he raised an army and sent it into Scotland to make war upon the Scotch again, and compel them to consent to the execution of the plan. 32 MARY (^UKKN OF SCOTS [1546 Henry's sickness and death. He was at this time beginning to be sick, but his sickness, instead of softening his temper, only made him the more ferocious and cruel. tie turned agaiast his best friends. He gre^ worse, and was evidently about to die ; but h was so irritable and angry that for a long time no one dared to tell him of his approaching dis- solution, and he lay restless, and wretched, and agitated with political animosities upon his dy ing bed. At length some one ventured to tell him that his end was near. When he found that he must die, he resigned himself to his fate. He sent for an archbishop to come and see him, but he was speechless when the prelate came, and soon afterward expired. The English government, however, after hi& death, adhered to his plan of compelling the Scotch to make Mary the wife of his son. They sent an army into Scotland. A great battle was fought, and the Scotch were defeated. Tho battle was fought at a place not far from Edin > burgh, and near the sea. It was so near the sea that the English fired upon the Scotch an::y from their ships, and thus assisted their troops upon the shore. The armies had remained sev- eral days near each other before coming to bat- tle, and during all this time the city of Edi* J548.] MABY'S CHILDHOOD. 33 Danger in Edirfburgh. Aid from France. New plaa. burgh was in a state of great anxiety and sus- pense, as they expected that their city would be attacked by the English if they should con: quer in the battle. The English army did, in fact, advance toward Edinburgh after the bat- tle was &ver, and would have got possession of it had it not been for the castle. There is a very strong castle in the very heart of Ed in burgh, upon the summit of a rocky hill.* These attempts of the English to force tht, Scotch government to consent to Mary's mai- riage only made them the more determined to prevent it. A great many who were not op- posed to it before, became opposed to it now, when they saw foreign armies in the country destroying the towns and murdering the people. They said they had no great objection to the match, but that they did not like the mode of wooing. They sent to France to ask the French king to send over an army to aid them, and premised him that if he would do so they would agree that Mary should marry his son. I [is son's name was Francis. The French king was very much pleased with this plan. He sent an army of six thou- sand men into Scotland to assist the Scotch See the view of Edinbirgh, page 179. 34 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1548 *oing to France. Dumbarton Castle. Rock of Dumbarton against their English enemies. It was airang* ed, also, as little Mary was now hardly safe among all these commotions, even in her re- Ireat in the island of Liehmahome, to send he* lo France to be educated there, and to live there until she was old enough to be married. The eaine sh.'ps which brought the army from France to Scotland, were to carry Mary and her reti- nue from Scotland to France. The four Maries went with her. They bade their lonely island farewell, and traveled south till they came to a strong castle on a high, rocky hill, on the banks of the River Clyde. The name of this fortress is Dumbar- ton Castle. Almost all the castles of those times were built upon precipitous hills, to in- crease the difficulties of the enemies in ap- preaching them. The Rock of Dumbarton is a very remarkable one. It stands close to the bank of the river. There are a great many ships and steam-boats continually passing up and down the Clyde, to and from the great city of Glasgow, and all the passengers on board gaze with great interest, as they sail by, on the Rock of Dumbarton, with the castle walls on the sides, and the towers and battlements crown- ing the summit.* In Mary's time there was 1548.] MARY'S CHILDHOOD. 35 Juurney to Dumbarton, Tourists. River Clyde. comparatively very little shipping on the river , but the French fleet was there, waiting oppo- site the castle to receive Mary and the numer- ous persons who were to go in her train.* Mary was escorted from the island where sht> had been living, across the country to Dumbar- ton Castle, with a strong retinue. She was now between five and six years of age. She was, of course, too young to know any thing about the contentions and wars which had dis- tracted her country on her account, or to feel * Travelers who visit Scotland from this country at the present day, usually land first, at the close of the voyage across the Atlantic, at Liverpool, and there take a Glasgow steamer. Glasgow, which is the great commercial city of Scotland, is on the River Clyde. This river flows northwest to the sea. The steamer, in ascending the river, makes ita way with difficulty along the narrow channel, which, be- sides being narrow and tortuous, is obstructed by boats, ships, steamers, and eveiy other variety of water-craft, such as are always going to and fro in the neighborhood of any great commercial emporium. The tourists, who stand upon the deck gazing at this excit- ing scene of life and motion, have their attention strongly at \racted, about half way up the river, by this Castle of Dum- barton, which crowns a rocky hill, rising abruptly from the water's edge, on the north side of the stream. It attracts gcmetimes the more attention from American travelers, on ac- count of its being the first ancient castfe they see. This is likely to be the case if they proceed to Scotland immediately on landing at Liverpool. 36 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1548 The four Maries. Departure from Scotland much interest in the subject of her approaching departure from her native land. She enjoyed the novelty of the scenes through which sho passed on her journey. She was pleased with the dresses and the arms of the soldiers who ac- companied her, and with the ships which were floating in the river, beneath the walls of the Castle of Dumbarton, when she arrived there. She was pleased, too, to think that, wherever she was to go, her four Maries were to go with her. She bade her mother farewell, embarked on board the ship which was to receive her, and Bailed away from her native land, not to return fco it again for many years. 1548.] HEII EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 37 Departure. (Stormy voyage. CHAPTER II. HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. E departure of Mary from Scotland, lit- tie as she was, was a great event both for Scotland and for France. In those days kings and queens were even of greater relative im- portance than they are now, and all Scotland was interested in the young queen's going away from them, and all France in expecting her arrival. She sailed down the Clyde, and then passed alcng the seas and channels which lie between England and Ireland. These seas, though they look small upon the map, are real- ly spacious and wide, and are often greatly agi- tated by winds and storms. This was the case at the time Mary made her voyage. The days and nights were tempestuous and wild, and the ships had difficulty in keeping in each other's company There was danger of being blown upon the coasts, or upon the rocks or islands which lie in the way. Mary was too young to give much heed to these dangers, but the lords aud commissioners, and the greal; ladies who 38 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1548 Journey to Furis. Release of prisoner* went to attend her, were heartily glad when the voyage was over. It ended safely at last, after several days of tossing upon the stormy billows, tr their arrival upon the northern coast of France. They landed at a town called Brest. The King of France had made great prepara lions for receiving the young queen immediate- ly upon her landing. Carriages and horses had been provided to convey herself and the com- pany of her attendants, by easy journeys, to Paris. They received her with great pomp and ceremony at every town which she passed through. One mark of respect which they showed her was very singular. The king or- dered that every prison which she passed in her route should be thrown open, and the prisoner? set free. This fact is a striking illustration of the different ideas which prevailed in those days, compared with those which are enter- tained now, in respect to crime and punish- ment. Crime is now considered as an offense against the community, and it would be con- aidered no favor to the community, but the ro. rer?e, to let imprisoned criminals go free. In those days, on the other hand, crimes were con- sidered rather as injuries committed by the community, and against the king; so that, if 1548.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. the monarch wished to show the community a favor, he would do it by releasing such of them as had been imprisoned by his officers for their srimes. It was just so in the time of our Sa- dor, when the Jews had a custom of having some criminal released to them once a year, at the Passover, by the Roman government, as an act of favor. That is, the government was ac- customed to furnish, by way of contributing its share toward the general festivities of the occa- sion, the setting of a robber and a murderer at liberty ! The King of France has several palaces in the neighborhood of Paris. Mary was taken to one of them, named St. Germain. This pal- ace, which still stands, is about twelve miles from Paris, toward the northwest. It is a very magnificent residence, and has been for many centuries a favorite resort of the French kings. Many of them were born in it. There are ex- tensive parks and gardens connected with it, and a great artificial forest, in which the trees Mrere all planted and cultivated like the trees af an orchard. Mary was received at this pal- ace with great pomp and parade ; and many spectacles and festivities were arranged to amus her and the four Maries who accompanied her. 40 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1549 Character o' the nun* and to impress her strongly with an idea of the wealth, and power, and s-plendor of the great country to which she had come. She remained here but a short time, and then it was arranged for her to go to a convent to be educated. Convents were in those days, as in fact they are now, quite famous as places of education. They were situated sometimes in large towns, and sometimes in secluded placer in the country ; bnt, whether in town or coun- try, the inmates of -them were shut up very strictly from all intercourse with the world. They were under the care of nuns who had de- voted themselves for life to the service. These nuns were some of them unhappy persons, who were weary of the sorrows and sufferings of the world, and who were glad to retire from it to such a retreat as they fancied the convent would be. Others became nuns from conscientious principles of duty, thinking that they should commend themselves to the favor of God by levoting their lives to works of benevolence and to the exercises of religion. Of course thote were all varieties of character among the nuns: some of them were selfish and disagreeable, others were benevolent and kind. At the convent where Mary was sent there 1550] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 41 Interest in Mary. Leaving the convent were some nuns of very excellent and amiable character, and they took a great interest 'in Mary, both because she was a queen, and be jause she was beautiful, and of a kind and iffeciionate disposition. Mary became very strongly attached to these nuns, and began to entertain the idea of becoming a nun herself, and spending her life with them in the con- vent. It seemed pleasant to her to live there in such a peaceful seclusion, in company with those who loved her, and whom she herself loved , but the King of France, and the Scottish no bles who had come with her from Scotland, would, of course, be opposed to any such plan They intended her to be married to the young prince, and to become one of the great ladies of the court, and to lead a life of magnificence and splendor. They became alarmed, there- fore, when they found that she was imbibing a taste for the life of seclusion and solitude which is led by a nun. They decided to take her im- mediately away. Mary bade farewell to the convent and its in abates with much regret and many tears ; buti notwithstanding her reluctance, she was obliged to submit. If she had not been a queen, she might, perhaps, have had her own way. As it 42 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1550 Visit of Mary's mother was, however, she was obliged to leave the con- vent and the nuns whom she loved, and to go back to the palaces of the king, in which she afterward continued to live, sometimes in ono and sometimes in another, for many years. Wherever she went, she was surrounded with scenes of great gayety and splendor. They wished to obliterate from her mind all recollec- tions of the convent, and all love of solitude, and seclusion. They did not neglect her stud- ies, but they filled up the intervals of study with all possible schemes of enjoyment and pleasure, to amuse and occupy her mind and the mind? uf her companions. Her companions were her own four Maries, and the two daughters of the French king. When Mary was about seven years of age, that is, after she had been two years in France, her mother formed a plan to come from Scot- land to see her. Her mother had remained be- liind when Mary left Scotland, as she had an important part to perform in public affairs, and tn the administration of the government of Scot- .and while Mary was away. She wanted, how- ever, to come and see her. France, too, was her own native land, and all her relations and friends resided there. She wished to see then? 1550.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 43 Queen dowager. Rouen. A happy meeting, as well as Mary, and to revisit once more the palaces and cities where her own early life had been spent. In speaking of Mary's mother we shall call her sometimes the queen dowager, The expression queen dowager is the one usu- ally applied to the widow of a king, as queen consort is used to denote the wife of a king. This visit of the queen dowager of Scotland to her little daughter in France was an event of great consequence, and all the arrangements for carrying it into effect were conducted with great pomp and ceremony. A large company attended her, with many of the Scottish lords and ladies among them. The King of France, too, went from Paris toward the French coast, to meet the party of visitors, taking little Mary and a large company of attendants with him. They went to Rouen, a large city not far from the coast, where they awaited the arrival of Mary's mother, and where they received her with great ceremonies of parade and rejoicing The queen regent was very much delighted to we her little daughter again. She had grown two years older, and had improved greatly in every respect, and tears of joy came into her mother's eyes as she clasped her in her arms. The two parties journeyed in company to Paris, 14 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1550 Rejoicings. A last farewell Visit to a mourner and entered the city with great rejoicings. The two queens, mother and daughter, were the ob- jects of universal interest and attention. Feasts and celebrations without end were arranged for them, and every possible means of amusemen* and rejoicing were contrived in the palaces ol Paris, of St. G-ermain's, and of Fontainebleau. Mary's mother remained in France about a year. She then bade Mary farewell, leaving her at Fontainebleau. This proved to be a final farewell, for she never saw her again. After taking leave of her daughter, the queen dowager went, before leaving France, to see her own mother, who was a widow, and who was living at a considerable distance from Paris in seclusion, and in a state of austere and melan- choly grief, on account of the loss of her hus- band. Instead of forgetting her sorrows, as she ought to have done, and returning calmly and peacefully to the duties and enjoyments of life, she had given herself up to inconsolable grief, and was doing all she could to perpetuate the mournful influence of her sorrows. She lived in an ancient and gloomy mansion, of vast size, and she had hung all the apartments in black, to make it still more desolate and gloomy, and to continue the influence of grief npop her mind 1550.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE 45 The queen dowager's return. The regency Here the queen dowager found her, spending her time in prayers and austerities of every kind, making herself and all her family perfect ly miserable. Many persons, at the present day, act, under such circumstances, on the same prin- ciple and with the same spirit, though they do not do it perhaps in precisely the same way. * One would suppose that Mary's mother would have preferred to remain in France with her daughter and her mother and all her family friends, instead of going back to Scotland, where she was, as it were, a foreigner and a stranger. The reason why she desired to go back was. that she wished to be made queen regent, and thus have the government of Scotland in hoi own hands. She would rather be queen re gent in Scotland than a simple queen mothei in France. While she was in France, she urged the king to use all his influence to have Arran resign his regency into her hands, and finally obtained writings from him and from Queon Vlaiy to this effect. She then left France and went to Scotland, going through England on ihe way. The young King of England, to whom Mary had been engaged by the govern- ment when she was an infant in Janet Sin- clair's arms, renewed his proposal? to the queen 46 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1550 A page of honor. Sir Jame Melvfllfe dowager to let her daughter become his wife ; but she told him that it was all settled that sho was to be married to the French prince, and that it was now too late to change the plan. There was a young gentleman, about nineteen or twenty years of age, who came from Scot- land also, not far from this time, to wait upon Mary as her page of honor. A page is an at- tendant above the rank of an ordinary servant whose business it is to wait upon his mistress, to read to her, sometimes to convey her letters and notes, and to carry her commands to tho other attendants who are beneath him in rank and whose business it is actually to perform tho services which the lady requires. A page of honor is a young gentleman who sustains this office in a nominal and temporary manner for a princess or a queen. The name of Mary's page of honor, who came (o her now from Scotland, was Sir James Mel ville. The only reason for mentioning him thusi particularly, rather than the many other officer*! and attendants by whom Mary was surrounded was, that the service which he thus commenced was continued in various ways through the whole period of Mary's life. We shall often hear of him in tVe subsequent parts of this nar- 1550.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 47 Mary's character. Her diligence. Devices and mottoes rative. He followed Mary to Scotland when she returned to that country, aiA became after- ward her secretary, and also her embassador on many occasions. He was now quite young, and when he landed at Brest he traveled slowly to Paris in the care of two Scotchmen, to whose charge he had been intrusted. He was a young man of uncommon talents and of great accom- plishments, and it was a mark of high distinc- tion for him to be appointed page of honor to the queen, although he was about nineteen years of age and she was but seven. After the queen regent's return to Scotland, Mary went on improving in every respect more and more. She was diligent, industrious, and tractable. She took a great interest in hei studies. She was not only beautiful in person, and amiable and affectionate in heart, but she possessed a very intelligent and active mind, and she entered with a sort of quiet but earn- est enthusiasm into all the studies to which hoi attention was called. She paid a great deal of attention to music, to poetry, and to drawing She used to invent little devices for seals, with /rench and Latin mottoes, and, after Irawing them again and again with great care, until she was satisfied with the design, she would give 48 MAR\- QUEEN OF SCOTS. [155G Festivities. Water parties them to the gem-engravers to be cut upon stone seals, so that she could seal her letters with them. These mottoes and devices can not well be represented in English, as the force and beau* ty of them depended generally upon a doubie meaning in some word of French or Latin, which can not be preserved in the translation. We shall, however, give one of these seals, which she made just before she left France, to return to Scotland, when we come to that period of her history. The King of France, and the lords and ladies who came with Mary from Scotland, contrived a great many festivals and celebrations in the parks, and forests, and palaces, to amuse the queen and the four Maries who were with her The daughters of the French king joined, also, in these pleasures. They would have little balls, and parties, and pic-nics, sometimes in tho open air, sometimes in the little summer-houses built upon the grounds attached to the palaces. The scenes of these festivities were in manj cases made unusually joyous and gay by bon- fires and illuminations. They had water par- ties on the little lakes, and hunting parties through the parks and forests. Mary was a 737V grace ul and beautiful rider, and full of 1555.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 49 Hunting. courage. Sometimes she met with accidents which were attended with some danger. Once, while hunting the stag, and riding at full speed with a great company of ladies and gentlemen behind her and before her, her dress got caught by the bough of a tree, and she was pulled to the ground. The horse went on. Several oth- er riders drove by her without seeing her, as she had too much composure and fortitude to attract their attention by outcries and lamenta tions. They saw her, however, at last, and came to her assistance. They brought back her horse, and, smoothing down her hair, which had fallen into confusion, she mounted again, and rode on after the stag as before. Notwithstanding all these means of enjoy- ment and diversion, Mary was subjected to a great deal of restraint. The rules of etiquette are very precise and very strictly enforced in ro}'al households, and they were still more strict in those days than they are now. The king was very ceremonious in all his arrangements, and was surrounded by a multitude of officers who performed every thing by rule. As Mary grew older, she was subjected to greater and greater restraint. She used to spend a consid- erable portion of every day in the apartments 4 50 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS [1555 4ueen Catharine. Her character. Embroidery of Queen Catharine, the wife of the King of France and the mother of the little Francis to whom she was to be married. Mary and Queen Catharine did not, however, like each other very well . Catharine was a woman of strong mind and of an imperious disposition ; and it is sup- posed by some that she was jealous of Mary because she was more beautiful and accom- plished and more generally beloved than her own daughters, the princesses of France. At any rate, she treated Mary in rather a stern and haughty manner, and it was thought thai she would finally oppose her marriage to Fran- cis her son. And yet Mary was at first very much pleas- ed with Queen Catharine, and was accustomed io look up to her with great admiration, and to feel for her a very sincere regard. She often went into the queen's apartments, where they sat together and talked, or worked upon their embroidery, which was a famous amusement fcr ladies of exalted rank in those days. Mary Inrself at one time worked a large piece, which ehe sent as a present to the nuns in the con- rent where she had resided ; and afterward, hi Scotland, she worked a great many things, Bom6 of which still remain, and may be seen in 1555.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 51 Mary's admiration of Queen Catharine. The 'utter suspicion* her ancient rooms in the palace of Holyrood Mouse. She learned this art by working wiih Queen Catharine in her apartments. When she first became acquainted with Catharine on these occasions, she used to love her society. She admired her talents and her conversational powers, and she liked very much to be in her room. She listened to all she said, watched her movements, and endeavored in all things to follow her example. Catharine, however, thought that this was all a pretense, and that Mary did not really like her, but only wished to make her believe that she did so in order to get favor, or to ac- complish some other selfish end. One day she isked her why she seemed to prefer her society to that of her youthful and more suitable com- panions. Mary replied, in substance, "The reason was, that though with them she might enjoy much, she could learn nothing ; while she always learned from Queen Catharine's conver- sation something which would be of use to her ia a guide in future life." One would have thought that this answer wouJl have pleased the queen, but it did not. She did not believe that it was sincere. On one occasion Mary seriously offended thfl 52 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [i555 Unguarded remark. Catharine's mortification. The dauphin queen by a remark which she made, and which was, at least, incautious. Kings and queens, 4i ul, in fact, all great people in Europe, pride themselves very much upon the antiquity of the line from which they have descended. Now the family of Queen Catharine had risen to rank and distinction within a moderate period ; and though she was, as Queen of France, on the very pinnacle of human greatness, she would naturally be vexed at any remark which would remind her of the recentness of her elevation. Now Mary at one time said, in conversation in the presence of Queen Catharine, that she her- self was the descendant of a hundred kings This was perhaps true, but it brought her into direct comparison with Catharine in a point in which the latter was greatly her inferior, and it vexed and mortified Catharine very much to have such a thing said to her by such a child. Mary associated thus during all this time, not only with the queen and the princesses, but also with the little prince whom she was des- tined to marry. His name was Francis, bui he was commonly called the dauphin, which was the name by which the oldest son of the King of France was then, and has been sino designated Tie origin of this custom wa, +his 1555.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 53 Origin of the title. Character of Francis About a hundred years before the time of which we are speaking, a certain nobleman of high rank, who possessed estates in an ancient prov ince of France called Dauphiny, lost his son and heir. He was overwhelmed with affliction at the loss, and finally bequeathed all his es- tates to the king and his successors, on condi- tion that the oldest son should bear the title of Dauphin. The grant was accepted, and the oldest son was accordingly so styled from that time forward, from generation to generation. The dauphin, Francis, was a weak and fee- ble child, but he was amiable and gentle in his manners, and Mary liked him. She met him often in their walks and rides, and she danced with him at the balls and parties given for her amusement. She knew that he was to be her husband as soon as she was old enough to be married, and he knew that she was to be his wife. It was all decided, and nothing which cither of them could say or do would have any influence on the result. Neither of them, how- 37er, seim to have had any desire to change the result. Mary pitied Francis on account of hi* feeble health, and liked his amiable and gentle disposition; and Francis could not help loving 54 MARY Q.UEEN OF SCOTS. [L555 Mary's beauty. Torch-light procession. An acgel Mary, both on account of the traits of her char, acter and her personal charms. As Mary advanced in years, she grew vei^ beautiful. In some of the great processions and ceremonies, the ladies were accustomed to walk, magnificently dressed and carrying torches in their hands. In one of these processions Mary was moving along with the rest, through a crowd of spectators, and the light from her torch fell upon her features and upon her hair in such a manner as to make her appear more beauti- ful than usual. A woman, standing there, pressed up nearer to her to view her more close- ly, and, seeing how beautiful she was, asked her if she was not an angel. In those days ; however, people believed in what is miraculoua and supernatural more easily than now, so that it was not very surprising that one should think, in such a case, that an angel from Heaven had come down to join in the procession. Mary grew up a Catholic, of course : all were Catholics around her. The king and all :hc royal family were devoted to Catholic observ- ances. The convent, the ceremonies, the daily religious observances enjoined upon her, the splendid churches which she frequented, al] tended in their influence to lead her n>ind awav 150(5.] HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 55 Mary a Catholic. Her conscientiousness and fidelity from the Protestant religion which prevailed in her native land, and to make her a Catholic : she remained so throughout her life. There is no doubt that she was conscientious in her at- tachment to the forms and to the spirit of the Roman Church. At any rate, she was faithful to the ties which her early education imposed upon her, and this fidelity became afterward the source of some of her heaviest calamities tnd woes. 56 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1558 Hastening the wedding. CHAPTER III. THE GREAT WEDDING. Mary was about fifteen years of age, the King of France began to think that it was time for her to be married. It is true that she was still very young, but there were strong reasons for having the marriage take place at the earliest possible period, for fear that something might occur to prevent its consummation at all. In fact, there were very strong parties opposed to it altogether. The whole Protestant interest in Scotland were op- posed to it, and were continually contriving plans to defeat it. They thought that if Mary married a French prince, who was, of course, a Catholic, she would become wedded to the Cath- olic interest hopelessly and forever. This made them feel a most bitter and determined oppo ition to the plan. In fact, so bitter and relentless were the an- imosities that grew out of this question, that an attempt was actually made to poison Mary. The man who committed this crime was an archer in the king's guard : be was a Scotch 1558.] THE GREAT WEDDING. 57 Attempt to poison Mary. The Guises. Catharine's jealousy man, and his name was Stewart. His attempt was discovered in time to prevent the accom- plishment of his purpose. He was tried and condemned. They made every effort to induce him to explain the reason which led him to such an act, or, if he was employed by others, to re- veal their names ; but he would reveal nothing. He was executed for his crime, leaving man- kind to conjecture that his motive, or that of the persons who instigated him to the deed, was a desperate determination to save Scotland, at all hazards, from falling under the influence of papal power. Mary's mother, the queen dowager of Scot- land, was of a celebrated French family, called the family of Guise. She is often, herself, called in history, Mary of Guise. There were other great families in France who were very jealous of the Guises, and envious of their influence and power. They opposed Queen Mary's mar- riage to the dauphin, and were ready to do all in their power to thwart and defeat it. Queen Catharine, too, who seemed to feel a greater and greater degree of envy and jealousy against Mary as she saw her increasing in grace, beau ty, and influence with her advancing years, was supposed to be averse to the marriage 58 MARY Q.UEKN OF ScoT3. [1558 Commissioners from Scotland. 1 .f France, and then died, leaving Mary his wid- ow, her income for the rest of her life was to be double what it would have been if he had died while dauphin. Francis was, in the mean time, to share with her the government of Scot- land. If they had a son, he was to be, after their deaths, King of France and of Scotland too. Thus the two crowns would have been united. If, on the other hand, they had only daughters, the oldest one was to be Queen of Scotland only, as the laws of France did not al- low a female to inherit the throne. In case they had no children, the crown of Scotland was not to come into the French family at all, but to descend regularly to the next Scotch heir. Henry was not satisfied with this entirely, for he wanted to secure the union of the Scotch and French crowns at all events, whether Mary had children or not ; and he persuaded Mary to sign some papers with him privately, which ho thought would secure his purposes, charging dor not to let the commissioners know that she had signed them. He thought it possible tha* 1558.J THE GREAT WEDJIIWO Gl Their contents. he should never have occasion to produce them. One of these papers conveyed the crown of Scot- Land to the King of France absolutely and for ever, in case Mary should die without children. Another provided that the Scotch government should repay him for the enormous sums he had expended upon Mary during her residence in France, for her education, her attendants, the celebrations and galas which he had provided for her, and all the splendid journeys, proces- sions, and parades. His motive in all this ex- pense had been to unite the crown of Scotland to that of France, and he wished to provide that if any thing should occur to prevent the execu- tion of his plan, he could have all this money reimbursed to him again. He estimated the amount at a million of pieces of gold. This was an enormous sum : it shows on how magnifi cent a scale Mary's reception and entertain ment in France were managed. These preliminary proceedings being settled, all Paris, and, in fact, all France, began tc pre~ pore for the marriage celebrations. There wore to be two great ceremonies connected with the occasion. The first was the betrothment, the second was the marriage. At the betrothrnent Francis and Mary were to meet in a great puVv 62 MARY C^UEEN OF SCOTS. [1558 lie hall, and there, in the presence of a smal and select assemblage of the lords and ladies of the court, and persons of distinction connected with the royal family, they were formally and solomiily to engage themselves to each othei. Then, in about a week afterward, they were to be married, in the most public manner, in the great Cathedral Church of Notre Dame. The ceremony of the betrothal was celebratec 1 in the palace. The palace then occupied by the royal fariily was the Louvre. It still stands, but is no longer a royal dwelling. An- other palace, more modern in its structure, and called the Tuilleries, has since been built, a lit- tle farther from the heart of the city, and in a more pleasant situation. The Louvre is square, with an open court in the center. This open .jourt or area is very large, and is paved like the streets. In fact, two great carriage ways pass through it, crossing each other at right angles in the center, and passing out undei great arch-ways in the four sides of the build- Ing. There is a large hall within the palace, md in this hal] the ceremony of the betrothal took place. Francis and Mary pledged theii faith to i.ach other with appropriate ceremonies. Duly a select circle of relations and intimate 1558.] THE GREAT WEDDING. 63 View of the interior. friends were present on this occasion. The cere- mony was concluded in the evening with a ball In the mean time, all Paris was busy with preparations for the marriage. The Louvre is upon one side of the River Seine, its principa, front being toward the river, with a broad street between. There are no buildings, but only a parapet wall on the river side of the street, so that there is a fine view of the river and of the bridges which cross it, from the palace windows. Nearly opposite the Louvre is an island, cover- ed with edifices, and connected, by means of bridges, with either shore. The great church of Notre Dame, where the marriage ceremony was to be performed, is upon this island. It has two enormous square towers in front, which may be seen, rising above all the roofs of the city, at a great distance in every direction, Before the church is a large open area, where vast crowds assemble on any great occasion. The interior of the church impresses the mind with the sublimest emotions. Two rows of enormous columns rise to a great height on either hand, supporting the lofty arches of the roof. The floor is paved with great flat stones, and resounds continually with the footsteps of visitors, who walk to and fro, up and down the 64 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1558 Amphitheater. Covered gallery aisles, looking at the chapels, the monuments, the sculptures, the paintings, and the antique and grotesque images and carvings. Colored light streams through the stained glass of the 3normous windows, and the tones of the organ, and the voices of the priests, chanting the ser- vice of the mass, are almost always resounding and echoing from the vaulted roof above. The words Notre Dame mean Our Lady, au expression by which the Roman Catholics de note Mary, the mother of Jesus. The church of Notre Dame had been for many centuries the vast cathedral church of Paris, where all great ceremonies of state were performed. On this occasion they erected a great amphitheater in the area before the church, which would accom- modate many thousands of the spectators who were to assemble, and enable them to see the procession. The bride and bridegroom, and their friends, were to assemble in the bishop's palace, which was near the Cathedral, and a covered gallery was erected; leading from this jalace to the church, through which the brjda party were to enter. They lined this gffllei) throughout with purple velvet, and ornamented it in other ways, so as to make the approach te the church through it inconceivably splend'd 1558.] THE GREAT WEDDING. 65 The procession. Mary's ilrew Crowds began to collect in the great amphi- theater early in the morning. The streets lead- ing to Notre Dame were thronged. Every win- dow in all the lofty buildings around, and every balcony, was full. From ten to twelve the mil- itary bands began to arrive, and the long pro- cession was formed, the different parties being dressed in various picturesque costumes. The embassadors of various foreign potentates were present, each bearing their appropriate insig- nia. The legate of the pope, magnificently dressed, had an attendant bearing before him a cross of massive gold. The bridegroom, Fran- cis the dauphin, followed this legate, and soon afterward came Mary, accompanied by the king She was dressed in white. Her robe was em- broidered with the figure of the lily, and it glit- tered with diamonds and ornaments of silver As was the custom in those days, her dress formed a long train, which was borne by two young girls who walked behind her. She wore a diamond necklace, with a ring of immense value suspended from it, and upon her head was a golden coronet, enriched with diamonds and gems of inestimable value. But the dress and the diamonds which Mary wore wore not the chief points of attraction \A G6 MARY Q.UKEN OP bcoTb. [J558 Appearance of Mary. Wedding ring the spectators. All who were present on tho occasion agree in saying that she looked ine\ pressibly beautiful, and that there was an in- describable grace and charm in all her move- ments and manner, which filled all who saw hex with an intoxication of delight. She was art- less and unaffected in her manners, and hei countenance, the expression of which was gen- erally placid and calm, was lighted up with the animation and interest of the occasion, so as to make every body envy the dauphin the posses* sion of so beautiful a bride. Queen Catharine, and a long train of the ladies of the court, fol- lowed in the procession after Mary. Every body thought that she felt envious and ill at ease. The essential thing in the marriage ceremon) was to be the putting of the wedding ring upon Mary's finger, and the pronouncing of the nup- tial benediction which was immediately to fol low it. This ceremony was to be performed by che Archbishop of Rouen, who was at that time tho greatest ecclesiastical dignitary in Franco In order that as many persons as possible might witness this, it was arranged that it should lie performed at the great door of the church, so as to be in view of the immense throng which had L53S] THE GREAT WEDDING. 67 Movement of the procession. LargeM assembled in the amphitheater erected in the area, and of the multitudes which had taken their positions at the windows and balconies, and on the house-tops around. The procession, accordingly, having entered the church through the covered gallery, moved along the aisles and came to the great door. Here a royal pavilion had been erected, where the bridal party could stand in view of the whole assembled multi- tude. King Henry had the ring. He gave it to the archbishop. The archbishop placed it upon Mary's finger, and pronounced the benediction in a loud voice. The usual congratulations fol- lowed, and Mary greeted her husband under the name of his majesty the King of Scotland. Then the whole mighty crowd rent the air with shouts and acclamations. It was the custom in those days, on such great public occasions as this, to scatter money among the crowd, that they might scramble for it. This was called the king's largess ; and fhe largess was pompously proclaimed by her lids before the money was thrown. The throw- ing of the money among this immense throng produced a scene of indescribable confusion. The people precipitated themselves upon each oilier in their eagerness to seize the silver and 68 MARY (^UEEN OF SCOTS. [1558 the gold. Some were trampled under foot. Some were stripped of their hats and cloaks, or h id their clothes torn from them. Some faint- ed, and were borne out of the scene with infi- nite difficulty and danger. At last the people clamorously begged the officers to desist from throwing any more money, for fear that the most serious and fatal consequences might ensue. In the mean time, the bridal procession re- turned into the church, and, advancing up the center between the lofty columns, they came to a place called the choir, which is in the heart of the church, and is inclosed by screens of carved and sculptured work. It is in the choir that congregations assemble to be present at mass and other religious ceremonies. Mova- ble seats are placed here on ordinary occasions, but at the time of this wedding the place was fitted up with great splendor. Here masr ^vas performed in the presence of the bridal party. Mass is a solemn ceremony conducted by the priests, in which they renew, or think they re. new, the sacrifice of Christ, accompanied with offerings of incense, and other acts of adoration, and the chanting of solemn hymns of praise. At the close of tl ose services the procassioo 1558 j THE GREA.T WEDDING 69 iletU-.li of the procession. Collation. Ball moved again down the church, and, issuing forth at the great entrance, it passed around upon a spacious platform, where it could be seen to ad- vantage by all the spectators. Mary was the center to which all eyes were turned. She moved along, the very picture of grace and beau- ty, the two young girls who followed her bear- ing her train. The procession, after completing its circuit, returned to the church, and thence, through the covered gallery, it moved back to the bishop's palace. Here the company partook of a grand collation. After the collation there was a ball, but the ladies were too much em- barrassed with their magnificent dresses to be able to dance, and at five o'clock the royal fam- ily returned to their home. Mary and Queen Catharine went together in a sort of palanquin, borne by men, high officers of state walking on each side. The king and the dauphin followed on horseback, with a large company in their train ; but the streets were every where so crowded with eager spectators that it was with extreme difficulty that they were able to make their way. The palace to which the party went to spend the evening was fitted up and illuminated in the most splendid manner, and a variety of most 70 MARY QUEEN ov SCOTS. [1558 Evening's entertainments. A tournament curious entertainments had been contrived ibi the amusement of the company. There were twelve artificial horses, made to move by in- ternal mechanism, and splendidly caparisoned The children of the company, the little princes and dukes, mounted these horses and rode around the arena. Then came in a company of men dressed like pilgrims, each of whom re- cited a poem written in honor of the occasion. After this was an exhibition of galleys, or boats, upon a little sea. These boats were large enough to bear up two persons. There were two seats in each, one of which was occupied by a young gentleman. As the boats advanced, one by one, each gentleman leaped to the shore, or to what represented the shore, and, going among the com- pany, selected a lady and bore her off to his boat, and then, seating her in the vacant chair, took his place by her side, and continued his voyage. Francis was in one of the boats, and he, on coming to the shore, took Mary for his companion. The celebrations and festivities of this famoua wedding continued for fifteen days. They closed with a grand tournament. A tournament was a very magnificent spectacle in those days. A field was inclosed, in which kings, and princes. 1558.] THE GREAT WEDDING. 71 Rank of the combatants. and knights, fully armed, and mounted on wa 1 horses, tilted against each other with lances aik-l blunted swords. Ladies of high rank were pros- int as spectators and judges, and one was ap- pt tinted at each tournament to preside, and to dis- tribute the honors and rewards to those who were most successful in the contests. The great- est possible degree of deference and honor was paid to the ladies by all the knights on these occasions. Once, at a tournament in London, arranged by a king of England, the knights and noblemen rode in a long procession to the field, each led by a lady by means of a silver chain. It was a great honor to be admitted to a share in these contests, as none but persons of the high- est rank were allowed to take a part in them Whenever one was to be held, invitations were sent to all the courts of Europe, and kings, queens, and sovereign princes came to witness the spectacle. The horsemen who contended on these occa- sions carried long lances, blunt, indeed, at the end, so that they could not penetrate the anno/ of the antagonist at which they were aimed, but yet of such weight that the momentum of the blow was sometimes sufficient to unhorso nim The great object of every combatant was, 72 MARY QUELN OF SCOTS. [1558 Rapid evolutions. Tourner. FrancU s feebleness accordingly, to protect himself from this danger. ETe must turn his horse suddenly, and avoid the Knee of his antagonist ; or he must striko it with his own, and thus parry the blow ; or if ho must encounter it, he was to brace himself firm- ly in his saddle, and resist its impulse with all the strength that he could command. It re- quired, therefore, great strength and great dex- terity to excel in a tournament. In fact, the ra- pidity of the evolutions which it required gave origin to the name, the word tournament being formed from a French word* which signifies to turn. The princes and noblemen who were present at the wedding all joined in the tournament except the poor bridegroom, who was too weak and feeble in body, and too timid in mind, for any such rough and warlike exercises. Fran- cis was very plain and unprepossessing in coun- tenance, and shy and awkward in his manners. His health had always been very infirm, and though his rank was very high, as he was the heir apparent to what was then the greatest throne in Europe, every body thought that i oil other respects he was unfit to be the hus- Toorner. 1558.] THE UKEAT WEDDINO. 7? Mary's love for him. lie retires to the countrj band of such a beautiful and accomplished prin cess as Mary. He was timid, shy, and anxious and unhappy in disposition. He knew that the gay and warlike spirits around him could not look upon him with respect, and he felt a pain- ful sense of his inferiority. Mary, however, loved him. It was a love, perhaps, mingled with pity. She did not as- sume an air of superiority over him, but en- deavored to encourage him, to lead him for- ward, to inspire him with confidence and hope, and to make him feel his own strength and val- ue. She was herself of a sedate and thought- ful character, and with all her intellectual su- periority, she was characterized by that femi- nine gentleness of spirit, that disposition to fol- low and to yield rather than to govern, that de- sire to be led and to be loved rather than to lead and be admired, which constitute the high- est charm of woman. Francis was glad when the celebrations, tournament and all, were well over. He set off from Paris with his young bride to one of his country residences, where he could live, for a while, in peace and quietness. Mary was re leased, in some degree, from the restraints, and formalities, and rules of etiquette of King 74 MARY QUEJ:N OF SCOTS. '1558 Rejoicings in Scotland. Mons Meg. Large ball ry's court, and was, to some extent, her own mistress, though still surrounded with many attendants, and much parade and splendor. The young couple thus commenced the short period of their married life. They were cer- tainly a very young couple, being both of them under sixteen. The rejoicings on account of the marriage were not confined to Paris. All Scotland cele- brated the event with much parade. The Cath olio party there were pleased with the final con- summation of the event, and all the people, in fact, joined, more or less, in commemora- ting the marriage of their queen. There is in the Castle of Edinburgh, on a lofty platform which overlooks a broad valley, a monstrous gun, several centuries old, which was formed of bars of iron secured by great iron hoops. The balls which this gun carried are more than a foot in diameter. The name of this enormous piece of ordnance is Mons Meg". It is now dis- abled, having been burst, many years ago, and injured beyond the possibility of repair There were great rejoicings in Edinburgh at the timo of Mary's marriage, and from some old accounts which still remain at the castle, it appears that ten shillings were paid to some men for moving 1558.] THE GREAT WEDDING. 75 Celebration of Mary's marriage. up Mons Meg to the embrasure of the battery, and for finding and bringing back her shot after she was discharged ; by which it appears that firing Mons Meg was a part of the celebration by which the people of Edinburgh honored the marriage of their queen. 76 MARY QUEEN OF Scois. [1559 Mary's IGTO for Francis. How to cherish the poasdaa CHAPTER IV. MISFORTUNES. T was said in the last chapter that Mar) loved her husband, infirm and feeble a& he was both in body and in mind. This love was probably the effect, quite as much as it was the cause, of the kindness which she showed him. As we are very apt to hate those whom we have injured, so we almost instinctively love those who have in any way become the objects of our kindness and care. If any wife, therefore, wish- es for the pleasure of loving her husband, or which is, perhaps, a better supposition, if any husband desires the happiness of loving his wife, conscious that it is a pleasure which he does not now enjoy, let him commence by making her the object of his kind attentions and care, and love will spring up in the heart as a con* sequence of the kind of action of which it .* more commonly the cause. About a year passed away, when at length another great celebration took place in Paris, to honr the marriages of some other members of 1559.] MISFORTUNES. 77 Grand tournament. Henry's pride King Henry's family. One of them was cfc's oldest sister. A grand tournament was arranged on this occasion too. The place for th'n tournament was where the great street of St. Antoine now lies, and which may be found on any map of Paris. A very large concourse of kings and nobles from all the courts of Eu- rope were present. King Henry, magnificently dressed, and mounted on a superb war-horse, was a very prominent figure in all the parades of the occasion, though the actual contests and trials of skill which took place were between younger princes and knights, King Henry and the ladies being generally only spectators and judges. He, however, took a part himself on one or two occasions, and received great ap- plause. At last, at the end of the third day, just as the tournament was to be closed, King Henry was riding around the field, greatly excited with the pride and pleasure which so magnificent a spectacle was calculated to awaken, when he saw two lances still remaining which had not been broken. The idea immediately seized him of making one more exhibition of his own powei and dexterity in such contests. He took one of the lances, and, directing a high officer who was 78 MARY QUEKN OF SCOTS. [1559 riding near him to take the other, he challenged him to a trial of skill. The name of this offi- cer was Montgomery. Montgomery at first de- clined, being unwilling to contend with his king. The king insisted. Queen Catharine begged chat he would not contend again. Accident. 1 ' sometimes happened, she knew, in these rough encounters ; and, at any rate, it terrified her to see her husband exposed to such dangers. The other lords and ladies, and Francis and Queen Mary particularly, joined in these expostula- tions. But Henry was inflexible. There way no danger, and, smiling at their fears, he com- manded Montgomery to arm himself with hi? .ance and take his position. The spectators looked on in breathless si lence. The two horsemen rode toward each other, each pressing his horse forward to his utmost speed, and as they passed, each aimed his lance at the head and breast of the other. It was customary on such occasions to wear a helmet, with a part called a vizor in front, whicl oould be raised on ordinary occasions, or let down in moments of danger like tbij, to cover anil- protect the eyes. Of course this part mf tlie armor was weaker than the rest, and it hap- pened that Montgomery's lance struck here 1559.J MISFORTUNES. 79 Ring Henry wounded. His death. The mournful marriage was shivered and a splinter of it penetrated the vizor and inflicted a wound upon Henry, ou the head, just over the eye. Henry's horse went on. The spectators observed that tho tidcr reeled and trembled in his seat. The whole assembly were in consternation. The ex- citement of pride and pleasure was every where turned into extreme anxiety and alarm. They flocked about Henry's horse, and helped the king to dismount. He said it was nothing. They took off his helmet, and found large drops of blood issuing from the wound. They bore him to his palace. He had the magnanimity to say that Montgomery must not be blamed for this result, as he was himself responsible for it entirely. He lingered eleven days, and theu died. This was in July, 1559. One of the marriages which this unfortunate tournament had been intended to celebrate, that of Elizabeth, the king's daughter, had already taken place, having been performed a day or two before the king was wounded; and it was de cided, after Henry was wounded, that the oth er must proceed, as there were great reasons of state against any postponement of it. This sec- ond marriage was that of Margaret, his sister. The ceremony in her case was performed in a 80 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1559. Tlie daupJ.m becomes king. Catharine superseded silent and private manner, at night, by torch- light, in the chapel of the palace, while her broth er was dying. The services were interrupted by her sobs and tears. Notwithstanding the mental and bodily fee. 6leness which seemed to characterize the dau- phin, Mary's husband, who now, by the death of his father, became King of France, the event of his accession to the throne seemed to awaken his energies, and arouse him to animation and effort. He was sick himself, and in his bed, in a palace called the Tournelles, when some offi- cers of state were ushered into his apartment, and, kneeling before him, saluted him as king. This was the first announcement of his father's death. He sprang from his bed, exclaiming at once that he was well. It is one of the sad con- sequences of hereditary greatness and power that a son must sometimes rejoice at the death of his fLoher. It was Francis's duty to repair at once to the royal palace of the Louvre, with Mary, who was now Queen of France as well as of Scot- land, to receive the homage cf the various estates of the realm. Catharine was, of course, now queen dowager. Mary, the child whom she had so long looked upon with fer lings of jet/'- ..559.] MISFORTUNES. 81 Vlary's gentleness. Coronation of Francia. ousy and envy was, from this time, to take her place as queen. It was very humiliating to Catharine to assume the position of a second and an inferior in the presence of one whom sho had so long been accustomed to direct and to command. She yielded, however, with a good grace, though she seemed dejected and sad. A.8 they were leaving the Tournelles, she stop- ped to let Mary go before her, saying, " Pass on, mauame ; it is your turn to take precedence now." Maiy went before her, but she stopped in her turn, with a sweetness of disposition so characteristic of her, to let Queen Catharine enter first into the carriage which awaited them at the door. Francis, though only sixteen, was entitled to assume the government himself. He went to Rheims, a town northeast of Paris, where is an abbey, which is the ancient place of coronation for the kings of France. Here he was crowned He appointed his ministers, and evinced, in his management and in his measures, more energy and decision than it was supposed he possess o d. He himself and Mary were now, together, on the summit of earthly grandeur. They had many political troubles and cares which can not be related here, but Mary's life was com- fi 82 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1559 Francis's health declines. Superstition v,f the peopla paratively peaceful and happy, the pleasures which sie enjoyed being greatly enhanced by the mutual affection which existed between her- bolf and her husband. Though he was small in stature, and very unprepossessing in appearance and manners, Francis still evinced in his government a COE siderable degree of good judgment and of ener- gy. His health, however, gradually declined. He spent much of his time in traveling, and was often dejected and depressed. One circum- stance made him feel very unhappy. The peo- ple of many of the villages through which he passed, being in those days very ignorant and superstitious, got a rumor into circulation that the king's malady was such that he could only be cured by being bathed in the blood of young children. They imagined that he was travel- ing to obtain such a bath ; and, wherever he oame, the people fled, mothers eagerly carry- ing off their children from this impending dan- ger The king did not understand the cause of his being thus shunned. They concealed it from him, knowing that it would give him 'pain. He knew only the fact, and it made him very sad to find himself the object of this mysterious and unaccountable aversion 1559.] MISFORTUNES. 8b Commotions in Scotland. Sickness oi the queen regent In the mean time, while these ^ccurrencea had been taking place in France, Mary's moth- er, the queen dowager of Scotland, had bceii made queen regent of Scotland after her re- turn from France ; but she experienced infinite trouble and difficulty in managing the affairs of the country. The Protestant party became very strong, and took up arms against her gov- ernment. The English sent them aid. She, on the other hand, with the Catholic interest to support her, defended her power as well as she could, and called for help from France to sus- tain her. And thus the country which she was so ambitious to govern, was involved by her management in the calamities and sorrows of civil war. In the midst of this- contest she died. Dar- ing her last sickness she sent for some of the leaders of the Pitrtestant party, and did all that she could to soothe and conciliate their minds. She mourned the calamities and sufferings which the civil war had brought upon the xnintiy, and urged the Protestants to do all in their power, after her death, to heal these dis. sensions and restore peace. She also exhorted them to remember their obligations of loyalty arul obedience to their absent queen, and to sus 84 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1560 Death of Mary's mother. tain and strengthen her government by every means in their power. She died, and after hei death the war was brought to a close by a treaty of peace ; in which the French and En- glish governments joined with the government of Scotland to settle the points hi dispute, and immediately afterward the troops of both these nations were withdrawn. The death of the queen regent was supposed to have been caused by the pressure of anxiety which the cares of her government imposed. Her body was car- ried home to France, and interred in the royal abbey at Rheims. The death of Mary's mother took place in the summer of 1560. The next December Mary was destined to meet with a much heavier af- fliction. Her husband, King Francis, in addi- tion to other complaints, had been suffering for some time from pain and disease hi the ear One day, when he was preparing to go out hunt ing, he was suddenly seized with a fainting fit, nd was soon found to be in great danger. He continued some days very ill. He was con- ihiced himself that he could not recover, and oegan to make arrangements for his approach* ing end. As he drew near to the close of his life, he was more and more deeply impressed 1560.J MISFORTUNES. 85 His last moments and death. Mary a young widow with a sense of Mary's kindness and love. He mourned very much his approaching separation from her. He sent for his mother, Queen Cath- aiine, to come to his bedside, and begged thai she would treat Mary kindly, for his sake, after he was gone. Mary was overwhelmed with grief at the ap- proaching death of her husband. She knew at once what a great change it would make in her condition. She would lose immediately her rank and station. Queen Catharine would again come into power, as queen regent, during the minority of the next heir. All her friends of the family of Guise, would be removed from office, and she herself would become a mere guest and stranger in the land of which she had been the queen. But nothing could arrest the progress of the disease under which her hus band was sinking. He died, leaving Mary a disconsolate widow of seventeen. The historians of those days say that Queen Catharine was much pleased at the death of Francis her son. It restored hei to rank and power. Mary was ugain beneath her, and in gome degree subject to her will. All Mary's friends were removed from their high stations, and others, hostile to her family, were put into ciG MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1560 Embassadors from Scotland Mary's unwillingness to leave Frana* their places. Mary soon found herself unhappj at court, and she accordingly removed to a cas- tle at a considerable distance from Paris to the west, near the city of Orleans. The people of Scotland wished her to return to her native land. Both the great parties sent embassadors to her to ask her to return, each of them urging her to adopt such measures on her arrival in Scotland as should favor their cause. Queen Catharine, too, who was still jealous of Mary's influence, and of the admiration and love which her beauty and the loveliness of her character inspired, intimated to her that perhaps it would be better for her now to leave France and return to her own land. Mary was very unwilling to go. She loved Prance. She knew very little of Scotland. She was very young when she left it, and the few recollections which she had of the country were confined to the- lonely island of Inchmahome and the Castle of Stirling. Scotland was in a cold and inhospitable climate, accessible only through stormy and dangerous seas, and it seem* ed to her that going there was going into exile Besides, she dreaded to undertake personally to administer a government whose cares and anx ieties had been so great as to carry her mother to the grave. I560.J MISFORTUNES. 87 ary in mourning. She is called the White Queen Mary, however, found that it was in vain fo* her to resist the influences which pressed upon her the necessity of returning to her native land. She wandered about during the spring and sum- mer after her husband's death, spending her lime in various palaces and abbeys, and at length she began to prepare fcr her return to Scotland. The same gentleness and loveliness of character which she had exhibited in her prosperous fortunes, shone still more conspicu- ously now in her hours of sorrow. Sometimes she appeared in public, in certain ceremonies of state. She was then dressed in mourning in white according to the custom in royal fam- ilies in those days, her dark hair covered by a delicate crape veil. Her beauty, softened and chastened by her sorrows, made a strong im- pression upon all who saw her. She appeared so frequently, and attracted so much attention in her white mourning, that she began to be known among the people as 'he White Queen. Every body wanted to sec iier They admired her beauty ; they were impress ed with the romantic interest of her history ; they pitied her sorrows. She mourned her hus- band's death with deep and unaffected grief She invented a device and motto for a seal, ap 88 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. A device. Mary's employments Her beautiful bands propriate to the occasion : it was a figure of th liquorice-tree, every part of which is useless ex- oept the root, which, of course, lies beneath he surface- of the earth. Underneath was the inscription, in Latin, My treasure is in the ground. The expression is much more beau tiful in the Latin than can be expressed in any English words.* Mary did not, however, give herself up to sullen and idle grief, but employed herself in various studies and pursuits, in order to soothe and solace her grief by useful occupation. She read Latin authors ; she studied poetry ; she composed. She paid much attention to music, and charmed those who were in her company by the sweet tones of her voice and her skillful performance upon an instrument. The histo- rians even record a description of the fascina- ting effect produced by the graceful movements of her beautiful hand. Whatever she did or said seemed to carry with it an inexpressible charm. Before she set out on her return to Scotlaiu. she went to pay a visit to her grandmother, the same lady whom her mother had gone to se in her castle, ten years before, on her return to * Dulce meum terra tegit 1560.) MISFORTUNES 89 Melancholy visit Mary returns to Paris. Jealousy Scotland after her visit to Mary. During this ten years the unhappy mourner had made no ohange in respect to her symbols of grief. The ipartmcnts of her palace were still hung witb black. Her countenance wore the same ex- pression of austerity and woe. Her attendants were trained to pay to her every mark of the most profound deference in all their approaches to her. No sounds of gayety or pleasure were to be heard, but a profound stillness and solem- nity reigned continually throughout the gloomy mansion. Not long before the arrangements were com- pleted for Mary's return to Scotland, she revis> ited Paris, where she was received with great marks of attention and honor. She was now eighteen or nineteen years of age, in the bloom of her beauty, and the monarch of a powerful kingdom, to which she was about to return, and many of the young princes of Europe began 1 1 aspire to the honor of her hand. Through theso and other influences, she was the object of much attention ; while, on the other hand, Queen Catharine, and the party in power at the French court, were envious and jealous of her popular- ity, and did a great deal to mortify and vex her. The enemy, however, whom Mary had mosl 90 MARV QUEEN OF Sctxs. (1560 Queen Elizabeth. Her character. Henry V1IL to fear, was her cousin, Queen Elizabeth of En- gland. Queen Elizabeth was a maiden lady, now nearly thirty years of age. She was in all respects extremely different from Mary. tShe was a zealous Protestant, and very suspicious and watchful in respect to Mary, on account of her Catholic connections and faith. She was very pla.'n in person, and unprepossessing in manners. She was, however, intelligent and shrewd, and was governed by calculations and x :->licy in all that she did. The people by whom he was surrounded admired her talents and .eared her power, but nobody loved her. She had many good qualities as a, monarch, but nono . considered as a woman. Elizabeth was somewhat envious of her cous- in Mary's beauty, and of her being such an ob- 'ect of interest and affection to all who knew her. But she had a far more serious and per manent cause of alienation from her than per- sonal envy. It was this : Elizabeth's father, King Henry VIII., had, in succession, severa' wives, and there had been a question raised about the legality of his marriage with Eliza- beth's mother. Parliament decided at one time that this marriage was not valid; at anothei time, subsequently, t'ney decided that it was PORTRAIT OF QUEEII ELIZABETH. 15GU.J MISFORTUNES. 98 Elizabeth's claim to the throne. Mary's claim. The ccat of anna This difference in the two decisions was not owing so much to a change of sentiment in the persons who voted, as to a change in the ascend- ancy of the parties by which the decision was controlled. If the marriage were valid, then Elizabeth was entitled to the English crown. If it were not valid, then she was not entitled to it: it belonged to the next heir. Now it happened that Mary Queen of Scots was the next heir. Her grandmother on the father's side was an English princess, and through her Mary had a just title to the crown, if Queen Elizabeth's title was annulled. Now, while Mary was in France, during the lifetime of King Henry, Francis's father, ho and the members of the family of Guise ad- vanced Mary's claim to the British crown, and denied that of Elizabeth. They made a coat of arms, in which the arms of France, and Scot- land, and England were combined, and had it engraved on Mary's silver plate. On one great occasion, they had this symbol displayed con- spicuously over the gateway of a town where Mary was making a public entry. The En glish cmbassador, who was present, made this, and the other acts of the same kind, known to Elizabeth, and she was greatly incensed at 9-J MARY V^UKKN OF SCOTS. [156U Elizabeth offended and alarmed. The Catholic party them. She considered Mary as plotting trea son ably against her power, and began to con trive plans to circumvent and thwart her. Nor was Elizabeth wholly unreasonable in t lis Mary, though personally a gentle and peaceful woman, yet in her teens, \f England. This treaty was brought to France for Mary to ratify it, but she declined. What- ever rights she might have to the English crown, she refused to surrender them. Things remained in this state until the time arrived for her return to her native land, and then, fearing that perhaps Elizabeth might do something to intercept her passage, she applied to her for a safe-conduct ; that is, a writing authorizing her to pass safely and without hinderance through the English dominions, whether land or sea. Queen Elizabeth returned word through hei ambassador in Paris, whose name was Throck. morton, that she could not give her any such safe-conduct, because she had refused to ratify the treaty of Edinburgh. When this answer was communicated t 90 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1561. Elizabeth refuses the safe-conduct. MM y's speech Mary, she felt deeply wounded by it. She sent all the attendants away, that she might express herself to Throckmorton without reserve. She told him that it seemed to her very hard that her cousin was disposed to prevent her returr to her native land. As to her claim upon the English crown, she said that advancing it was not her plan, but that of her husband and his father ; and that now she could not properly renounce it, whatever its validity might be, till she could have opportunity to return to Scot- land and consult with her government there, since it affected not her personally alone, but the public interests of Scotland. " And now," she continued, in substance, " I am sorry that I asked such a favor of her. I have no need to ask it, for I am sure I have a right to return from France to my own country without ask- ing permission of any one. You have often told me that the queen wished to be on friendly terms with me, and that it was your opinion that to be friends would be best for us both But now I see that she is not of your mind, uut is disposed to treat rue in an unkind and unfriendly manner, while she knows that I am her equal in rank, though I do not pretend to ho her equal in abilities and experience. Well 1561.J MISFORTUNES. 97 Mary's true nobility of soul. Sympathy with her she may do as she pleases. If my preparations were not so far advanced, perhaps I should give up the voyage But I am resolved to go. I hope the winds will prove favorable, and carry me away from her shores. If they carry me upon them, and I fall into her hands, she may make what disposal of me she will. If I lose my life, I shall esteem it no great loss, for it is now little else than a burden." How strongly this speech expresses " that mixture of melancholy and dignity, of woman- ly softness and noble decision, which pervaded her character." There is a sort of gentleness even in her anger, and a certain indescribable womanly charm in the workings of her mind, which cause all who read her story, while they can not but think that Elizabeth was right, to sympathize wholly with Mary. Throckmorton, at one of his conversations with Mary, took occasion to ask her respecting her religious views, as Elizabeth wished to know how far she was fixed and committed in her at- tachment to the Catholic faith. Mary said that 5'ic was born and had been brought up a Cath- olic, and that she should remain so as long as she lived. She would not interfere, she said, with her subjects adapting such form of religion 98 MARY QUEEN OP SCOTS. [1561 Mary's religious faith. Her frankness and candor. as they might prefer, but for herself she should net change. If she should change, she said, she should justly lose the confidence of her pec- pie ; for, if they saw that she was light and fickle on that subject, they could not rely upo; ner in respect to any other. She did not pro- fess to be able to argue, herself, the questions of difference, but she was not wholly uninform- ed in respect to them, as she had often heard the points discussed by learned men, and had found nothing to lead her to change her ground. It is impossible for any reader, whether Prot- estant or Catholic, not to admire the frankness and candor, the honest conscientiousness, the courage, and, at the same time, womanly mod- eaty and propriety which characterize this reply 1561.] RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 99 Artificial piera and breakwater: CHAPTER V. RETURN TO SCOTLAND. MARY was to sail from the port of Calais Calais is on the northern coast of France , opposite to Dover in England, these towns being on opposite sides of the Straits of Dover, where the channel between England and France is very narrow. Still, the distance is so great that the land on either side is ordinarily not visible 0*1 the other There is no good natural harbor dt Calais, nor, in fact, at any other point on the French coast. The French have had to supply the deficiency by artificial piers and breakwa- ters. There are several very capacious and ex- cellent harbors on the English side. This may have been one cause, among others, of the great naval {superiority which England has attained. When Queen Elizabeth found that Mary *~as going to persevere in her intention of re- turning to her native land, she feared that she might, after her arrival in Scotland, and after get- ting established in power there, form a scheme 100 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1561 Queen Elizabeth's plan. Thn>ckinortcn for making war upon her dominions, and at/ tempt to carry into effect her claim upon the English crown. She wished to prevent this Would it be prudent to intercept Mary upon hei passage? She reflected on this subject with the cautious calculation which formed so strik- ing a part of her character, and felt in doubt. Her taking Mary a prisoner, and confining hei a captive in her own land, might incense Queen Catharine, who was now regent of France, and also awaken a general resentment in Scotland, so as to bring upon her the hostility of those two countries, and thus, perhaps, make more mischief than the securing of Mary's person would prevent. She accordingly, as a previous step, sent to Throckmorton, her embassador in France, di- recting him to have an interview with Queen Catharine, and ascertain how far she would feel disposed to take Mary's part. Throckmorton did this. Queen Catharine gave no direct re- ply. She said that both herself and the young King wished well to Elizabeth, and to Mary too, that it was her desire that the two queens might be on good terms with each other ; that she was a friend to them both, and should not take & part against either of them. 1561.] RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 101 Elizabeth's plans. Throckmorton baffled This was all that Queen Elizabeth could ex- pect, and she formed her plans for intercepting Mary on her passage. She sent to Thrcok- norton, asking him to find out, if he could, what port Queen Mary was to sail from, and to send her word. She then gave orders to her naval commanders to assemble as many ships as they could, and hold them in readiness to sail into the sea? between England and France, for the purpose of exterminating' the pirates, which she said had lately become very numerous there. Throckmorton took occasion, in a conversa- tion which he had with Mary soon after this, to inquire from what port she intended to sail ; but she did not give him the information. She suspected his motive, and merely said, in reply to his question, that she hoped the wind would prove favorable for carrying her away as far as possible from the English coast, whatever might be the point from which she should take her departure. Throckmorton then endeavored to find out the arrangements of the voyage by oth- er means, but without much success. He \A roto to Elizabeth that he thought Mary would sail either from Havre or Calais; that she would go eastward, along the shore of the Continent, by Flanders and Holland, till she had gained a con- 102 MARY QUEEN OF SOOTS. [1561 Throckmorton a advice. Queen C'atnarine's farewell. Escort siderable distance from the English coast, and then would sail north along the eastern shores of the German Ocean. He advised that Eliz- abeth should send spies to Calais and to Havre, and perhaps to other French ports, to watch there, and to let her know whenever they ob- served any appearances of preparations for Ma- ry's departure. In the mean time, as the hour for Mary's farewell to Paris and all its scenes of luxury and splendor, drew near, those who had loved her were drawn more closely to her in heart than ever, and those who had been envious and jeal- ous began to relent, and to look upon her with feelings of compassion and of kind regard Queen Catharine treated her with extreme kind- ness during the last few days of her stay, and she accompanied her for some distance on he? journey, with every manifestation of sincere af fection and good will. She stopped, at length, at St. Germain, and there, with many tears, she bade her gentle daughter-in-law a long and last farewell. Many princes and nobles, especially of the family of Guise, Mary's relatives, accompanied her through the whole journey. They formed unite a long cavalcade, and attracted great at. 1561.] RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 103 Embarkation. Spectators. Unfort unate accident, tention iii all the towns and districts through which they passed. They traveled slowly, but at length arrived at Calais, where they waiica nearly a week to complete the arrangements for Mary's embarkation. At length the day arrived for her to set sail. A large concourse of spectators assembled to witness the scene. Four ships had been provided for the transpor- tation of the party and their effects. Two of these were galleys. They were provided with banks of oars, and large crews of rowers, by means of which the vessels could be propelled when the wind failed. The two other vessels were merely vessels of burden, to carry the fur- niture and other effects of the passengers. Many of the queen's friends were to accom- pany her to Scotland. The four Maries were among them. She bade those that were to re main behind farewell, and prepared to embark on board the royal galley. Her heart was very sad. Just at this time, a vessel which was com- ing in struck against the pier, in consequence of a heavy sea which was rolling in, and of the disti action of the seamen occasioned by Mary's embarkation. The vessel which struck was so injured by the concussion that it filled imme- diately and sank Most of the seamen on board 104 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1561 Mary's farewell to France. Her deep emotion were drowned. This accident produced great excitement and confusion. Mary looked upon the scene from the deck of her vessel, which was now slowly moving from the shore. It alarmed her, and impressed her mind with a sad and mournful sense of the dangers of the elements to whose mercy she was now to bo committed for many days. " What an unhap- py omen is this !" she exclaimed. She then went to the stern of the ship, looked back at the shore, then knelt down, and, covering her face with her hands, sobbed aloud. " Farewell, France !" she exclaimed : "I shall never, never see thee more." Presently, when her emotions for a moment subsided, she would raise her eyes, and take another view of the slowly-re- ceding shore, and then exclaim again, " Fare- well, my beloved France ! farewell ! farewell !" She remained in this position, suffering this anguish, for five hours, when it began to grow dark, and she could no longer see the shore. She then rose, saying that her beloved country was gone from her sight forever. " The dark- HBOS, like a thick veil, hides thee from my sight, and I shall see thee no more. So farewell, be* loved land ! farewell forever !" She left her pJacfs at the stern, but she would not leave the 1561.1 RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 107 Mary's first night on board. Her reluctance to leave France deck. She made them bring up a bed, and place it for her there, near the stern. They tried to induce her to go into the cabin, or at least to take some supper ; but she would not, She lay down upon her bed. She charged tho helmsman to awaken her at the dawn, if the land was in sight when the dawn should ap- pear. She then wept herself to sleep During the night the air was calm, and the vessels in which Mary and her company ;*ad embarked made such small progress, being worked only by the oars, that the land came into view again with the gray light of the morn- ing. The helmsman awoke Mary, and the sight of the shore renewed her anguish and tears She said that she could not go. She wished that Elizabeth's ships would come in sight, so as to compel her squadron to return. But no English fleet appeared. On the contrary, the breeze freshened. The sailors unfurled the sails, the oars were taken in, and the great crew of oarsmen rested from their toil. The ships began to make their way rapidly through the rippling water. The land soon became a faint, low cloud in the horizon, and in an hour all traces of it entirely disappeared. The voyage continued for ten days. They 103 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [loGl Fog. One vessel captured. Narrow ceca^o saw nothing of Elizabeth's cruisers. It was afterward ascertained, however, that these ships were at one time very near to them, and svere only prevented from seeing and taking them by a dense fog, which at that time hap- pened to cover the sea. One of the vessels of burden was seen and taken, and carried to En- gland. It contained, however, only some of Mary's furniture and effects. She herself es- caped the danger. The fog, which was thus Mary's protection at one time, was a source of great difficulty and danger at another ; for, when they were draw- ing near to the place of their landing in Scot- land, they were enveloped in a fog so dense that they could scarcely see from one end of the ves- sel to the other. They stopped the progress of their vessels, and kept continually sounding; and when at length the fog cleared away, they found ihemselves involved in a labyrinth of rocks and shoals of the most dangerous char, icter. They made their escape at last, and went on safely toward the land. Mary said, however, that she felt, at the time, entirely in- different as to the result. She was so discon- solate and wretched at having parted forevei from all that was dear to her, that it seemed to RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 109 Mary's Adieu to France. Attempts to translate it her that she was equally willing to live or to die Mary, who, among her other accomplish ments, had a great deal of poetic talent, wrote some lines, called her Farewell to Trance, which have been celebrated from that day to this. They are as follows: ADIEU. Adieu, plaisant pays de France ! O ma patrie, La plus cherie ; Qui a nourri ma jeune enfance. Adieu, France ! adieu, mes beaux jours ! La nef qui dejoint mes amours, N'a cy de moi que la moitie ; Une parte te reste ; elle est tienne ; Je la fie a ton amitie, Pour que de 1'autre il te souvienne. Many persons have attempted to translate these lines into English verse ; but it is always extremely difficult to translate poetry from one language to another. We givs here two of the best of these translations. The reader can *udgc, by observing how different they are from each other, how different they must both bfl from thoir common original. 110 MARY QUEEN OK SCOTS. [1501 Translations of Mary's Adieu to France. ADIEU. Farewell to thee, thou pleasant shore, The loved, the cherished home to me ilf infant joy, a dream that's o'er, Farewell, dear Franco ! farewell to thee ! The sail that wafts me bears away From thee but half my soul alone ; tts fellow half will fondly stay, And back to thee has faithful flown I trust it to thy gentle care ; For all that here remains with me Lives but to think of all that's there, To love and to remember thee. The other translation is as follows : ADIEU. Adieu, thou pleasant land of France ! The dearest of all lands to me, Where life was like a joyful dance, The joyful dance of infancy. Farewell my childhood's laughing wiles, Farewell the joys of youth's bright day ; The bark that takes me from thy smi .os, Bears bu t my meaner half away. 1561.J RETURN TO SCOT\AND. Ill Arrival at Leitb. Palace of Holyrood. Mary's arrival unexpected. The best is thine ; my changeless heart Is given, beloved France, to thee ; And let it sometimes, though we part, Remind thee, with a sigh, of me. It was on the 19th of August, 1561, that the two galleys arrived at Leith. Leith is a small port on the shore of the Frith of Forth, about two miles from Edinburgh, which is situated somewhat inland. The royal palace, where Mary was to reside, was called the Palace of Holyrood. It was, and is still, a large square building, with an open court in the center, into which there is access for carriages through a large arched passage-way in the center of the principal front of the building. In the rear, but 'Connected with the palace, there was a chapel in Mary's day, though it is now in ruins. The walls still remain, but the roof is gone. The people of Scotland were not expecting Mary so soon. Information was communicated from country to country, in those days, slowly and with great difficult}"-. Perhaps the time of Ma- ry's departure from France was purposely con- cealed even from the Scotch, to avoid all possi- bility that the knowledge of it shou] i get into Elizabeth's possession. L12 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1561. Mary's reception. Contrasts. The cavalcade At any rate, the first intelligence which the inhabitants of Edinburgh and the vicinity haJ of the arrival of their queen, was the approach af the galleys to the shore, and the firing of n royal salute from their guns. The Palace oi Holyrood was not ready for Mary's reception, and she had to remain a day at Leith, awaiting the necessary preparations. In the mean tune, the whole population began to assemble to wel- come her arrival. Military bands were turned out ; banners were prepared ; civil and military olficers in full costume assembled, and bon-fires and illuminations were provided for the evening and night. In a word, Mary's subjects in Scot- land did all in their power to do honor to the occasion ; but the preparations were so far be- neath the pomp and pageantry which she h?d been accustomed to in France, that she felt the contrast very keenly, and realized, more forci- bly than ever, how great was the change which the circumstances of her life were undergoing. Horses were prepared for Mary and her large company of attendants, to ride from Leith tc Edinburgh. The long cavalcade moved toward evening. The various professions and trades of Edinburgh were drawn up in b'nes on each side of the road, and thousands unon thousand* 1561.] RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 115 Serenade. S Utary home. Favorable impression. of other spectators assembled to witness the scone When she reached the Palace of Holy rood House, a band of music played for a time wilder her windows, and then the great thiong quietly dispersed, leaving Mary to her reposo. I.' he adjoining engraving represents the Palace of Holyrood as it now appears. In Mary's day , the northern part only had been built that is, the part on the left, in the view, where the ivy climbs about the windows and the range ex- tending back to the royal chapel, the ruins of which are seen in the rear.* Mary took up her abode in this dwelling, and was glad to rest from the fatigues and privations of her long voy- age ; but she found her new home a solitary and gloomy dwelling, compared with the mag nificent palaces of the land she had left. Mary made an extremely favorable impres* sion upon her subjects in Scotland To please them, she exchanged the white mourning ">f France, from which she had taken the name of the White Queen, for a black dress, more ac- cordant with the ideas and customs of hex iia- tivo land. This gave her a more sedate and matronly character, and though the expression * For the situation of this palace in respect to Edinburgh, oe the view of Edinburgh, page 179. J16 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1561 The Lord James. Mary makes him one of her ministers of her countenance and figure was somewhat changed by it, it was only a change to a new form of extreme and fascinating beauty . IIoj manners, too, so graceful and easy, and yet se simple and unaffected, charmed all who saw her. Mary had a half brother in Scotland, whose title was at this time the Lord James. He was afterward named the Earl of Murray, and is commonly known hi history under this lattei designation. The mother of Lord James was not legally married to Mary's father, and con- sequently he could not inherit any of his fa- ther's rights to the Scottish crown. The T-ord James was, however, a man of very high rank and influence, and Mary immediately received him into her service, and made him one of hei highest ministers of state. He was now about thirty years of age, prudent, cautious, and wise, of good person and manners, but somewhat re- served and austere. Lord James had the general direction of af- fairs on Mary's arrival, and things went oo very smoothly for a week ; but then, on the first Sunday after the landing, a very serious difficulty threatened to occur. The Catholics have a certain celebration, called the mass, to which they attach a very serious and solemn 1501.] RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 117 rhe mass. Transubstaiitiation importance. When our Savior ga\ e the bread aa'~ the wine to his disciples at the Last Sup- &er he said of it, " This is my body, broken for foe/' an d "This is my blood, shed for you/' The Catholics understand that these words de- note that the bread and wine did at that time, and that they do now, whenever the communion service is celebrated by a priest duly author- ized, become, by a sort of miraculous trans- formation, the true body and blood of Christ, and that the priest, in breaking the one and pouring out the other, is really and truly re newing the great sacrifice for sin made by Je- sus Chi 1st at his crucifixion. The mass, there- fore, in which the bread and the wine are so broken and poured out, becomes, in their view, not a mere service of prayer and praise to God. but a solemn act of sacrifice. The spectators, or assistants, as they call them, meaning all who are present on the occasion, stand by, not merely to hear words of adoration, in which they mentally join, as is the case in most Protestant forms of worship, but to witness the enactment of a deed, and one of great binding force and validity : a real and true sacrifice of Christ, made anew, as an atonement for their sins The bread, when consecrated, and. as they sup 118 MAKY QUEEN OF Sco-is. [1561. Adoration of the host Protestant and Catholic worship pose, transmuted to the body of Christ, is held up to view, or carried in a procession around the church, that all present may bow before it. and adore it as really being, though in the form of bread, the wounded and broken body of the Lord. Of course the celebration of the mass is in- vested, in the minds of all conscientious Cath- olics, with the utmost solemnity and import- ance. They stand silently by, with the deep- est feelings of reverence and awe, while the priest offers up for them, anew, the great sac- rifice for sin. They regard all Protestant wor- ship, which consists of mere exhortations to duty, hymns and prayers, as lifeless and void. That which is to them the soul, the essence^ and substance of the whole, is wanting. On the other hand, the Protestants abhor the sacri- fice of the mass as gross superstition. They think that the bread remains simply bread after the benediction as much as before ; that for the priests to pretend that in breaking it they re. new the sacrifice of Christ, is imposture ; and that to bow before it in adoration and h:mage is the worst idolatry. Now it happened that during Mary's absence in France, the contest between the Catholics 156L] RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 119 Violence and persecution. The masa in Mary's chapel and the Protestants had been going fiercely on, and the result had been the almost complete defeat of the Catholic party, and the establish- ment of the Protestant interest throughout the realm. A great many deeds of violence accom- panied this change. Churches and abbeys were sometimes sacked and destroyed. The images of saints, which the Catholics had put up, were pulled down and broken ; and the people were sometimes worked up to phrensy against the principles of the Catholic faith and Catholic ob- servances. They abhorred the mass, and were determined that it should not be introduced again into Scotland. Queen Mary, knowing this state of things determined, on her arrival in Scotland, not to interfere with her people in the exercise of their religion ; but she resolved to remain a Catholic herself, and to continue, for the use of her own household, in the royal chapel at Holyrood, the same Catholic observances to which she had been accustomed in France. She accordingly zave orders that mass should be celebrated in her chapel on the first Sunday after her arriv* al She was very willing to abstain from inter- fering with the religious usages of her subjects but she was not willing to give up her own 120 MARY QUELN OF SCOTS. [1561 Scene of excitement. The friends of the Reformation had a meet- ing, and resolved that mass should not be cele brated. There was, however, no way of pre- senting it but by intimidation or violence When Sunday came, crowds began to assem ble about the palace and the chapel,* and to fill all the avenues leading to them. The Cath- olic families who were going to attend the ser- vice were treated rudely as they passed. The priests they threatened with death. One, who carried a candle which was to be used in the ceremonies, was extremely terrified at their threats and imprecations. The excitement was very great, and would probably have pro- ceeded to violent extremities, had it not beeh for Lord James's energy and courage. He was, a Protestant, but he took his station at the dooi of the chapel, and, without saying or doing any thing to irritate the crowd without, he kept them at bay, while the service proceeded. It went on to the close, though greatly interrupt- ed by the confusion and uproar. Many of the p'rfriich people who came with Mary were sc terrified by this scene, that they declared they The ruins of the royal chapel are to b* seen in the of the palace iu the view on page 114. 1561.J RETURN TO SCOTLAND 121 The reformer, John Knox. His uncompromising char&ctut would not stay in such a country, and took the first opportunity of returning to France. One of the most powerful and influential o f the leaders of the Protestant party at this timo was the celebrated John Knox. He was a man of great powers of mind and of commanding elo- quence ; and he had exerted a vast influence in arousing the people of Scotland to a feeling of strong abhorrence of what they considered the abominations of popery. When Queen Mary of England was upon the throne, Knox had written a book against her, and against queens in general, women having, according to his views, no right to govern. Knox was a man of the most stern and uncompromising charac- ter, who feared nothing, respected nothing, and submitted to no restraints in the blunt and plain discharge of what he considered his duty. Mary dreaded his influence and power. Knox had an interview with Mary not long after his arrival, and it is one of the most strik- ing instances of the strange ascendency which Mary's extraordinary beauty and grace, and the pensive charm of her demeanor, exercised 3ver all that cartie within her influence, that even John Knox, whom nothing else could soft- en or subdue, found his rough and indomitable L22 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [15bl Knox's interview with Mary. His sternness subdued energy half forsaking him in the presence of hiy gentle queen. She expostulated with him. Tie half apologized. Nothing had ever drawn the least semblance of an apology from him bo fore. He told her that his book was aimed solely against Queen Mary of England, and not against her ; that she had no cause to feai its influence ; that, in respect to the freedom with which he had advanced his opinions and theories on the subjects of government and re- ligion, she need not be alarmed, for philoso- phers had always done this in every age, and yet had lived good citizens of the sW^, whose institutions they had, nevertheless, in some sense theoretically condemned. He told her, moreover, that he had no intention of troubling her reign ; that she might be sure of this, since, if he had such a desire, he should have com- menced his measures during her absence, and not have postponed them until her position on the throne was strengthened by her return. Thus he tried to soothe her fears, and to justi- fy himself from the suspicion of having design- ed any injury to such a gentle and helpless* queen. The interview was a very extraordi- nary spectacle. It was that of a lion laying aside his majestic sternness and strength to 1561.] RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 123 The tour Maries. Queen Elizabeth's insincerity dispel the fears and quiet the apprehensions of a dove, The interview was, however, aftex all, painful and distressing to Mary. Some things X'hioh the stern reformer felt it his duty to say to her, brought tears into her eyes. Mary soon became settled in her new homo, though many circumstances in her situation were well calculated to disquiet and disturb her. She lived in the palace at Holyrood. The four Maries continued with her for a time, and then two of them were married to nobles of high rank. Queen Elizabeth sent Mary a kind message, congratulating her on her safe arrival in Scotland, and assuring her that the story of her having attempted to intercept her was false. Mary, who had no means of prov- ing Elizabeth's insincerity, sent her back a po- lite reply. 124 MARY QUEEN OF Scois. Stormy scenes. Lord Jamea. Acts of cruelty CHAPTER VI. MARY AND LORD DARNLEY. TOURING the three or four years whicn *^ elapsed after Queen Mary's arrival in Scotland, she had to pass through many stormy scenes of anxiety and trouble. The great no- bles of the land were continually quarreling, and all parties were earnest and eager in their efforts to get Mary's influence and power on their side. She had a great deal of trouble with the affairs of her brother, the Lord James. He wished to have the earldom of Murray con- ferred upon him. The castle and estates per- taining to this title were in the north of Scot- land, in the neighborhood of Inverness. They were in possession of another family, who re- fused to give them up. Mary accompanied Lord James to the north with an army, to put him. in possession. They took the castle, and hung the governor ; who had refused to surren- der at their summons. This, and some other acts of this expedition, have since been consid- ered unjust and cruel ; but posterity have been 1562.] MARY AND LORD DARNLJJY.. 125 Mary's energy and decisi; n. Her popularity divided in opinion on the question how far Mary berself was personally responsible for them. Mary, at any rate, displayed a great degi ee :>f decision and energy in her management of public affairs, and in the personal exploits which she performed. She made excursions from cas tie to castle, and from town to town, all ovei Scotland. On these expeditions she traveled on horseback, sometimes with a royal escort, and sometimes at the head of an army of eight- een or twenty thousand men. These royal pro- gresses were made sometimes among the great towns and cities on the eastern coast of Scot- land, and also, at other times, among the gloomy and dangerous defiles of the Highlands. Occa- sionally she would pay visits to the nobles at their castles, to hunt in their parks, to review their Highland retainers, or to join them in cel- ebrations and fetes, and military parades. During all this time, her personal influence and ascendency over all who knew her was con. stantly increasing ; and the people of Scotland, notwithstanding the disagreement on the sub- ject of religion, became more and more devote.} to their queen. The attachment which those who were in immediate attendance upon hei r elt to her person and character, was ip naan\ 126 MAR^ C^UEEN OF SCOTS. [15G2 Btory of Chatelard. His love and infatuation. eases extreme. In one instance, this attach- ment led to a very sad result. There was a young Frenchman, named Chatelard, who cam* 1 . 11 Mary's train from France. He was a schol ar and a poet. He began by writing verses at Mary's praise, which Mary read, and seemed to be pleased with. This increased his interest in her, and led him to imagine that he was him- self the object of her kind regard. Finally, tho love which he felt for her came to be a perfect infatuation. He concealed himself one night in Mary's bed-chamber, armed, as if to resist any attack which the attendants might make upon him. He was discovered by the female attendants, and taken away, and they, for fear of alarming Mary, did not tell her of the cir- cumstance till the next morning. Mary was very much displeased, or, at least, professed to be so. John Knox thought that this displeasure was only a pretense. She, how- ever, forbid Chatelard to come any more into her sight. A day or two after this, Mary set out on a journey to the north. Chatelard Ibl- icwcd. He either believed that Mary reallj loved him, or else he was led on by that strange and mcontrollabie infatuation which so often, in such cases, renders even the wisest men utterly I563.J MARY AND LORD DARNLEY. 127 Trial of Chatclanl. His execration and last word* reckless and blind tc the consequences of what they say or do. He watched his opportunity, and one night, when Mary retired to her bed- room, he followed her directly in. Mary called C,>r help. The attendants came in, and imme- diately sent for the Earl of Murray, who was in the palace. Chatelard protested that all he wanted was to explain and apologize for hit. coming into Mary's room before, and to ask her to forgive him. Mary, however, would not lis ten. She was very much incensed. When Murray came in, she directed him to run his dagger through the man. Murray, however, instead of doing this, had the offender seized and sent to prison. In a few days he was tried, and condemned to be beheaded. The excite- ment and enthusiasm of his love continued to the last. He stood firm and undaunted on the scaffold, and, just before he laid his head on the block, he turned toward the place wheie Mary was then lodging, and said, " Farewell ' love- liest and mos A cruel princess that the world contains !" In the mean time, Mary and Queen Eliza- beth continued ostensibly on good terms. They sent embassadors to each other's courts. They communicated letters and messages to each oth- 12 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1563 Mary and Elizabeth. The English succession er, and entered into various negotiations re- specting the affairs of their respective king- doms. The truth was, each was afraid uf the other, an- neither dared to como to an open rupture. Elizabeth was uneasy on account ol Mary's claim to her crown, and was very anx- ious to avoid driving her to extremities, since she knew that, in that case, there would be great danger of her attempting openly to en- force it. Mary, on the other hand, thought that there was more probability of her obtaining the succession to the English crown by keeping peace with Elizabeth than by a quarrel. Eliz- abeth was not married, and was likely to live and die single. Mary would then be the next heir, without much question. She wished Eliz- abeth to acknowledge this, and to have the En- glish Parliament enact it. If Elizabeth would take this course, Mary was willing to waive her claims during Elizabeth's life. Elizabeth, however, was not willing to do this decidedly. She wished to reserve the right tc herself o/ marrying if she chose. She also wished f keep Mary dependent upon her as long as she uould. Hence, while she would not absolutely refuse to comply with Mary's proposition, she would not really accede to it, but kept the whole L563.] MARY AND LORD DARNLEY 129 Claim of Lady Lennox. Lord Damfey matter in suspense by endless procrastination difficulties, and delays. I have said that, after Elizabeth, Mary's claim to the British crown was almost unquestioned. Thsre was another lady about as nearly related to the English royal line as Mary. Her namo was Margaret Stuart. Her title was Lady Lennox. She had a son named Henry Stuart, vhose title was Lord Darnley. It was a ques- tion whether Mary or Margaret were best enti- tled to consider herself the heir to the British crown after Elizabeth. Mary, therefore, had two obstacles in the way of the accomplishment of her wishes to be Queen of England : one was the claim of Elizabeth, who was already in pos- session of the throne, and the other the claims of Lady Lennox, and, after her, of her son Darnley. There was a plan of disposing of this last diffi- culty in a very simple manner. It was, to have Mary marry Lord Darnley, and thus unite these two claims. This plan had been proposed, but there had been no decision in respect to it There was one objection : that Darnley being Mary's cousin, their marriage was forbidden bj the laws of the Catholic Church. There wai QO way of obviating this difficulty but by ap- plying to the pope to grant them a special dis- pensation Q 130 MARY Q.UEEN OF SCOTS. [156J1 Offers of marrifge. Duplicity of Elizabeth In the mean time, a great many other plans were formed for Mary's marriage. Several of the princes and potentates of Europs applied for hor hand. They were allured somewhat, no 'ioubt, by her youth and beauty, and still more, very probably, by the desire to annex her king- dom to their dominions. Mary, wishing to please Elizabeth, communicated often with her, to ask her advice and counsel in regard to her marriage. Elizabeth's policy was to embarrass and perplex the whole subject by making diffi- culties in respect to every plan proposed. Fi- nally, she recommended a gentleman of her own court to Mary Robert Dudley, whom she aft- erward made Earl of Leicester one of her spe- cial favorites. The position of Dudley, and the circumstances of the case, were such that man- kind have generally supposed that" Elizabeth did not seriously imagine that such a plan could be adopted, but that she proposed it, as per verse aria int/iguing people often do, as a means >f increasing the difficulty. Such minds often tttempt to prevent doing what can be done by proposing and urging what they know is mi- possible. In the course of these negotiations, Queen Mary once sen* Melville, her former page of 1664.1 MARY AND LORD DA R:\LEY. Melville sent as ambassador to Elizabeth. His reception. honor in France, as a special embassador to Queen Elizabeth, to ascertain more perfectly her views. Melville had followed Mary to Scotland, and had entered her service there as a confidential secretary ; and as she had great confidence in his prudence and in his fidelity, she thought him the most suitable person to undertake this mission. Melville afterward lived to an advanced age, and in the latter part of his life he wrote a narrative of his various Adventures, and recorded, in quaint and ancient language, many of his conversations and inter- views with the two queens. His mission to England was of course a very important event in his life, and one of the most curious and en- tertaining passages in his memoirs is his narra- tive of his interviews with the English queen. He was, at the time, about thirty-four years of age. Mary was about twenty-two. Sir James Melville was received with man) marks of attention and honor by Queen Eliza- beth. His first interview with her was in a garden near the palace. She first asked him about a letter which Mary had recently written to her, and which, she said, had greatly dis* pleased her ; and she took out a reply from hei pocket, written in very sharp and severe Ian- 132 MARY QUEEN OF Scois. [1564 Conversation of Melville and Elizabeth. Dudley guago, though she said she had not sent it be- cause it was not severe enough, and she vras going to write another. Melville askec 1 to see the letter from Mary which had given Eliza- beth so much offense ; and on reading it, he ex- plained it, and disavowed, on Mary's part, any intention to give offense, and thus finally suc- ceeded in appeasing Elizabeth's displeasure, and at length induced her to tear up her angry reply. Elizabeth then wanted to know what Mary thought of her proposal of Dudley for her hus- band. Melville told her that she had not given the subject much reflection, but that she was going to appoint two commissioners, and she wished Elizabeth to appoint two others, and then that the four should meet on the borders of the two countries, and consider the whole subject of the marriage. Elizabeth said thai she perceived that Mary did not think much of this proposed match. She said, however, that Dudley stood extremely high in htr regard ; that she was going to make him an earl, and that she should marry him herself were it not that she was fully resolved to live and die a single woman. She said she wished very much *u> have Dudley become Mary's husband both 1564.1 MARY AND LORD DARNLEY. Io3 Dudley, earl of Leicester The "long" la formed a plan to rise in rebellion against Mary? to waylay and seize her, to imprison her, and to send Darnley and his father to England, hav- ing made arrangements with Elizabeth's min- isters to receive them at the borders. The plan was all well matured, and would probably have 142 MARY Q.UEEN OF SCOTS. [1565 Mary's narrow escape. The marriage been carried into effect, had not Mary, in some way or other, obtained information of the de- sign She was then at Stirling, and they were a waylay her on the usual route to Edinburgh. She made a sudden journey, at an unexpected time, and by a new and unusual road, and thus evaded her enemies. The violence of this op- position only stimulated her determination to carry the marriage into effect without delay Her escape from her rebellious nobles took place in June, and she was married in July. This was six months after her first interview with Darnley. The ceremony was performed in the royal chapel at Holyrood. They show, to this day, the place where she is said to have stood, in the now roofless interior. Mary was conducted into the chapel by her father and another nobleman, in the midst of a large company of lords and ladies of the court, and of strangers of distinction, who had come to Edinburgh to witness the ceremony. A vasl throng had collected also around the palace Mary was led to the altar, and then Lord Darn. Jey was conducted in. The marriage ceremony was performed according to the Catholic ritual. Three rings, one of them a diamond ring of great value, were put upon her finger. Afte- LfiGo.J MARY AND LORD DARNLKY. 118 The mourner and the bride. Darnley's contemptible character the ceremony, largess was proclaimed, and mon- ey distributed among the crowd, as had I eon done in Paris at Mary's former marriage, five years before. Mary then remained to attend the celebration of mass, Darnley, who was not a Catholic, retiring. After the mass, Mary re turned to the palace, and changed the mourn- ing dress which she had continued to wear from the time of her first husband's death to that hour, for one more becoming a bride. The evening was spent in festivities of every kind. We have said that Darnley was personally attractive in respect both to his countenance and his manners ; and, unfortunately, this is all that can be said in his favor. He was weak minded, and yet self-conceited and vain. The sudden elevation which his marriage with a queen gave him, made him proud, and he soon began to treat all around him in a very haughty and imperious manner. He seems to have been entirely unaccustomed to exercise any self-corn- rnand, or to submit to any restraints in the grat- ification of his passions. Mary paid him a gr3at many attentions, and took great pleasure in con- ferring upon him, as her queenly power enabled her to do, distinctions and honors ; but, instead of being grateful for them, he received them as 144 MARY QUEEN OF SCUTS. [1560 Darnley's impericusness and pride. Mary's cares. matters of course, and was continually demand ing more. There was one title which he want sd, and which, for some good reason, it was neo essary to postpone conferring upon him. A no- bleman came to him one day and informed him of the necessity of this delay. He broke into a fit of passion, drew his dagger, rushed toward the nobleman, and attempted to stab him. He commenced his imperious and haughty course of procedure even before his marriage, and con- tinued it afterward, growing more and more violent as his ambition increased with an in- crease ot power. Marv felt these cruel acts of selfishixoss and pride very keenly, but, woman- like, she palliated and excused them, and loved him still. She had, however, other trials and cares press- ing upon her immediately. Murray and his confederates organized a formal and open re- bellion, Mary raised an army and took the field against them. The. country generally look her side. A terrible and somewhat DID tracted civil war ensued, but the rebels wer* finally defeated and driven out of the country. They went to England and claimed Elizabeth's protection, saying that she had incited them t< the revolt, and promised them her aid. Eliza 1566.] MARY AND LORD DARNLEY. 145 Elizabeth's treatment of the rebels. Mary's generous conduct to Darnley beth told them that it would not do for her to be supposed to have abetted a rebellion in her cousin Mary's dominions, and that, unless they would, in the presence of the foreign embassa- dors at her court, disavow her having done so, she could not help them or countenance them in any way. The miserable men, being reduced to a hard extremity, made this disavowal. Eliz- abeth then said to them, "Now you have told the truth. Neither I, nor any one else in my name, incited you against your queen ; and your abominable treason may set an example to my own subjects to rebel against me. So get you gone out of my presence, miserable traitors as you are." Thus Mary triumphed over all the obstacles to her marriage with the man she loved; but, alas ! before the triumph was fully accomplish cd, the love was gone. Darnley was selfish, unfeeling, and incapable of requiting affection like Mary's. He treated her with the most heartless indifference, though she had done ev- ery thing to awaken his gratitude and win his love. She bestowed upon him every honor which it was in her power to grant. She gave him the title of king. She admitted him to share with her the powers and prerogatives of the 10 146 MAR if Q.UEEN OF SCOTS. [1566 The double throne. Darnley'a cruel ingratitude crown. There is to this day, in Mary's apart ments at Holyrood House, a double throne which she had made for herself and her hus band, with their initials worked together in the embroidered covering, and each seat surmount- od by a crown. Mankind have always felt a strong sentiment of indignation at the ingrati- tude which could requite such love with such Hellish ness and cruelty. 1561. j RIZZIO. 147 .. i David Kizzio. Ambassadors. Rizzio'a position CHAPTER VII. RIZZIO MA.RY had a secretary named David Riz zio. He was from Savoy, a country among the Alps. It was the custom then, as it is now, for the various governments of Eu- rope to have embassadors at the courts of other governments, to attend to any negotiations, or to the transaction of any other business which might arise between their respective sovereigns These embassadors generally traveled with pomp and parade, taking sometimes many at- tendants with them. The embassador from Savoy happened to bring with him to Scotland, in his train, this young man, Rizzio, in 1561, that is, just about the time that Mary herself returned to Scotland. He was a handsome and agreeable young man, but his rank and position were such that, for some years, he attracted ni attention. He was, however, quite a singer, and they used to bring him in sometimes to sing ic 148 MARY Q.UEEN OF SCOTS. Rizzio French secretary. Displeasure of the Scotch noble* Mary's presence with three other singers His voice, being a good bass ; made up the quar- tette. Mary saw him in this way, and as he was a good French and Italian scholar, and was amiable and intelligent, she gradually became somewhat interested in him. Mary had, at this time, among her other officers, a French secretary, who wrote for her, ana transacted such other business as required a knowledge of the French language. This French secretary went home, and Mary appointed Rizzio to take his place. The native Scotchmen in Mary's court were naturally very jealous of the influence of these foreigners. They looked down with special contempt on Rizzio, considering him of mean rank and position, and wholly destitute of all claim to the office of confidential secretary to the queen. Rizzio increased the difficulty by not acting with the reserve and prudence which his delicate situation required. The nobles, proud of their own rank and importance, were very much displeased at the degree of intimac\ and confidence to which Mary admitted him. They called him an intruder and an upstart. When they carne in and found him in conver- sation with the queen, or whenever he aocostod 1564 J RIZZIO. 14V* Thry tieat lluzio with scorn and contempt He consults Melville. her freely, as he was wont to do, in their pres- ence, they were irritated and vexed. They did not dare to remonstrate with Mary, but they took care to express their feelings of resent- ment and scorn to the subject of them in every possible way. They scowled upon him. They lirected to him looks of contempt. They turn- ed their backs upon him, and jostled him in a rude and insulting manner. All this was a year or two before Mary's marriage. Rizzio consulted Melville, asking his judg- ment as to what he had better do. He said that, being 1 Mary's French secretary, he waa necessarily a good deal in her company, and the nobles seemed displeased with it ; but he did not see what he could do to diminish or avoid the difficulty. Melville replied that the nobles had an opinion that he not only perform- ed the duties of French secretary, but that he was fast acquiring a great ascendency in re- spect to all other affairs. Melville further ad- vised him to be much more cautious in his bear- ing than he had been, to give place to the no- bles when they were with him in the presence sf the queen, to speak less freely, and in a more unassuming manner, and to explain the whole sase to the queen herself- that she might cr. 150 MARY QUELN OP SCOTS. [1564 Melville's counsel. Melville and the queen 5>perate with him in pursuing a course which would soothe and conciliate the irritated and angry feelings of the nobles. Melville said, moreover, that he had himself, at one time, at a court on the Continent, been placed in a very similar situation to Rizzio's, and had been in- volved in the same difficulties, but had escap- ed the dangers which threatened him by pur suing himself the course which he now recom- mended. Eizzio seemed to approve of this counsel, and promised to follow it; but he afterward told Melville that he had spoken to the queen on the subject, and that she would not consent to any change, but wished everything to go on as it had done. Now the queen, having great con- fidence in Melville, had previously requested him, that if he saw any thing in her deport- ment, or management, or measures, which he thought was wrong, frankly to let her know it, that she might be warned in season, and amend He thought that this was an occasion which re* quired this friendly interposition, and he took an opportunity to converse with her on the sub- ject in a frank and plain, but still very respect- ful manner. He made but little impression. Mary said that Rizzio was only her private 1564] Rizzio. 151 Rizzio's religion. Ilia services to Mary French secretary ; that he had nothing to do with the affairs of the government ; that, conse- quently, his appointment and his office were hei )wn private concern alone, and she should con iinuo to act according to her own pleasure in managing her own affairs, no matter who was displeased by it. It is probable that the real ground of offense which the nobles had against Rizzio was jeal- ousy of his superior influence with the queen They, however, made his religion a great ground of complaint against him. He was a Catholic, and had come from a strong Catholic country, having been born in the northern part of Italy. The Italian language was his mother tongue They professed to believe that he was a secret emissary of the pope, and was plotting with Mary to bring Scotland back under the papal dominion. In the mean time, Rizzio devoted himself with untiring zeal and fidelity to the service of the queen. He was indefatigable in his ef 'orin to please her, and he made himself ex- tremely useful to her in a thousand different ways. In fact, his being the object of so much dislike and aversion on the part of others, made him more and more exclusively devoted to the 152 MAKY Q,UEEN OF Scors. [1565 Kizzio'g power and influence. Hie intimacy with Mary queen, who seemed to be almost his only friend. She. too. was urged, by what she considered the unreasonable and bitter hostility of which her favorite was the object, to bestow upon him greater and greater favors. In process of time, one after another of those about the court, find- ing that Rizzio's influence and power were great and were increasing, began to treat him with respect, and to ask for his assistance in gaining their ends. Thus Rizzio found his position be- coming stronger, and the probability began to increase that he would at length triumph over the enemies who had set their faces so strongly against him. Though he had been at first inclined to fol- low Melville's advice, yet he afterward fell in cordially with the policy of the queen, which was, to press boldly forward, and put down with a strong hand the hostility which had been ex niited against him. Instead, therefore, of at- tempting to conceal the degree of favor which h.-i enjoyed with the queen, he boasted of and displayed it. He would converse often and fa- miliarly with her in public. lie dressed mag. uilicently, like persons of the highest rank, and had many attendants. In a word, he assumed all the airs and manners of a person of high dif 1565.J RIZZIO. Rlzzio's exertion in favor of the marriage. Rizzio and Darnley tinction and commanding influence. The ex- ternal signs of -hostility to him were thus put down, but the fires of hatred hurned none the Jess fiercely below, and only wanted an oppor- lanity to burst into an explosion. Things were in this state at the time of the ne- gotiations in respect to Darnley's marriage ; for, in order to take up the story of Rizzio from the beginning, we have been obliged to go back in o'ir narrative. Rizzio exerted all his influence in favor of the marriage, and thus bcth strength- ened his influence with Mary and made Darn- ley his friend. He did all in his power to di- minish the opposition to it, from whatever quar- ter it might come, and rendered essential serv- ice in the correspondence with France, and in the negotiations with the pope for obtaining the necessary dispensation. In a word, he did a great deal to promote the marriage, and to fa- cilitate all the arrangements for carrying it into effect. Darnley relied, therefore, upon Rizzio's friend- r'flip and devotion to his service, forgetting that, in all these past efforts, Rizzio was acting out 3f regard to Mary's wishes, and not to his own. As long, therefore, as Mary and Darnley contin- ued to pursue the same objects and aims, Rizzic 154 MARY (^UEEN OF SCOTS. [1560 Darnley greatly disliked. His unreasonable wishes was the common friend and ally of both. The enemies of the marriage, however, disliked Riz- zio more than ever. As Darnley 's character developed itself gracl- aally after his marriage, every body began to dislike him also. He was unprincipled and vi- cious, as well as imperious and proud. His friendship for Rizzio was another ground of dis- like to him. The ancient nobles, who had been accustomed to exercise the whole control in the public affairs of Scotland, found themselves sup- planted by this young Italian singer, and an English boy not yet out of his teens. They were exasperated beyond all bounds, but yet they contrived, for a while, to conceal and dis- semble their anger. It was not very long after the marriage of Mary and Darnley before they began to become alienated from each other. Mary did every thing for her husband which it was reasonable for him to expect her to do. She did, in fact, all that was in her power. But he was not sat- isfied. She made him the sharer of her throne He wanted her to give up her placo to him, and thus make him the sole possessor of it. Ho wanted what was called the crown matrimonial. \ l with a door, o, leading to the public stair-case by which her apartments were approached. All these apartments still remain, and are ex- plored annually by thousands of visitors. It was about seven o'clock in the evening that the conspirators were to execute their pur- pose. Morton remained below in the court with his troops, to prevent any interruption. He held a high office under the queen, which authorized him to bring a force into the court of the palace, and his doing so did not alarm the inmates. Ruthven was to head the party which was to commit the crime. He was con- fined to his bed with sickness at the time, but * See view of Ha yrood House, page 114 and comparb it vith this plan. 11 1C2 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1566. Mary at supper. Arrangements of the conspirator* he was so eager to have a share in the pleasure of destroying Rizzio, that he left his bed, puf on a suit of armor, and came forth to the work The armor is preserved in the little apartment which was the scene of the tragedy to this day. Mary was at supper. Two near relatives and friends of hers a gentleman and a lady and Rizzio, were with her. The room is scarce iy large enough to contain a greater number There were, however, two or three servants in attendance at a side-table. Darnley came up, about eight o'clock, to make observations. The other conspirators were concealed in his room below, and it was agreed that if Darnley found any cause for not proceeding with the plan, he was to return immediately and give them no- tice. If, therefore, he should not return, after the lapse of a reasonable time, they were to fol- low him up the private stair-case, prepared to act at once and decidedly as soon as they should enter the room. They were to come up by this private stair-case, in order to avoid being inter- septed or delayed by the domestics in attend- ance hi the ante-room, R, of which there would have been danger if they had ascended by the public stair-case at T. Finding that Darnley did not return, Ruthven lf>66.] Rizz.o. 163 The little upper room. Murder of Kizzlo, with his party ascended the stairs, entered the bed-chamber through the little door at d, and thence advanced to the door of the cabinet, his heavy iron armor clanking as he came. The queen, alarmed, demanded the meaning of this intrusion. Ruthven, whose countenance was grim and ghastly from the conjoined influence of ferocious passion and disease, said that they meant no harm to her, but they only wanted the villain who stood near her. Rizzio perceiv- ed that his hour was come. The attendants flocked in to the assistance of the queen and Rizzio. Ruthven's confederates advanced to join in the attack, and there ensued one of those scenes of confusion and terror, of which those who witness it have no distinct recollection on looking back upon it when it if* over. Rizzio cried out in an agony of fear, and sought refuge behind the queen; the queen herself fainted; the table was overturned ; and Rizzio, having received one wound from a dagger, was seized and dragged out through the bed-chamber, #, and through the ante-room, R, to the door, o, where he fell down, and was stabbed by thti murderers again and again, till ho ceased tc kreathe. After this scene was over. Darnley and Rnth> 1G'4 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1566 Violence of the conspirator*. ven came coolly back into Mary's chamber, and, as soon as Mary recovered her senses, be- gan to talk of and to justify their act of vio- lence, without, however, telling her that Bizzio had been killed. Mary was filled with emo- tions of resentment and grief. She bitterly re- proached Darnley for such an act of cruelty as breaking into her apartment with armed men, and seizing and carrying off her friend. She told him that she had raised him from his com- paratively humble position to make him her husband, and now this was his return. Darn- ley replied that Rizzio had supplanted him in her confidence, and thwarted all his plans, and that Mary had shown herself utterly regardless of his wishes, under the influence of Rizzio. He said that, since Mary had made herself his wife, she ought to have obeyed him, and not put herself in such a way under the direction of another. Mary learned Rizzio's fate tho next day. The violence of the conspirators did not stop with the destruction of Rizzio. Some of Mary's high officers of government, who were in tho palace at the time, were obliged to make thei* escape from the windows to avoid being seized by Morton and his soldiers in the court. Among 1560. J RIZZIO. 165 Mary a prisoner. Darnley a uscrpHUon, them was the Earl Both well, who tried at first to drive Morton out, but in the end was obliged nimself to flee. Some of these men let them- selves down by ropes from the outer windows. When the uproar and confusion caused by this struggle was over, they found that Mary, over- come with agitation and terror, was showing symptoms of fainting again, and they concluded to leave her. They informed her that she must consider herself a prisoner, and, setting a guard at the door of her apartment, they went away, leaving her to spend the night in an agony of resentment, anxiety, and fear. Lord Darnley took the government at once entirely into his own hands. He prorogued Parliament, which was then just commencing a sessio~ , in his own name alone. He organ- ized an administration, Mary's officers having fled. In saying that he did these things, we mean, of course, that the conspirators did them in his name. He was still but a boy, scarcely out of his teens, and incapable of any other ao tion in such an emergency but a blind compli^ ance with the wishes of the crafty men whu had got him into their power by gratifying his feelings of revenge. They took possession of the government in his name, and kept Mary 9 close prisoner. 166 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1566 Melville. Mary appeals to the provost The murder was committed on Saturday night. The next morning, of course, was Sun- day Melville was going out of the palace about ton o'clock. As he passed along under the win- dow where Mary was confined, she called out to him for help. He asked her what he could do for her. She told him to go to the provost of Edinburgh, the officer corresponding to the mayor of a city in this country, and ask him to call out the city guard, and come and release her from her captivity. " Go quick," said she, " or the guards will see you and stop you." Just then the guards came up and challenged Mel- ville. He told them he was going to the city to attend church ; so they let him pass on. He went to the provost, and delivered Mary's mes- sage. The provost said he dared not, and could not interfere. So Mary remained a prisoner. Her captiv- ity, however, was of short duration. In two days Darnley came to see her. He persuaded her that he himself had had nothing to do with the murder of Rizzio. Mary, on the other hand persuaded him that it was better for them to De friends to each other than to live thus in a per petual quarrel. She convinced him that Ruth von and his confederates were not, and could 1566.] Rizzio. 167 Mary defeats the conspirators. Birth of her son. not be, his friends. They would only make him the instrument of obtaining the objects of their unbition. Darnley saw this. He felt that he as well as Mary were in the rebels' power They formed a plan to escape together. They succeeded. They fled to a distant castle, and collected a large army, the people everv where flocking to the assistance of the queen. The) returned to Edinburgh in a short time in tri- umph. The conspirators fled. Mary then de- cided to pardon and recall the old rebels, and ex- pend her anger henceforth on the new ; and thus the Earl Murray, her brother, was brought back, and once more restored to favor. After settling all these troubles, Mary retired to Edinburgh Castle, where it was supposed she could be best protected, and in the month of July following the murder of Rizzio, she gave birth to a son. In this son was afterward ac- complished all her fondest wishes, for he inner* ited in the end both the English and Scottish crowns L68 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1506 Earl of Both well. His desperate character. Castle of Dunbal CHAPTER VIII. BOTHWELL. Earl of Both well was a man of great -*- energy of character, fearless and decided in all that he undertook, and sometimes perfectly reckless and uncontrollable. He was in Scot- land at the time of Mary's return from France, but he was so turbulent and unmanageable that he was at one time sent into banishment. He was, however, afterward recalled, and again in- trusted with power. He entered ardently into Mary's service in her contest with the murder- ers of Rizzio. He assisted her in raising an army after her flight, and in conquering Morton, Ruthven, and the rest, and driving them out of the country. Mary soon began to look upou him as, notwithstanding his roughness, her best and most efficient friend. As a reward fcr these services, she granted him a castle, situ- ated in a romantic position on the eastern coast of Scotland. It was called the Castle of Dun- bar. It was on a stormy promontory, over- looking the German Ocean : a very appropriate 1566.J BOTHWELL. 109 The border country. Scenes of violence and b. ood retreat and fastness for such a man of iron as he. In those days, the border country betweeu England and Scotland was the resort of rob- bers, freebooters, and outlaws from both lands. If pursued by one government, they could re- treat across the line and be safe. Incursions, too, were continually made across this frontier by the people of either side, to plunder or to destroy whatever property was within reach Thus the country became a region of violence* and bloodshed which all men of peace and qui- etness were glad to shun. They left it to th possession of men who could find pleasure in such scenes of violence and biood. When Queen Mary had got quietly settled in her government after the overthrow of the murderei i of Rizzio, as she thus no longer needed BotJrw ell's imme- diate aid, she sent him to this borcter country to see if he could enforce some sort of order among its lawless population. The birth of Mary's son waa an event of the greatest importance, not only to l:*;r personally, but in respect to the political prospects of tho two great kingdoms, for in this infant were combined the claims of succession to both the Scotch and English crowns. The whole woi!6 170 M A R \ QUEEN orSooxs [1566 Birth of James. Its political iriportance. Darnley's conduct know that if Elizabeth should die without leav- ing a direct heir, this child would become the monarch both of England and Scotland, and, as such, one of the greatest personages in Europe. His birth, therefore, was a great event, and it was celebrated in Scotland with universal re joicings. The tidings of it spread, as news of great public interest, all over Europe. Even Elizabeth pretended to be pleased, and sent mes- sages of congratulation to Mary. But every one thought that they could see in her air and man- lier, when she received the intelligence, obvious traces of mortification and chagrin. Mary's heart was filled, at first, with mater- nal pride and joy ; but her happiness was soon sadly alloyed by Darnley's continued unkind- ness. She traveled about during the autumn , from castle to castle, anxious and ill at ease Sometimes Darnley followed her, and some- times he amused himself with hunting, and with various vicious indulgences, at different towns and castles at a distance from her. He wanted her to dismiss her ministry and put him into power, and he took every possible means to importune or tease her into compliance with this plan. At one time he said he had resolved to leave Scotland, and go and reside in Fr unco 1566.] BOTH WELL. 173 Darnley's hypocrisy. Mary's dejection and he pretended to make his preparations, and to be about to take his leave. He seems to have thought that Mary, though he knew that slid 10 longer loved him, would be distressed at the idea of being abandoned by one who was, after all, her husband. Mary was, in fact, distressed at this proposal, and urged him not to go. He seemed determined, and took his leave. Instead of going to France, however, he only went to Stirling Castle. Darnley, finding that he could not accom- plish his aims by such methods as these, wrote, it is said, to the Catholic governments of Eu- rope, proposing that, if they would co-operate in putting him into power in Scotland, he would adopt efficient measures for changing the relig- ion of the country from the Protestant to the Catholic faith. He made, too, every effort to organize a party in his favor in Scotland, and tried to defeat and counteract the influence of Mary's government by every means in his pow- ir. These things, and other trials and difficul. .ies connected with them, weighed very hcav- .ly upon Mary's mind. She sunk gradual!} into a state of great dejection and despondency She spent many hours in sighing and in tears, and often wished that she was in her grave. 172 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. J156C A divorce proposed. Mary's !ave for her child So deeply, in fact, was Mary plunged into distress and trouble by the state of things ex- isting between herself and Darnley, that some af her officers of government began to conceive ff a plan of having her divorced from him, After looking at this subject in all its bearings, and consulting about it with each other, they ventured, at last, to propose it to Mary. She would not listen to any such plan. She did not think a divorce could be legally accom- plished. And then, if it were to be done, it would, she feared, in some way or other, affect the position and rights of the darling son who was now to her more than all the world be- sides. She would rather endure to the end of her days the tyranny and torment she experi- enced from her brutal husband, than hazard in the least degree the future greatness and glory of the infant who was lying in his cradle be- fore her, equally unconscious of the grandeur which awaited him in future years, and of the strength of the maternal love which was smil- mg upon him from amid such sorrow and tears, and extending over him such gentle, but determined and effectual protection. The sad and sorrowful feelings which Mary imdured were inteiTupted for a little time b% 1566.] BOTHWELL. 173 Baptism of the infant James's titles. the splendid pageant of the baptism of the child. Embassaclors came from all the important courts of the Continent to do honor to the occasion. Elizabeth sent the Earl of Bedford as her em- bassador, with a present of a baptismal font of gold, which had cost a sum equal to five thousand dollars. The baptism took place at Stirling, in December, with every possible accompaniment of pomp and parade, and was followed by many days of festivities and rejoicing. The whole country were interested in the event except Darnley, who declared sullenly, while the prep- arations were making, that he should not re- main to witness the ceremony, but should go off a day or two before the appointed time. The ceremony was performed in the chapel. The child was baptized under the names of "Charles James, James Charles, Prince and Steward of Scotland, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, and Baron oi Ren- frew." His subsequent designation in history was James Sixth of Scotland and First of En- gland. A great many appointments of attend * ants and officers, to be attached to the service of the young prince, were made immediately, most of them, )f course, mere matters of pa- rade. Among the rest, five ladies of distino 174 MARY C^UEEN OF Scois. [156G. The prince's cradle. Bothwell and Murray tion were constituted " rockers of his cradle." The form of the young prince's cradle has come down to us in an ancient drawing. in due time after the coronation, the various cmbassadors and delegates returned to their re- spective courts, carrying back glowing accounts of the ceremonies and festivities attendant upon the christening, and of the grace, and beauty, and loveliness of the queen. In the mean time, Bothwell and Murray were competitors for the confidence and regard of the queen, and it began to seem probable that Bothwell would win the day. Mary, in tine of her excursions, was traveling in the southern part of the country, when- she heard that he had been wounded in an encountei with a party of desperadoes near the border 1566.J BOTHWELL. 175 Mary's visit to Bothwell. Its probable motive Moved partly, perhaps, by compassion, and partly by gratitude for his services, Mary made an expedition across the country to pa} him a visit. Some say that she was animated by a more powerful motive than either of these. In fact this, as well as almost all the other acts of Mary's life, are presented in very different lights by her friends and her enemies. The former say that this visit to her lieutenant in his confinement from a wound received in her service was perfectly proper, both in the design itself, and in all the circumstances of its exe- cution. The latter represent it as an instance of highly indecorous eagerness on the part of a married lady to express to another man a sym- pathy and kind regard which she had ceased to feel for her husband. Bothwell himself was married as well as Mary. He had been married but a few months to a beautiful lady a few years younger than the queen. The question, however, whethei Mary did right or wrong in paying this visit to him, is not, after all, a very important ono. There is no doubt that she and Bothwell loved each other, before they ought to have done so, and it is of comparatively little consequence when the attachment began The end of it w 176 MAIO QUEEN OF SCOTS. 11567 Plot for Darnley's destruction. Bothwel}'* intrignek certain. . Bothwell resolved to kill Darnley, tn get divorced from his own wife, and to marry the queen. The world has never yet settled the question whether she was herself his accom- plice or not in the measures he adopted for ef- fecting these plans, or whether she only sub- mitted to the result when Bothwell, by his own unaided efforts, reached it. Each reader must judge of this question for himself from the facts about to be narrated. Bothwell first communicated with the nobles about the court, to get their consent and ap- probation to the destruction of the king. They all appeared to be very willing to have the thing done, but were a little cautious about involv- ing themselves in the responsibility of doing it. Darnley was thoroughly hated, despised, and shunned by them all. Still they were afraid of the consequences of taking his life. One of them, Morton, asked Bothwell what the queer would think of the plan. Bothwell said thai the queen approved of it. Morton replied, thai if Bothwell would show him an expression of the queen's approval of the plot, in her own hand-writing, he would join it, otherwise not. Bothwell failed to furnish this evidence, saying that the queen was really privy to, and in favoj L567.J BOTH WELL. 177 Desperate schemes attributed to Darnley. His illness. Mary't; visit. of the plan, but that it was not to be expected that she would commit herself to it in writing Was this all true, or was the pretense only a Jespcrate measure of Both well's to induce Mor- ton to join him ? Most of the leading men about the court, however, either joined the plot, or so far gave it their countenance and encouragement as f induce Bothwell to proceed. There were mar,^ ind strange rumors about Darnley. One was, that he was actually going to leave the coun- try, and that a ship was ready for him in the Clyde. Another was, that he had a plan for seizing the young prince, dethroning Mary, and reigning himself in her stead, in the prince's name. Other strange and desperate schemes were attributed to him. In the midst of them, news came to Mary at Holyrood that he was taken suddenly and dangerously sick at Glas- gow, where he was then residing, and she im- mediately went to see him. Was her motive a desire to make one more attempt to win his confidence and love, and to divert him from the desperate measures which she feared he was con templating, or was she acting as an accomplice with Bothwell, to draw him into the snare in which he was afterward taken and destroyed ? 12 178 MARY QUEEN OP SCOTS. [18G7 Return to Edinburgh. Situation at Darnley'* lesidenca The result of Mary's visit to her husband, after some time spent with him in Glasgow, was a proposal that he shauld return with her to Edinburgh, where she could watch over him during his convalescence with greater caro. This plan was Adopted. He was conveyed on a sort of litter, by very slow and easy stages, toward Edinburgh. He was on such terms with the nobles and lords in attendance upon Mary that he was not willing to go to Holy- rood House. Besides, his disorder was conta- gious : it is supposed to have been the small- pox ; and though he was nearly recovered, there was still some possibility that the royal babe might take the infection if the patient came within the same walls with him. So Mary sent forward to Edinburgh to have a house provided for him. The situation of this house is seen near the cit ) wall on the left, in the accompanying view of Edinburgh. Holyrood House is the large square edifice in the fore-ground, and the castle crown* the hill in the distance. There is now, as there was in the days of Mary, a famous street ex- tending from Holyrood House to the castie, call* ed the Cannon Gate at the lower end, and the High Street above. This street, with the cas- i .liiiii 15G7.1 BOTH WELL. 181 Description of Darnley's residence tie at one extremity and Holyrood House at the other, were the scenes of many of the Most remarkable events described in this nar- rative. The residence selected was a house of foui rooms, close upon the city wall. The placo was called the Kirk of Field, from a kirk, 01 church, which formerly stood near there, in the fields. This house had two rooms upon the lowei floor, with a passage-way between them. One of these rooms was a kitchen ; the other was appropriated to Mary's use, whenever she was able to be at the place in attendance upon her husband. Over the kitchen was a room used as a wardrobe and for servants ; and over Ma- ry's room was the apartment for Darnley. There was an opening through the city wall in the rear of this dwelling, by which there was access to the kitchen. These premises were fitted up for Darnley in the most thorough man- ner. A bath was arranged for him in his apart- ment, and every thing was done which could conduce to his comfort, according to the ideas which then prevailed. Darnley was brought to Edinburgh, conveyed to this house, and quietly established there. 182 MAKY QUEEN or SCOTS. [15(57. Man of Darnley's house. Its accommodation* The following is a plan of the house in which Ddrnley was lodged : & r\ ! I \ Field.. M. Mary's room, below Darnlcy 's. K. Kitchen ; servants' room aboa O Passage through the city wall into the kitchen. 8. Stair-case leading to the second story. P. Passage-way. The accommodations in this house do not deem to have been very sumptuous, after all, for a royal guest; but royal dwellings in Scot- and, in those days, were not what they are no w ffi Westminster and at St. Cloud. The day for the execution of the plan, which was, tc blow up the house where the sick Darn- iev was lying, with gunpowder, approached 15G7.T BOTH WELL. 183 The gunpowder. A weddln* Bothwell selected a number of desperate char- acters to aid him in the actual work to be done. One of these was a Frenchman, who had been for a long time in his service, and who went aommonly by the name of French Paris. Both- well contrived to get French Paris taken into Mary's service a few days before the murder of Darnley, and, through him, he got possession of some of the keys of the house which Darnley was occupying, and thus had duplicates of them made, so that he had access to every part of the hou^e. The gunpowder was brought from Bothwell's castle at Dunbar, and all was ready Mary spent much of her time at Darnley's* house, and often slept in the room beneath his, which had been allotted to her as her apart- ment. One Sunday there was to be a wedding it Holyrood. The bride and bridegroom were favorite servants of Mary's, and she was intend- ing to be present at the celebration of the nup- tials. She was to lea/e Darnley's early in the evening for this purpose. Her enemies say (hat this was all a concerted arrangement be tween her and Bothwell to give him the oppor tunity to execute his plan. Her friends, on the other hand, insist that she knew nothing about it, and that Bothwell had to watch and \va!t foi 184 MARY QUEEN UF SCOTS. 'i567 Details of the plot The powder placed in Mary's room such an opportunity of blowing up the house without injuring Mary. Be this as it may, the Sunday of this wedding was fixed upon for the. consummation of the deed. The gunpowder had been secreted in Both- well's rooms at the palace. On Sunday oven- ing, as soon as it was dark, Both well set the men at work to transport the gunpowder. They brought it out in bags from the palace, and then employed a horso, to transport it to the wall of some gardens which were in the rear of Darn- ley's house. They had to go twice with the horse in order to cunvey all the gunpowder thai they had provided. While this was going on, Bothwell, who kept out of sight, was walking to and fro in an adjoining street, to receive in- telligence, from time to time, of the progress of the affair, and to issue orders. The gunpow- der was conveyed across the gardens to the real of the house, taken in at a back door, and de- posited in the room marked M in the plan, which was the room belonging to Mary. Mary eas all this time directly over head, in Darn lev \ chamber. The plan of the conspirators was to put the bags of gunpowder into a cask which they had provided for the occasion, to keep the mass to- 1567.] BOTH WELL. 185 The big cask. Bothwell's effrontery. Mary's leave of Darnlej gether, and increase the force jf the explosion The cask had been provided, and placed in the gardens behind the house ; but, on attempting tc take it into the house, they found it too big to pass through the back door. This caused con- siderable delay ; and Bothwell, growing impa- tient, came, with his characteristic impetuos- ity, to ascertain the cause. By his presence and his energy, he soon remedied the difficulty in some way or other, and completed the ar- rangements. The gunpowder was all deposit- ed ; the men were dismissed, except two who were left to watch, and who were locked up with the gunpowder in Mary's room ; and then, all things being ready for the explosion as soon as Mary should be gone, Bothwell walked up to Darnley's room above, and joined the party who were supping there. The cool effrontery of this proceeding has scarcely a parallel in the annals of crime. At eleven o'clock Mary rose to go, saying ahe must return to the palace to take part, as she had promised to do, in the celebration of her servants' wedding. Mary took leave of hei husband in a very affectionate manner, and went away in company with Bothwell and the othor nobles. Her enemies maintain that she was 186 MARY QUEEN DP SCOTS. [1567 Was Mary privy to the plot ? Anecdotes of Mary privy to all the arrangements which had been made, and that she did not go into her own apartment below, knowing very well what wa there. But even if we imagine that Mary wa? aware of the general plan of destroying her hus* band, and was secretly pleased with it, as al- most any royal personage that ever lived, under such circumstances, would be, we need not ad- mit that she was acquainted with the details of the mode by which the plan was to be put in execution. The most that we can suppose such a man as Both well would have communicated to her, would be some dark and obscure inti- mations of his design, made in order to satisfy himself that she would not really oppose it. To ask her, woman as she was, to take any part in such a deed, or to communicate to her be- forehand any of the details of the arrangement, would have been an act of littleness and mean- ness which such magnanimous monsters as Both- well are seldom guilty of. Besides, Mary remarked that evening, in Darnley's room, in the course of conversatiorij that it was just about a year since Rizzio'a death. On entering her palace, too, at Holy- rood, that night, she met one of Bothwell's serv- ants who had been carrying the bags, and. per- 1567, j BOTH WELL. 187 Return to Holyrood. French Paria liuters ceiving the smell of gunpowder, she asked him what it meant. Now Mary was not the bra- zen-faced sort of woman to speak of such thing.! at such a time if she was really in the councils of the conspirators. The only question seemn to be, therefore, not whether she was a party to the actual deed of murder, but cmiy whether she was aware of, and consenting to, the gen- eral design. In the mean time, Mary and Bothwell went together into the hall where the servants were rejoicing and making merry at the wedding. French Paris was there, but his heart began to fail him in respect to the deed in which he had been engaged. He stood apart, with a coun- tenance expressive of anxiety and distress. Bothwell went to him, and told him that if he carried such a melancholy face as that any lon- ger in the presence of the queen, he would make him suffer for it. The poor conscience-stricken man begged Bothwell to release him from any further part in the transaction. He was sick, really sick, he said, and he wanted to go home tc his bed. Bothwell made no reply but to or- Jer him to follow him. Bothwell went to lia own rooms, changed the silken court dres? in which he had appeared in company for one suit 188 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [156? The convent gardens. Laying the train able to the night and to the deed, directed his men to follow him, and passed from the palace toward the gates of the city. The gates were nhut, for it was midnight. The sentinels dial* .cnged them. The party said they were friends to my Lord Bothwell, and were allowed to pass on. They advanced to the convent gardens Here they left a part of their number, while Bothwell and French Paris passed over the wall, and crept softly into the house. They unlocked the room where they had left the two watchmen with the gunpowder, and found all safe. Men locked up under such circumstan- ces, and on the eve of the perpetration of such a deed, were not likely to sleep at their posts. All things being now ready, they made a slow match of lint, long enough to burn for some little time, and inserting one end of it jito the gunpowder, they lighted the other end, and crept stealthily out of the apartment. They passed over the wall into the convent gardensj where they rejoined their companions and a~vait ed the result. Men choose midnight often for the perpetra* lion of crime, from the facilities afforded by its silence and solitude. This advantage is, how- 1567.] BOTHWELL. 189 Suspense. The explosion. Flight of the criminals ever, sometimes well-nigh balanced by the stim- ulus which its mysterious solemnity brings to the stings of remorse and terror. BothweL himself felt anxious and agitated. They wait- zd and waited, but it seemed as if their dread- ful suspense would never end. Bothwell bo- came desperate. He wanted to get over the wall again and look in at the window, to see if the slow match had not gone out. The rest restrained him. At length the explosion came like a clap of thunder. The flash brightened for an instant over the whole sky, and the re- port roused the sleeping inhabitants of Edin burgh from their slumbers, throwing the whole city into sudden consternation. The perpetrators of the deed, finding that their work was done, fled immediately. They tried various plans to avoid the sentinels at the gates of the city, as well as the persons who were beginning to come toward the scene of the explosion. When they reached the palace f Holyrood, they were challenged by the sen- tinel on duty there. They said that they were friends of Earl Bothwell, bringing dispatches to him from the country. The sentinel asked them if they knew what was the cause of that loud .explosion. They said they did not, and passed on. 190 MARY Q.UEEN UK Seers [1567 Mary's indignation. Bothwell arrested, tried, and acquitted Bothwell went to his room, called for a drink, undressed himself, and went to bed. Half an hour afterward, messengers came to awake* him, and inform him that the king's house had been blown up with gunpowder, and the king himself killed by the explosion. He rose with an appearance of great astonishment and indig- nation, and, after conferring with some of the other nobles, concluded to go and communicate the event to the queen. The queen was over- whelmed with astonishment and indignation too. The destruction of Darnley in such a man- ner as this, of course produced a vast sensation all over Scotland. Every body was on the alert to discover the authors of the crime. Rewards were offered ; proclamations were made. Ru- mors began to circulate that Bothwell was the criminal. He was accused by anonymous placards put up at night in Edinburgh. Len- nox, Darnley 's father, demanded his trial ; and a trial was ordered. The circumstances of the trial were such, however, and BoinwelFs powei ami desperate recklessness were so great, thai Lennox, when the time came, did not appear Ho said he had not force enough at his com- mand to come safely into court. There being no testimony offered, Bothwell was acquitted; 1567.] BOTHWELL. 191 Both well's challenge. Hia plan to many Mary and he immediately afterward issued his proc- lamation, offering to fight any man who should Intimate, in any way, that he was concerned in the murder of the king. Thus Bothwell estab- lished his innocence ; at least, no man dared to gainsay it. Darnley was murdered in February. Both- well was tried and acquitted in April. Imme- diately afterward, he took measures for private- ly making known to the leading nobles that it was his design to marry the queen, and for se- curing their concurrence in the plan. They concurred : or at least, perhaps for fear of dis- pleasing such a desperado, said what he under- stood to mean that they concurred. The queen heard the reports of such a design, and said, as ladies often do in similar cases, that she did not know what people meant by such reports ; there was no foundation for them whatever. Toward the end of April, Mary was about returning from the castle of Stirling to Edin- ourgh with a small escort of troops and attend- ants. Melville was in her train. Bothwell get out at the head of a force of more than five hundred men to intercept her. Mary lodged one night, on her way, at Linlithgow, the pal- ace where she was born, and the next morning 192 MAH\ QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567 fhe abduction. Mary's confinement at 'Out bar. Her account of It was quietly pursuing her journey, when Both well came up at the head of his troops. Resist* incc was vain. Botnwell advanced to Mary 'a horso, and, taking the bridle, led her away. A few of her principal followers were taken pris- oners too, and the rest were dismissed. Both- well took his captive across the country by a rapid flight to his castle of Dunbar. The at tendants w ho were taken with her were releas- ed, and she remained in the Castle of Dunbar for ten days, entirely in Both well's power. According to the account which Mary her- self gives of what took place during this cap- tivity, she at first reproached Bothwell bitterly for the ungrateful and cruel return he was mak- ing for all her kindness to him, by such a deed of violence and wrong, and begged and entreat- ed him to let her go. Bothwell replied that he knew that it was wrong for him to treat his sovereign so rudely, but that he was impelled to it by the circumstances of the case, and by love \fhich he felt for her, which was too strong for him to control. He then entreated her tc become his wife; he complained of the bitter Hostility Yrhich he had always been subject to from his enemies, and that he could have no safeguard from this hostility in time to come. 1567.J BOTH WELL. 195 Buthwell entreats Mary to marry him. She consent* but in her favor ; and he could not depend upon nny assurance of her favor less than her mak- ing him her husband. He protested that, if she would do so, he would never ask to share hei power, but would be content to be her faith- fill and devoted servant, as he had always been. [t was love, not ambition, he said, that animat- ed him, and he could not and would not be re- fused. Mary says that she was distressed and agitated beyond measure by the appeals and threats with which Both well accompanied his urgent entreaties. She tried every way to plan some mode of escape. Nobody came to her rescue. She was entirely alone, and in Both- well's power. Bothweil assured her that the leading nobles of her court were in favor of the marriage, and showed her a written agreement signed by them to this effect, At length, wearied and exhausted, she was finally over- come by his urgency, and yielding partly to his persuasions, and partly, as she says, to fi rce, gave herself up to his power. Mary remained at D unbar about ten days, daring which time Bothweil sued out and ok tained a divorce from his wife. His wife, feel- ing, perhaps, resentment more than grief, saed, at the same time, for a divorce from him. Both 196 MARY QUEEN OF Scjis. [1557 Bothwoil's pardon. The marriage. Doubts in respect to Mary well then sallied forth from his fastness at Dunbar, and, taking Mary with him, went to Edinburgh, and took up his abode in the cas- tle there, as that fortress was then under his power. Mary soon after appeared in public and stated that she was now entirely free, and that, although Bothwell had done wrong in car rying her away by violence, still he had treated her since in so respectful a manner, that she had pardoned him, and had received him into favor again. A short time after this they were married. The ceremony was performed in a very private and unostentatious manner, and took place in May, about three months after the murder of Darnley. By some persons Mary's account of the trans- actions at Dunbar is believed. Others think that the whole affair was all a preconcerted plan, and that the appearance of resistance on her part was only for show, to justify, in some degree, in the eyes of the world, so imprudeu' and inexcusable a marriage. A great manj volumes have been written on the question without making any progress toward a Lettle* ment of it. It is one of those cases where, tha evidence being complicated, conflicting, and in- complete, the mind is swayed by the feelings, 1567.1 BOTHWELL. 197 Influence of beauty and misfortune. and the readers of the story decide more or less favorably for the unhappy queen, according tc the warmth of the interest awakened in their "earts by beauty and misfortune. 198 MARY Q.UEEN OF SCOTS. [1567 Mary's infatuation. Excusr.a for be * CHAPTER IX. THE FALL OF BOTHWELL. nPIHE course which Mary pursued after hei -*- liberation from Dunbar in yielding to Both- well's wishes, pardoning his violence, receiving him again into favor, and becoming his wife, is one of the most extraordinary instances of the infatuation produced by love that has ever oc- curred. If the -story had been fiction instead of truth, it would have been pronounced extrav- agant and impossible. As it was, the wholo country was astonished and confounded at such a rapid succession of desperate and unaccount- able crimes. Mary herself seems to have been hurried through these terrible scenes in a sort of delirium of excitement, produced by the strange circumstances of the case, and the wild and un controllable agitations to which they gave rise. Such was, however, at the time, and such continues to be still, the feeling of interest in Mary's character and misfortunes, that but few open and direct censures of her conduct wer" 1567.] FALL OF UO-IIIWELL. 199 Mary's deep depression. Interposition of the King of Franc* then, or have been since, expressed. People execrated Bothwell, but they were silent in re- spect to Mary. It was soon plain, however, that she had greatly sunk in their regard, and that the more they reflected upon the circum- stances of the case, the deeper she was sinking. When the excitement, too, began to pass away from her own mind, it left behind it a gnawing inquietude and sense of guilt, which gre tv grad- ually more and more intense, until, at length, she sunk under the stings of remorse and de- spair. Her sufferings were increased by the evi dences which were continually coming to her mind of the strong degree of disapprobation with which her conduct began soon every where to be regarded. Wherever Scotchmen traveled, they found themselves reproached with the deeds of violence and crime of which their country had been the scene. Marv's relatives and friends in France wrote to her, expressing cheir surprise and grief at such proceedings. The King of France had sent, a short time be. /ore, a special embassador for the purpose of doing something, if possible, to discover and punish the murderers of Darnley. His name was Le Croc. He was an aged and venerable 200 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [I5b7 Bothwell at Edinburgh Castle. He is hated by the people man, of great prudence and discretion, well qualified to discover and pursue the way of es ?ape from the difficulties in which Mary had nvolved herself, if any such way could be found. Ce arrived before the day of Mary's marriage, but he refused to take any part, or even to be present, at the ceremony. In the mean time, Bothwell continued in Ed inburgh Castle for a while, under the protec- tion of a strong guard. People considered this guard as intended to prevent Mary's escape, and many thought that she was detained, after all, against her will, and that her admissions that she was free were only made at the insti- gation of Bothwell, and from fear of his terri- ble power. The other nobles and the people of Scotland began to grow more and more uneasy The fear of Bothwell began to be changed into hatred, and the more powerful nobles commenced forming plans for combining together, and res auing, as they said, Mary out of his power. Bothwell made no attempts to conciliate .ixm. lie assumed an air and tone of defiance. He increased his forces. He conceived the plan of going to Stirling CastJe to seize the young prince, who \vas residing there under the charge of persons to vhom his education had been in- 1567.] FALL OF BOTHWELL. 201 The opposing parties. How far Mary was responsibly trusted. He said to his followers that James should never do any thing to avenge his father's death, if he could once get him into his hands The other nobles formed a league to counteract these designs. They began to assemble their forces, and every thing threatened an outbreak of civil war. The marriage took place about the middle of May, and within a fortnight from that time the lines began to be pretty definitely drawn between the two great parties, the queen and Bothwell on one side, and the insurgent nobles on the other, each party claiming to be friends of the queen. Whatever was done on Both- well's side was, of course, in the queen's name, though it is very doubtful how far she was re- sponsible for what was done, or how far, on the other hand, she merely aided, under the influ- ence of a species of compulsion, in carrying into execution Bothwell's measures. We must say, in narrating the history, that the queen did this and thit, and must leave the reader to judge whether it was herself, or Bothwell acting through her, who was the real agent in the transactions described. Stirling Castle, where the young princo was residing, is northwest of Edinburgh. The con- 202 MARY QUEE.* OF SCOTS. [157 Melrose. Ruins of the abbey. Mary's proclamation federate lords were assembling in that vicinity. The border country between England and Scot land is of course south. In the midst of this border country is the ancient town of Melrose, where there was, in former days, a very rich and magnificent abbey, the ruins of which, to this day, form one of the most attractive ob- jects of interest in the whole island of Great Britain. The region is now the abode of peace, and quietness, and plenty, though in Mary's day it was the scene of continual turmoil and war. It is now the favorite retreat of poets and philosophers, who seek their residences thero on account of its stillness and peace. Sir Wal- ter Scott's Abbotsford is a few miles from Mel- rose. About a fortnight after Mary's marriage she issued a proclamation ordering the military chiefs in her kingdom to assemble at Melrose, with their followers, to accompany her on an expedition through the border country, to sup- press some disorders there. The nobles con- sidered this as only a scheme of Bothwell's tc draw them away from the neighborhood of Stir- ling, so that he might go and get possession ol the young prince. Rumors of this spread abound the country, and tb'/ forces, instead of 1567,] FALL OF BGTHWELL. 203 The prince's lords. Bothwcll alarmed. Borthwick Cwtla proceeding to Melrose, began to assemble in the neighborhood of Stirling, for the protection of the prince. The lords under whose banners? they gathered assumed the name of the prince's lords, and they called upon the people to take np arms in defense of young James's person and lights. The prince's lords soon began to con- centrate their forces about Edinburgh, and Bothwell was alarmed for his safety. He had reason to fear that the governor of Edinburgh Castle was on their side, and that he might sud- denly sally forth with a body of his forces down the High Street to Holyrood, and take him pris- oner. He accordingly began to think it neces- sary to retreat. Now Bothwell had, among his other posses- sions, a certain castle called Borthwick Castle, a few miles south of Edinburgh. It was sit- uated on a little swell of land in a beautiful val- ley. It was surrounded with groves of trees, and from the windows and walls of the castlo there was an extended view over the beautiful and fertile fields of the valley. This castle was oxtensivc and strong. It consisted of one great cquare tower, surrounded and protected tj walls and bastions, and was approached by a draw bridge. In the sudden emergency in which 204 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567. Bothwell's retreat He is besieged. Makes hie escape. Bothwell found himself placed, this fortress seemed to be the most convenient and the rarest retreat. On the 6th of June, he accord- ingly left Edinburgh with as large a force as he had at command, and rode rapidly across the country with the queen, and established him- self at Borthwick. The prince's lords, taking fresh courage from the evidence of Bothwell's weakness and fear, immediately marched from Stirling, passed by Edinbtirgh, and almost immediately after Both- well and the queen had got safely, as they im- agined, established in the place of their retreat, they found their castle surrounded and hemmed in on all sides by hostile forces, which filled tht whole valley. The castle was strong, but not strong enough to withstand a siege from such an army. Bothwell accordingly determined to retreat to his castle of Dunbar, which, being on a rocky promontory, jutting into the sea, and more remote from the heart of the country, was less accessible, and more safe than Borth- *;ick. He contrived, though with great diffi- culty, to make his escape with the queen, through the ranks of his enemies. It is said that the queen was disguised in male attire, At any rate, they made their escape, they reach- 1567.] FALL OF BOTHWELL. 205 Bothwell at Dunbar. Proclamation. Approaching contest ed Dunbar, and Mary, or Bothwell in her name, immediately issued a proclamation, calling upon all her faithful subjects to assemble in arms, to deliver her from her dangers. At the same time, the prince's lords issued their proclamation, call- ing upon all faithful subjects to assemble with them, to aid them in delivering the queen from the tyrant who held her captive. The faithful subjects were at a loss which proclamation to obey. By far the greater num ber joined the insurgents. Some thousands, however, went to Dunbar. With this force the queen and Bothwell sallied forth, about the middle of June, to meet the prince's lords, or the insurgents, as they called them, to settle the question at issue by the kind of ballot with which such questions were generally settled in those days. Mary had a proclamation read at the head of her army, now that she supposed she was oil the eve of battle, in which she explained tho causes of the quarrel. The proclamation stated that the marriage was Mary's free act, and tha t, altiough it was in some respects an extraordi. oary one, still the circumstances were such that *he could not do otherwise than she had done. F >r ten days she had bo^n in Both well's pew- 206 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567. Mary's appeal. Approach of the prince's lords. Carberry Hill ei in his castle at Dunbar, and not an arm ha.i been raised for her deliverance. Her subjocts ought to have interposed then, if they were in- tending really to rescue her from Bothwoll'e power. They had done nothing then, but now, when she had been compelled, by the cruel cir- cumstances of her condition, to marry Both- well when the act was done, and could no lon- ger be recalled, they had taken up arms against her, and compelled her to take the field in her own defense. The army rf the prince's lords, with Mary's most determined enemies at their head, ad- vanced to meet the queen's forces. The queen finally took her post on an elevated piece of ground called Carberry Hill. Carberry is an old Scotch name for gooseberry. Carberry Hill is a few miles to the eastward of Edinburgh, near Dalkeith. Here the two armies were drawn up, opposite to each other, in hostile ar- ray. Le Croc, the aged and venerable French em ba^sador, made a great effort to effect an ac commodation and prevent a battle. He first went to the queen and obtained authority from her to offer terms of peace, and then went to tha :amp of the prince's lords and proposed that 1567.] FALL OF BOTHAVEL;,. 207 Efforts of Le Croc to effect an accommodation. BothwelTa challenge: they should lay down their arms and submit to the queen's authority, and that she would for- give and forget what they had done. They re- j Lied that they had done no wrong, and asked (or no pardon ; that they were not in arms against the queen's authority, but in favor of it. They sought only to deliver her from the durance in which she was held, and to bring to punishment the murderers of her husband, who- ever they might be. Le Croc went back and forth several times, vainly endeavoring to ef- fect an accommodation, and finally, giving up in despair, he returned to Edinburgh, leaving the contending parties to settle the contest in their own way. Bothwell now sent a herald to the camp of his enemies, challenging any one of them to meet him, and settle the question of his guilt or innocence by single combat. This proposi- tion was not quite so absurd in those days as it, would be now, foi it was not an uncommon thing, in the Middle Ages, to try in this * r aj questions of crime. Many negotiations ensuec on Bothwell's proposal. One or two person* expressed themselves ready to accept the chal- lenge. Bothwell objected to them on account of their rank being inferior to his, but said he 208 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567 Mary sends for Grange. would fight Morton, if Morton womd accept his challenge. Morton had been his accomplice ill the murder of Darnley, but had afterward joined the party of Bothwell's foes. It would havo been a singular spectacle to see one of these confederates in the commission of a crime con- tending desperately in single combat to settle the question of the guilt or innocence of the other. The combat, however, did not take place. After many negotiations on the subject, the plan was abandoned, each party charging the other with declining the contest. The queen and Bothwell, in the mean time, found such evidences of strength on the part of their ene- mies, and felt probably, in their own hearts, sc much of that faintness and misgiving under which human energy almost always sinks when the tide begins to turn against it, after the com- mission of wrong, that they began to feel dis- heartened and discouraged. The queen sent to the opposite camp with a request that a certain personage, the Laird of Grange, in whom ali parties had great confidence, should come to her that she might make one more effort at recon- ciliation. Grange, after consulting with the prince's lords, made a proposition to Mary, whiob 1567.] FALL OF BOTHWELL. 209 Proposition of Grange. Dismissal of BothwelL she finally concluded to accept. It was as fol- lov;s : They proposed that Mary should come ovcjr to their camp, not saying very distinctly wheth- er she was to come as their captive or as their queen. The event showed that it was in the former capacity that they intended to receive her, though they were probably willing that she should understand that it was in the latter. At all events, the proposition itself did not make it very clear what her position would be ; and the poor queen, distracted by the difficulties which surrounded her, and overwhelmed with agitation and fear, could not press very strongly for precise stipulations. In respect to Both- well, they compromised the question by agree- ing that, as he was under suspicion in respect to the murder of Darnley, he should not accom- pany the queen, but should be dismissed upon t-he field ; that is, allowed to depart, without molestation, wherever he should choose to go. This plan was finally adopted. The queen bade Bothwell farewell, and he went away reluctant- ly and in great apparent displeasure. He had, in fact, with his characteristic ferocity, attempt ed to shoot Grange pending the negotiation Ho mounted his horse, and, with a few attend- 14 210 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567 Question of Mary's guilt The supposition against her ants, rode off and sought a retreat once more upon his rock at Dunbar. From all the evidence which has come down io us, it seems impossible to ascertain whether Mary desired to be released from Bothwell'fl power, and was glad when the release came, or whether she still loved him, and was plan- ning a reunion, so soon as a reunion should be possible. One party at that time maintained, and a large class of writers and readers since have concurred in the opinion, that Mary was in love with Bothwell before Darnley's death ; that she connived with him in the plan for Darn- ley's murder ; that she was a consenting party to the abduction, and the spending of the ten days at Dunbar Castle, in his power ; that the marriage was the end at which she herself, as well as Bothwell, had been all the time aim ing ; and then, when at last she surrendered her- self to the prince's lords at Carberry Hill, it was only yielding unwillingly to the necessity of a temporary separation from her lawless husban.l, with a view of reinstating him in favor auj power at the earliest opportunity. Another party, both among her people at the time and among the writers and readers who have since paid attention to her story, think I567.J FALL OF BOTIIWELL. The supposition in her favor. that she never loved Bothwell. and that, though she valued his services as a bold and energetic soldier, she had no collusion with him whatever in respect to Darnley's murder. They think that, though she must have felt in some sense relieved of a burden by Darnley's death, she did not in any degree aid in or justify the crime, and that she had no reason for suppos- ing that Bothwell had any share in the com- mission of it. They think, also, that her con- senting to marry Bothwell is to be accounted for by her natural desir* to seek shelter, under some wing or other, from the terrible storms which were raging around her ; and being de- serted, as she thought, by every body else, and moved by his passionate love and devotion, she imprudently gave herself to him ; that she lamented the act as soon as it was done, but that it was then too late to retrieve tne step ; and that, harassed and in despair, she knew not what to do, but that she hailed the rising of her nobles as affording the only prom- ise of deliverance, and came forth from Dunbai to meet them with the secret purpose of deliv- ering herself into their hands. The question which of these two suppositions is the correct one lias been discussed a groat 212 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. (1667. fhe box of love letter*. Their genuineness susicted deal, without the possibility of arriving at any satisfactory conclusion. A parcel of letters were produced by Mary's enemies, some time after this, which they said were Mary's letters to Bothwell before her husband Darnley's death. They say they took the letters from a man named Dalgleish, one of Bothwell's servants, who was carrying them from Holyrood to Dun- bar Castle, just after Mary and Bothwell fled to Borthwick. They were contained in a small gilded box or coffer, with the letter F upon it, under a crown ; which mark naturally suggests to our minds Mary's first husband, Francis, the king of France. Dalgleish said that Bothwell sent him for this box, charging him to convey it with all care to Dunbar Castle. The letters purport to be from Mary to Bothwell, and to have been written before Darnley's death. They evince a strong affection for the person to whom they are addressed, and seem conclusively to prove the unlawful attachment between the parties, provided that their genuineness is ac- knowledged. But this genuineness is denied Mary's friends maintain that they are forge' ries, prepared by her enemies to justify their own wrong. Many volumes have been wri tten an the question of the genuineness of these lovr I567.| FALL OF BCTHWELL. 213 Disposal of Mary. Return to Edinburgh letters, as they are called, and there is perhaps .low no probability that the question will ever be settled. Whatever doubt there may be about these tnings, there is none about the events which followed. After Mary had surrendered herself to her nobles they took her to the camp, she herself riding on horseback, and Grange walk- ing by her side. As she advanced to meet the nobles who had combined against her, she said to them that she had concluded to come over to them, not from fear, or from doubt what the issue would have been if she had fought the battle, but only because she wanted to spare the effusion of Christian blood, especially the blood of her own subjects. She had therefore decided to submit herself to their counsels, trusting that they would treat her as their rightful queen. The nobles made little reply to this address, but prepared to return to Edin- burgh with their prize. The people of Edinburgh, who had heanf what turn the affair had taken, flocked out upon the roads to see the queen return. The) lined the waysides to gaze upon the great cav- alcade as it passed. The nobles who conducted Mary thus back toward her capital had a ban- 214 MARY QUEEN OP SCOTS. [1567 Rudeness of the populace ner prepared, or allowed one to be prepared, on which was a painting representing the lead body of Darnley, and the young prince Jame* kneeling near him, and calling on Gor 1 to avenge his cause. Mary came on, in the procession, after this symbol. They might perhaps say that it was not intended to wound her feelings, and was not of a nature to do it, unless she con- sidered herself as taking sides with the muiv derers of her husband. She, however, knew very well that she was so regarded by great numbers of the populace assembled, and that the effect of such an effigy carried before hei was to hold her up to public obloquy. The populace did, in fact, taunt and reproach her as she proceeded, and she rode into Edinburgh, evincing all the way extreme mental suffering by her agitation and her tears. She expected that they were at least to take her to Holyrood; but no, they turned at the gate to enter the city. Mary protested earn- estly against this, and called, half frant.c, on all who heard her to come to her rescue. But no one interfered. They took her to the pro- vost's house, and lodged her there for the night, and the crowd which had assembled to observe those proceedings gradually dispersed Ther? 1567.] FALL OF BOIHWELL 215 Bothvrell's retreat. He is pursued seemed, however, in a day or two, to be some symptoms of a reaction in favor of the *allen queen ; and, to guard against the possibility of a rescue, the lords took Mary to Holyrood again, and began immediately to make ar- rangements for some more safe place of con iinement still. In the mean time, Bothwell went from Car- berry Hill to his castle at Dunbar, revolving moodily in his mind his altered fortunes. After some time he found himself not safe in this place of refuge, and so he retreated to the north, to some estates he had there, in the re- mote Highlands. A detachment of forces was sent in pursuit of him. Now there are, north of Scotland, some groups of dismal islands, the summits of submerged mountains and rocks, rising in dark and sublime, but gloomy gran- deur, from the midst of cold and tempestuous seas. Both well, finding himself pursued, un. dertook to escape by ship to these islands His pursuers, headed by Grange, who had ne- gotiated at Carberry for the surrender of tho queen, embarked in other vessels, and pressed on after him. At one time they almost over, took him, and would have captured him and nil his company were it not that thny got en. 216 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567 Bothwells narrow escape lie turna pirat*. tangled among some shoals. Grange's sail- ors said they must not proceed. Grange, eager to seize his prey, insisted on their mak> big sail and pressing forward. The conse* quence was, they ran the vessels aground, and Bothwell escaped in a small boat. As it was, however, they seized some of his accomplices, and brought them back to Edinburgh. These men were afterward tried, and some of them were executed ; and it was at their trial, and through the confessions they made, that the (acts were brought to light which have been related in this narrative. Bothwell, now a fugitive and an exile, but still retaining his desperate and lawless char- acter, became a pirate, and attempted to live by robbing the commerce of the German Ocean. Rumor is the only historian, in ordinary cases, to record the events in the life of a pirate ; and she, in this case, sent word, from time to time, to Scotland, of the robberies and murders that the desperado committed ; of an expedition fit- ted out against him by the King of Denmark , of his being taken and carried into a Dankn port ; of his being held in imprisonment for a long period there, in a gloomy dungeon ; of his res^ ss spirit chafing itself in useless struggles 1567.1 FALL OF BOTHWEM,. 217 Bothwell in prison. Ilia miserable cnA against his fate, and sinking gradually, at last under tho burdens of remorse for past crimes, and despair of any earthly deliverance ; of hia insanity, and, finally, of his miserable end. 218 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567 Grange of Kircaldy. Mary's letter. CHAPTER X. LOCH LEVEN CASTLE. GRANGE, or, as he is sometimes called KircalJy, his title in full being Grange ol Kircaldy, was a man of integrity and honor , and he, having been the negotiator through whose intervention Mary gave herself up, felt himself bound to see that the stipulations on the part of the nobles should be honorably ful- filled. He did all in his power to protect Mary from insult on the journey, and he struck with his sword and drove away some of the populace who were addressing her with taunts and re proaches. When he found that the nobles were confining her, and treating her so much more like a captive than like a queen, he remonstra ted with them. They silenced him by show, ing him a letter, which they said they had in- tercepted on its way from Mary tc Both well It was written, they said, on the night of Ma. ?y's arrival at Edinburgh It assured Both- f'e.il that she retained an unaltered affection 1567 j LOCH LEVEN CASTLE. 219 Removal o?Mary! A ride at night for him ; that her consenting to be separated from him at Carberry Hill was a matter of mere necessity, and that she should rejoin him as soon as it was in her power to do so. Thla letter showed, they said, that, after all, Mary was not, as they had supposed, Bothwell's cap- tive and victim, but that she was his accom- plice and friend ; and that, now that they had discovered their mistake, they must treat Mary, as well a, j . Both well, as an enemy, and take ef- fectual means to protect themselves from the one as well as from the other. Mary's friends maintain that this letter was a forgery. Tiiey accordingly took Mary, as has been already stated, from the provost's house in Ed- inburgh down to Holyrood House, which was just without the city. This, however, was onl~ 7 a temporary change. That night they came into the palace, and directed Mary to rise and put on a traveling dress which they brought her. They did not tell her where she was to go, but simply ordered her to follow them. It was midnight. They took her forth from the palace, mounted her upon a horse, and, with Ruthven and Lindsay, two of the murderers of Rizzio, for an escort, they rode away. They traveled all night, crossed the River F'*th and 220 MAK* QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1567 Loch Leven Castle. The square to\rir arrived in the morning at the Castle of Loch Leven. The Castle of Loch Leven is on a small isl and in the middle of the loch. It is nearly no/th from Edinburgh. The castle buildings covered at that time about one half of the island, th leave. He was soon after proclaimed regent. A Par- liament was assembled to sanction all theso proceedings, and the new government was es- tablished, apparently upon a firm foundation. Mary remained, during the winter, in captiv- 1508.J LOCH LEVEN CASTLE. 231 rhc young Douglases. Their interest in Mary ity, earnestly desiring, however, notwithstand- ing Murray's warning, to find some way of es. oapo. fShe knew that there must be many who had remained friends to her cause. She thought that if she could once make her escape from her prison, these friends would rally around her, and that she could thus, perhaps, regain her throne again. But strictly watched as she was, and in a prison which was surrounded by the waters of a lake, all hope of escape seemed to be taken away. Now there were, in the family of the Lord Douglas at the castle, two young men, George and William Douglas. The oldest, George, was about twenty-five years of age, and the youngest was seventeen. George was the son of Lord and Lady Douglas who kept the cas- tle. William was an orphan boy, a relative, who, having no home, had been received into the family. These young men soon began tc feel a strong interest in the beautiful captivo confined in their father's castle, and, oeforf; many months, this interest became so strong that they began to feel willing to incur the dangers and responsibilities of aiding her in ef- fecting her escape. They had secret confer- ences with Mary on the subject. They went 232 MARY QUEEN OF JScoxs. |l5bS Wan for Mary's escape. The laundres* to the shore on various pretexts, and contrived to make their plans known to Mary's friends, that they might be ready to receive her in case they should succeed. The plan at length was ripe for execution It was arranged thus. The castle not being large, there was not space within its walls for all the accommodations required for its in- mates ; much was done on the shore, where there was quite a little village of attendants and dependents pertaining to the castle. This little village has since grown into a flourishing manufacturing town, where a great variety of plaids, and tartans, and other Scotch fabrics are made. Its name is Kinross. Communica- tion with this part of the shore was then, as now, kept up by boats, which generally then belonged to the castle, though now to the town. On the day when Mary was to attempt hei escape, a servant woman was brought by one of the castle boats from the shore with a bun- die of clothes for Mary. Mary, whose health and strength had been impaired by her confine* ment and sufferings, was often in her bed She was so at this time, though perhaps she was feigning now more feebleness than she really felt. The servant woman came into hei 1568.] LOCH LEVEN CASTLE. 233 The disguise. Escape. Discovery. apartment and undressed herself, while Mary rose, took the dress which she laid aside, and put it on as a disguise. The woman took Mary's place in bed. Mary covered her fa^e with a muffler, and, taking another bundle in her hand to assist in her disguise, she passed across the court, issued from the castle gate, went to the landing stairs, and stepped into the boat for the men to row hor to the shore. The oarsmen, who belonged to the castle, supposing that all was right, pushed off, and began to row toward the land. As they were crossing the water, however, they observed that their passenger was very particular to keep hei face covered, and attempted to pull away the muffler, saying, "Let us see what kind of a looking damsel this is." Mary, in alarm, put up her hands to her face to hold the mufflei there. The smooth, white, and delicate fingers revealed to the men at once that they were car- rying away a lady in disguise. Mary, finding that concealment was no longer possible, dropped her muffler, looked upon the men with compo sura and dignity, told them that she was theii queen, that they were bound by their allegiance fo her to obey her commands, and she command- ed them to go on and row her to the shore. 234 MARY Q.UEEN OF SCOTS. Mary's return. Banishment of George Dougla* The men decided, however, that their alle giance was due to the lord of the castle rathe? than to the helpless captive trying to escapo from it They told her that they must return. Mary was not only disappointed at the failure of her plans, but she was now anxious lest her friends, the young Douglases, should be impli- cated in the attempt, and should suffer in con- sequence of it. The men, however, solemnly promised her, that if she would quietly return, they would not make the circumstances known. The secret, however, was too great a secret to be kept. In a few days it all came to light Lord and Lady Douglas were very angry with their son. and banished him, together with two of Mary's servants, from the castle. What- eve-r share young William Douglas had in the scheme was not found out, and he was suffered to remain. George Douglas went only to Kin- ross. He remained there watching for another opportunity to help Mary to her freedom. In the mean time, the watch and ward helc over Mary was more strict and rigorous that f?ver. her keepers being resolved to double their vigilance, while George and William, on the other hand, resolved to redouble their exertions to find some means to circumvent it. William, 1568.] LOCH LEV ETC CASTLE. 237 Secret communications. New plan of escape who was only a boy of seventeen, and who re- mained within the castle, acted his part in a very sagacious and admirable manner. He was silent; and assumed a thoughtless and uncon- cerned manner in his general deportment, which put every one off their guard in respect to him George, who was at Kinross, held frequent com- munications with the Hamilton lords, encour- aging them to hope for Mary's escape, and lead- ing them to continue in combination, and to be ready to act at a moment's warning. They communicated with each other, too, by secret means, across the lake, and with Mary in her solitary tower. It is said that George, wishing to make Mary understand that their plans for rescuing her were not abandoned, and not hav- ing the opportunity to do so directly, sent her a picture of the mouse liberating the lion from his snares, hoping that she would draw from the picture the inference which he intended. At length the time arrived for another at- tempt. It was about the first of May. Bj boking at the engraving of Loch Leven Castle, it will be seen that there was a window in Ma- ry's tower looking out over the water. George Douglas's plan was to bring a boat up to this window in the night, and take Mary down the 238 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1568 The postern gate. Liberation of Mary. Jane Kennedy wall into it. The place of egress by which Mary escaped is called in some of the ac- counts a postern gate, and yet tradition at the oastlc says that it was through this window. It is not improbable that this window might have been intended to be used sometimes as a postern gate, and that the iron grating with which it was guarded was made to open and shut, the key being kept with the other keys of the castle. The time for the attempt was fixed upon for Sunday night, on the 2d of May. George Douglas was ready with the boat early in the evening. When it was dark, he rowed cau- tiously across the water, and took his position under Mary's window. William Douglas was in the mean time at supper in the great square tower with his father and mother. The keys were lying upon the table. He contrived to get them into his possession, and then cautiously stole away. He locked the tower as he came jut, went across the court to Mary's room, lib- erated her through the postern window, and do- scended with her into the boat. One rf ;iei maids, whose name was Jane Kennedy, was to have accompanied her, but, in their eagerness to make sure of Mary, they forgot or neglected 1568.] LOCH LEVEN CASTLE. 239 fhe escape. Mary's joy. Popular feeling her, and she had to leap down after them, which feat she accomplished without any serious in- jury. The boat pushed off immediately, and tho Douglases began to pull hard for the shore. They threw the keys of the castle into the lake, as if the impossibility of recovering them, in that case, made the imprisonment of the family more secure. The whole party were, of course, in the highest state of excitement and agitation. Jane Kennedy helped to row, and it is said tha? even Mary applied her strength to one of the oars. They landed safely on the south side of the loch, far from Kinross. Several of the Hamil- ton lords were ready there to receive the fugi- tive. They mounted her on horseback, and galloped away. There was a strong party to escort her. They rode hard all night, and tho next morning they arrived safely at Hamilton. "Now," said Mary, "I am once more a queen." It was true. She was again a queen. Pop- ular feeling ebbs and flows with prodigious force, md the change from one state to the other de- pends, sometimes, on very accidental causes The news of Mary's escape spread rapidly over the land. Her friends were encouraged and emboldened. Sympathies, long dormant and 240 MARY QUEEN jv SCOTS. [15Gb Mary a proclamation. Ruins of Lich Levcn Gaelic inert, were awakened in her favor. She issued a proclamation, declaring that her abdication had been forced upon her, and, as such, waa lull and void. She summoned Murray to sur- render his powers as regent, and to come and receive orders from her. She called upon all her faithful subjects to take up arms and gather around her standard. Murray refused to obey, but large masses of the people gave in th(-.ir ad- hesion to their lioerated queen, and flocked to Hamilton to enter into her service. In a week Mary found herself at the head of an army of six thousand men. The Castle of Loch Leven is now a solitan ruin. The waters of the loch have been low- ered by means of an excavation of the outlet, and a portion of land has been left bare around the walls, which the propiietor has planted with tiees. Visitors are taken from Kinross in a boat to view the scene. The square tower, though roofless and desoLite, still stands. The window in the second story, which served as the entrance, and the one above, where the chain was worked, with the deep furrows in the sil! cut by its friction, are shown by the guide. The court-yard is overgrown with weeds, and en 1 5GS.J LOCH LEVEN CASTLE. 243 T&e octagonal tower. cumbered with fallen stones and old founda- tions. The chapel is gone, though its outline may be still traced in the ruins of its walls. The octagonal tower which Mary occupied re- mains, and the visitors, climbing up by the nar- row stone stairs in the wall, look out at the win- dow over the waters of the loch and the distant hills, and try to recreate in imagination the scene which the apartment presented when the on. b&ppy captite was there. ^44 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1568 Dumbarton Castle. The "ttuation and anpeet H CHAPTER XI. THE LONG CAPTIVITY AMILTON, which had been thus far tne queen's place of rendezvous, was a palace rather than a castle, and therefore not a place of defense. It was situated, as has been al- ready stated, on the River Clyde, above, Glas- gow; that is, toward the southeast of it, the River Clyde flowing toward the northwest. The Castle of Dumbarton, which has already been mentioned as the place from which Mary em- barked for France in her early childhood, was below Glasgow, on the northern shore of the river. It stands there still in good repair, and is well garrisoned ; it crowns a rock which rises abruptly from the midst of a compai tiively level country, smiling with villages and culti- vated fields, and frowns sternly upon the peace ful steamers and merchant sir ps which are con tinually gliding along under its guns, up and down the Clyde. Queen Mary concluded to move forward It 1 15(58'.] THE LONG CAPTIVITY. 246 Attempt to retreat to Dumbarton. Mary's forces defeated Dumbarton, it being a place of greater safety than Hamilton. Murray gathered his forces to intercept her march. The two armies met near Glasgow, as the queen was moving westward, lown the river. There was a piece of rising ground between them, which each party was eager to ascend before the other should reach it. The leader of the forces on Murray's side ordered every horseman to take up a foot-sol- dier behind him, and ride with all speed to the top of the hill. By this means the great body of Murray's troops were put in possession of the vantage ground. The queen's forces took post on another rising ground, less favorable, at a little distance. The place was called Langside. A cannonading was soon commenced, and a gen- eral battle ensued. Mary watched the progress of it with intense emotions. Her forces began soon to give way, and before many hours the\ were retreating in all directions, the whole coun- try being soon covered with the awful specta- cles which are afforded by one terrified and panic-stricken army flying befove the furious and triumphant rage of another. Mary gazed on the scene in an agony of grief and despair. A few faithful friends kept near her side, anil told her that she must hurry away. They 246 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1568 Mary's flight turned to the southward, and rode away from the ground. They pressed on as rapidly as pos- sible toward the southern coast, thinking that the only safety for Mary now was for her te make her escape from the country altogether; and go either to England or to France, in hopes of obtaining foreign aid to enable her to recover her throne. They at length reached the sea- coast. Mary was received into an abbey called Dundrennan, not far from the English frontier. Here she remained, with a few nobles and a small body of attendants, for two days, spend- ing the time in anxious consultations to determ- ine what should be done. Mary herself was in favor of going to England, and appealing to Elizabeth for protection and help. Her friends and advisers, knowing Elizabeth perhaps better than Mary did, recommended that she should sail for France, in hopes of awakening sympa- thy there. But Mary, as we might naturally have expected, considering the circumstances under which she left that country, found her- self extremely unwilling to go there as a fugi- tive and a suppliant. It was decided, finally, to go to England. The nearest stronghold in England was (Jar- lisle Castle, which was not very far from the 1568.] THE LONG CAPTIVITY. 2-i7 Carlisle Castle Mary's message to the governor /rentier. The boundary between the two king- doms is formed here by the Sol way Frith, a broad arm of the sea. Dundrennan Abbey, to svhich Mary had retreated, was near the town sf Kirkcudbright, which is, of course, on thu northern side of the Frith; it is also near the sea. Carlisle is further up the Frith, near where the River Solway empties into it, and is twenty or thirty miles from the shore. Mary sent a messenger to the governor of the castle at Carlisle to inquire whether he would receive and protect her. She could not, however, wait for an answer to this message, as the country was all in commotion, and she was exposed to an attack at any time from Mur- ray's forces, in which case, even if they should not succeed in taking her captive, they might effectually cut off her retreat from Scottish ground. She accordingly determined to pro ceed immediately, and receive the answer from the governor of the castle on the way. She set ou* on the 16th of May. Eighteen or I wont} persons constituted her train. This was all that remained to her of her army of six thousand men. SShe proceeded to the shore. They provided a fishing-boat for the voyage, furnishing it as cr mfortably for her as circum 245 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. ! owthcr. Mary's reception at the i stances would admit. She embarked, and sail- ed along the coast, eastward, up the Fiith, fur ilxmt eighteen miles, gazing mournfully upon ihp receding shore of her native land receding, in fact, now from her view forever. They landed at the most convenient port for reaching Carlisle, intending to take the remainder of the journey by land. In the mean time, the messenger, on his ai- rival at Carlisle, found that the governor had gone to London. His second in rank, whom he had left in command, immediately sent off an express after him to inform him of the event. The name of this lieutenant-governor was Low- ther. Lowther did all in Mary's favor that it was in his power to do. He directed the mes- senger to inform her that he had sent to Lon- don fo instructions from Elizabeth, but that, in the mean time, she would be a welcome guest in his castle, and that he would defend her there from all her enemies. He then sent around to all the nobles and men of distinction n the neighborhood, informing them of the ar- nval of the distinguished visitor, and having as. sembled them, they proceeded together toward the coast to meet and receive the unhappy fu- gitive with the honors becoming her rank. 1508.] THE LONG CAPTIVITY 249 IB Mary a guest or a prisoner I Precautions for guarding he? though such honors must have seemed littlt else than a mockery in her present condition. Mary was received at the castle as an hon* ored guest. It is, however, a curious circum- stance, that, in respect to the reception of princes and queens in royal castles, there is little or no distinction between the ceremonies which mark the honored guest and those which attend the helpless captive. Mary had a great many friends at first, who came out of Scotland to visit her. The authorities ordered repairs to be commenced upon the castle, .to fit it more suitably for so distinguished an inmate, and, in consequence of the making of these repairs, they found it in- convenient to admit visitors. Of course, Mary, being a mere guest, could not complain. She wanted to take a walk beyond the limits of the castle, upon a green to which there was access through a postern gate. Certainly : the gov- ernor made no objection to such a walk, but sent twenty or thirty armed men to accompany her. They might be considered either as an honorary escort, or as a guard to watch her movements, to prevent her escape, and to se- cure her return. At one time she proposed to go a hunting They allowed Iier to go, prop- er.'y attended. On her return, however, the 2oO MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1568 Elizabeth's h>7X>crisy. . Dishonorable prjpoett) officer reported to his superior that she was so admirable in her horsemanship, and could rido with so much fearlessness and speed, that he thought it might be possible for a body of her friends to come and carry her off, on some such occasion, back across the frontier. So they de- termined to tell Mary, when she wished to hunt again, that they thought it not safe for her to go ont on such excursions, as her enemies might make a sudden invasion and carry her away. The precautions would be just the same to pro- tect Mary from her enemies as to keep her from her friends. Elizabeth sent her captive cousin very kind and condoling messages, dispatching, however, by the same messenger stringent orders to tne commander of the castle to be sure and keep her safely. Mary asked lor an interview with Elizabeth. Elizabeth's officers replied that she could not properly admit Mary to a personal in- teiview until she had been, in some way or oth- er, cleared of the suspicion which attached to her in respect to the murder of Darnley. They pro. posed, moreover, that Mary should consent to have that question examined before some sort of court which Elizabeth might constitute for this purpose. Now it is a special point of honor 15(j&.j THE LONG CAPTIVITY. rvas Mary's cousin, or of Scotland, whose mon arch was her son. At length, however, in the year 1586, about eighteen years from the commencement of 1586.] THE END. Babington's conspiracy. Secret correspondence Mary's captivity, a plot was formed in which lie became so seriously involved as to subject aerself to the charge of aiding and abetting in ;he high treason of which the leaders of the plot wore proved to be guilty. This plot is known in history by the name of Babington's conspir- acy. Babington was a young gentleman of fortune, who lived in the heart of England. He was inspired with a strong degree of inter- est in Mary's fate, and wished to rescue her from her captivity. He joined himself with a large party of influential individuals of the Catholic faith. The conspirators opened nego- tiations with the courts of France and Spain for aid. They planned an insurrection, the as- sassination of Elizabeth, the rescue of Mary, and a general revolution. They maintained a correspondence with Mary. This correspond- ence was managed very secretly, the letters being placed by a confidential messenger in a certain hole in the castle wall where Queen Mary was confined. One day, when Mary was going out to ride, just as she was entering her carriage, officers suddenly arrived from London. They told her that the plot in which she had been engaged had been discovered; that fourteen of the prio- 262 MARY HUEEN OF SCOT? [15Sb Seizure of Mary's papers. Her son James, oipal conspirators had been hung, seven on each of two successive days, and that they had come to arrest some of her attendants and to seize her papers. They accordingly went into hei apartments, opened all her desks, trunks, and cabinets, seized her papers, and took them to London. Mary sat down in the scene of deso- lation and disorder which they left, and wept bitterly. The papers which were seized were taken to London, and Elizabeth's government began se- riously to agitate the question of bringing Mary herself to trial. One would have thought that, in her forlorn and desolate condition, she would have looked to her son for sympathy and aid But rival claimants to a crown can have little kind feeling to each other, even if they are moth- er and son. James, as he gradually approach- ed toward maturity, took sides against his moth- er. In fact, all Scotland was divided, and was for many years in a state of civil war : those who advocated Mary's right to the crown on one side, and James's adherents on the other. They were called king's men and queen's men. James was, of course, brought up in hostility to his mother, and he wrote to her, about a yeai before Babington's conspiracy, in terms so hna 1586.] THE END. 263 Elizabeth resolves to bring Mary to ttiaL Fotheringay Castle tile and so devoid of filial love, that his ingrati lide stung her to the heart. " Was it for this,' ; $he said, "that I made so many sacrifices, and andured so many trials on his account in his sarly years ? I have made it the whole busi- ness of my life to protect and secure his rights, and to open before him a prospect of future power and glory : and this is the return." The English government, under Elizabeth's direction, concluded to bring Mary to a public trial. They removed her, accordingly, to the Castle of Fotheringay. Fotheringay is in Nor- thamptonshire, which is in the very heart of England, Northampton, the shire town, being about sixty miles northwest of London. Foth- eringay Castle was on the banks of the Zliver Nen, or Avon, which flows northeast frorv Nor- thampton to the sea. A few miles bek w the castle is the ancient town of Peterbo rough, where there was a monastery and a great ca- thedral church. The monastery had been built a thousand years before. They removed Mary to Fotheringay Castle Tor her trial, and lawyers, counselors, commis- sioners, and officers of state began to assemble there from all quarters. The castle was & spa- cious structure It was surrounded wiO two 264 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1585 Great interest in the trial. Preparations for U moats, and with double walls, and was strongly fortified. It contained numerous and spacious apartments, and it had especially one large hall which was well adapted to the purposes of this great trial. The preparations for the solemn ordeal through which Mary was now to pass, brought her forth from the obscurity in which she had so long been lost to the eyes of man- kind, and made her the universal object of in- terest and attention in England, Scotland, and France. The people of all these nations looked on with great interest at the spectacle of one queen tried solemnly on a charge of high trea- son against another. The stories of her beauty, her graces, her misfortunes, which had slum bered for eighteen years, were all now revived, and every body felt a warm interest in the poor captive, worn down by long confinement, and trembling in the hands of what they feared would be a merciless and terrible power. Mary was removed to the Castle of Pother jigay toward the end of September, 1586. The reparations for the trial proceeded slowly. Every thing in which kings and queens, or af- fairs of state were concerned in those days, was conducted with great pomp and ceremony. The arrangements of the hall were minutely pre 1586.] THE END. 265 FLe throne. Mary refuses m plead scribed. At the head of it a sort of throne was placed, with a royal canopy over it, for the Queen of England. This, though it was va- cant, impressed the court and the spectators aj a symbol of royalty, and denoted that the sov- ereignty of Elizabeth was the power before which Mary was arraigned. When the preparations were made, Mary re fused to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the court. She denied that they had any right to arraign or to try her. " I am no subject of Elizabeth's," said she. " I am an independent and sovereign queen as well as she, and I will not consent to any thing inconsistent with this my true position I owe no allegiance to England, and I am not, in any sense, subject to her laws. I came into the realm only to ask assistance from a sister queen, and I have been made a captive, and detained many years in an unjust and cruel imprisonment ; and though now worn down both in body and mind by my protracted sufferings, I am not yet so enfeebled as to for- get what is due to myself, my ancestors, and my country,' 1 This refusal of Mary's to plead, or to ac- knowledge the jurisdiction of the court, caused a new delay They urged her to abandon her 266 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. ' [158(> The commission. The great hall. resolution. They told her that if she refused to plead, the trial would proceed without her action, and, by pursuing such a course, she would only deprive herself of the means of de- fense, without at all impeding the course of her fate. At length Mary yielded. It would have been better for her to have adhered to her first .intention. The commission by which Mary was to b<* tried consisted of earls, barons, and other per- sons of rank, twenty or thirty in number. They were seated on each side of the room, the throne being at the head. In the center was a table, where the lawyers, by whom the trial was to be conducted, were seated. Below this table was a chair for Mary. Behind Mary's chair was a rail, dividing off the lower end of the hall from the court ; and this formed an outer space, to which some spectators were admitted. Mary took her place in the seat assigned her, and the trial proceeded. They adduced the evi- dence against her, and then asked for her defense She said substantially that she had a right to make an effort to recover her liberty ; that, aft er being confined a captive so long, and having lost forever her youth, her health, and her hap- piness, it was not wonderful that she wished tr 1586.] THE END. 267 Mary pronounced guilty. Elizabeth's pretended sorrow be free ; but that, in endeavoring to obtain hei freedom, she had formed no plans to injure Eliz aboth, or to interfere in any way with her right* OT prerogatives as queen. The commissioners, *fter devoting some days to hearing evidence, and listening to the defense, sent Mary back to her apartments, and went to London. Thero they had a final consultation, and unanimously agreed in the following decision: "That Mary, commonly called Queen of Scots and dowager of France, had been an accessory to Babing- ton's conspiracy, and had compassed the death of Elizabeth, queen of England." Elizabeth pretended to be very much con cerned at this result. She laid the proceedings before Parliament. It was supposed then, and has always been supposed since, that she wished Mary to be bel saded, but desired not to take the responsibility of it herself; and that she wanted to appear unwilling, and to be impell- ed, greatly against her own inclinations, by the urgency of others, to carry the sentence into execution. At any rate, Parliament, and aU the members of the government, approved and confirmed the verdict, and wished to have it carried into effect. It has always been the custom, in modern 268 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [15H6 Signing th3 wwrant Shuffling of Elizabet* times, to require the solemn act of the supremo magistrate of any state to confirm a decision af a tribunal which condemns a person to death, by signing what is called a warrant for the ex ecutlon. This is done by the king or queen in England, and by the governor in one of the United States. This warrant is an order, very formally written, and sealed with the great seal, authorizing the executioner to proceed, and carry the sentence into effect. Of course, Queen Mary could not be executed unless Elizabeth should first sign the warrant. Elizabeth would her- self, probably, have been better pleased to have been excused from all direct agency in the af- fair. But this could not be. She, however, made much delay, and affected great unwill- ingness to proceed. She sent messengers to Mary, telling her what the sentence had been, how sorry she was to hear it, and how much she desired to save her life, if it were possible. At the same tune, she told her that she feared 'l might not be in her power, and she advised \Iary to prepare her mind for the execution cf ;he sentence. Mary wrote a letter to Elizabeth in reply. She said in this letter that she was glad to hear that they had pronounced sentence of death 1586.] THE END. 269 Mary's letter to Elizabeth. Interposition of Mary's friends against her, for she was weary of life, and had no hope of relief or rest from her miseries but in the grave. She wrote, therefore, not to ask any change in the decision, but to make three requests. First, that, after her execution, her body might be removed to France, and be de- posited at Rheims, where the ashes of her moth- er were reposing. Secondly, that her execu- tion should not be in secret, but that her per- sonal friends might be present, to attest to the world that she met her fate with resignation and fortitude ; and, thirdly, that her attendants and friends, who had, through their faithful love for her, shared her captivity so long, might be permitted to retire wherever they pleased, after her death, without any molestation. "I hope," said she, in conclusion, "you will not refuse me these my dying requests, but that you will as- sure me by a letter under your own hand that you will comply with them, and then I shall die as I have lived, your affectionate sister and prisoner, Mary Queen of Scots." The King of France, and James, Mary's sou in Scotland, made somewhat vigorous efforts to arrest the execution of the sentence which had been pronounced against Mary. From the&a and other causes, the signing of the warrant 270 MARY Q.UEEH OF SCOTS. [1587 Elizabeth signs the warrant It is read to Mary was delayed for some months, but at length Elizabeth yielded to the solicitations of her min isters She affixed her signature to the instru- ment. The chancellor put upon it the great seal, and the commissioners who were appointed by it to superintend the execution went to Fotheringay. They arrived there on the 7th of February, 1587. After resting, and refreshing themselves for a short time from their journey, the commis- sioners sent word to Mary that they wished for an interview with her. Mary had retired. They said that their business was very important. She rose, and prepared to receive them. She assembled all her attendants, fourteen or fifteen in number, in order to receive the commission- ers in a manner comporting, so far as circum- stances allowed, with her rank and station The commissioners were at length ushered intc the apartment. They stood respectfully before her, with their heads uncovered. The foremost then, in language as forbearing and gentle AS was consistent with the nature of his message, informed her that it had been decided to carrv the sentence which had been pronounced against ncr into effect, and then he requested another of the number to read the warrant for her cxe oution. L537.J THE END. 275 Mary hears the sentence with corcpcsure. Protests her innocence Mary listened to it calmly and patiently Her attendants, one after another, were over- come by the mournful and awful solemnity of the scene, and melted into tears. Mary, how- over, was calm. When the reading of the war- rant was ended, she said that she was sorry that her cousin Elizabeth should set the exam- ple of taking the life of a sovereign queen ; but for herself, she was willing to die. Life had long ceased to afford her any peace or happi- ness, and she was ready to exchange it for the prospect of immortality. She then laid her hand upon the New Testament, which was near her, of course a Catholic versiou, and call- ed God to witness that she had never plotted herself, or joined in plots with other*, for the death of Elizabeth. One of the commissioners remarked that her oath being upon a Catholic version of the Bible, they should not consider it valid. She rejoined that it ought to be con- sidered the more sacred and solemn on that ao- count, as that was the version which she re garded as the only one which \vas authorita- tive and true. Mary then asked the commissioners several questions, as whether her son James had not expressed any interest in her fate, and whethei 18 274 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1587 Mary refused a priest Mary alone with her frienda no foreign princes had interposed to save her. The commissioners answered these and other inquiries, and Mary learned from their answers that her fate was sealed. She then asked them what time was appointed for the execution. They replied that it was to take place at eight o'clock the following morning. Mary had not expected so early an hour to be named. She said it was sudden ; and she seemed agitated and distressed. She, howev- er, soon recovered her composure, and asked to have a Catholic priest allowed to visit her. The commissioners replied that that could not be permitted. They, however, proposed to send the Dean of Peterborough to visit her. A dean is the ecclesiastical functionary presiding over a cathedral church ; and, of course, the Dean of Peterborough was the clergyman of the high- est rank in that vicinity. He was, however, a Protestant,' and Mary did not wish to see him. The commissioners withdrew, and left Mary with her friends, when there ensued one of those scenes of anguish and suffering which those who witness them never forget, but carr} 1 rhe gloomy remerr. brance of them, like a dark shadow in the soul, to the end of their days Mary was quiet, and appeared calm. It may 1587.] THE END. 275 Affecting scene. Supper. Mary's farewell to her attendant* however, have been the calm of hopeless and absolute despair Her attendant? were over- whelmed with agitation and grief, the expres- sion of which they could not even attempt to control. At last they became more composed, and Mary asked them to kneel with her in prayer ; and she prayed for some time fervent- ly and earnestly in the midst of them She then directed supper to be prepared as usual, and, until it was ready, she spent her time in dividing the money which she had on hand into separate parcels for her attendants, mark ing each parcel with the name. She sat down at the table when supper was served, and though she ate but little, she conversed as usual, in a -cheerful manner, and with smiles. Her friends were silent and sad, struggling contin- ually to keep back their tears. At the close of the supper Mary called for a cup of wine, and drank to the health of each one of them, and then asked them to drink to her. They took the cup, and, kneeling before her, complied with her request, though, as they did it, the tears would come to their eyes. Mary then told them that she willingly forgave them for all that they had ever done to displease her, and sh s thanked them for their long-continued fidel 276 MARY (^UEEN OF SCOTS. [1587 Mary's last letters. Her directions as to the disposal of her body ity and love. She also asked that they would forgive her for any thing she might ever have done in respect to them which was inconsistent with her duty. They answered the request only with a renewal of their tears. Mary spent the evening in writing two lei- ters to her nearest relatives in France, and in making her will. The principal object of these letters was to recommend her servants to the attention and care of those to whom they were addressed, after she should be gone. She went to bed shortly after midnight, and it is said she slept. This would be incredible, if any thing were incredible in respect to the workings of the human soul in a time of awful trial like this, which so transcends all the ordinary conditions of its existence. At any rate, whether Mary slept or not, the morning soon came. Her friends were around her as soon as she rose. She gave them mi- nute directions about the disposition of her body She wished to have it taken to Prance to be in- terred, as she had requested of Elizabeth, either at Rheims, in the same tomb with the body of her mother, or else at St. Denis, an ancieni abbey a little north of Paris, where the ashes of a long line of French monarch* repose She J.587.J THE END. 277 Arrangements for the execution. The scaffold begged her servants, if possible, not to leave her body till it should reach its final home in one of these places of sepulture. In the mean time, arrangements had been made for the last act in this dreadful tragedy, in the same great hall where she had been tried. They raised a platform upon the stone floor of the hall large enough to contain those who were to take part in the closing scene. On this plat- form was a block, a cushion, and a chair. All 'hese things, as well as the platform itself, were covered with black cloth, giving to the whole scene a most solemn and funereal expression The part of the hall containing this scaffold was railed off from the rest. The governor of the castle, and a body of guards, came in and took their station at the sides of the room. Two ex- ecutioners, one holding the axe, stood upon the scaffold on one side of the block. Two of the commissioners stood upon the other side. Tho remaining commissioners and several gentle- men of the neighborhood took their places as spectators without the rail. The number of persons thus assembled was about two hundred. Strange that any one should have come in, vol- nntarily, to witness such a scene ! When all was ready, the sheriff, carrying hi? 278 MARY QUREN OF SCOTS. [1587 Proceeding to the hall. Intorriew with McMlla white wand of office, and attended by some of tho commissioners, went for Mary. She was at her devotions, and she asked a little delay that she might conclude them : perhaps the shrinking spirit clung at the last moment to life, and wished to linger a few minutes longer before taking the final farewell. The request was granted. In a short time Mary signified that she was ready, and they began to move toward the hall of execution. Her attendants were going to accompany her. The sheriff said this could not be allowed She accordingly bade them farewell, and they filled the castle with the sound of their shrieks and lamenta- tions. Mary went on, descending the stair-case, at the foot of which she was joined by one of her attendants, from whom she had been separated for some time. His name was Sir Andrew Melville, and he was the master of her house- hold. The name of her secretary Melville \\3J9 James. Sir Andrew kneeled before her, kissed bar hand, and said that this was the saddest hour of his life. Mary began to give him somo last commissions "and requests. " Say," said she, " that I died firm in the faith ; that I for- give my enemies ; that I feel that I have nevei 158?.] THE ENL. 279 Mary's last message. She desires the presence of hot attendant* disgraced Scotland, my native country, and that I have been always true to France, the land of ny happiest years. Tell my son " Here her roice faltered and ceased to be heard, and shw burst into tears. She struggled to regain her composure. " Tell my son," said she, " that I thought of him in my last moments, and that I have never yielded, either by word or deed, to any thing whatever that might lead to his prejudice. Tell him to cherish the memory of his mother, and say that I sincerely hope his life may be happier than mine has been." Mary then turned to the commissioners who stood by, and renewed her request that ner at- tendants, who had just been separated from her, might come down and see her die. The commissioners objected. They said that if these attendants were admitted, their anguish and lamentations would only add to her own distress, and make the whole scene more pain ful. Mary, however, urged the request. She said they had been devotedly attached to hoi all her days; they had shared her captivity, and loved and served her faithfully to the end, and it was enough if she herself, and they, de- sired that they should be present. Tlio com 280 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [158 1 / Mary's dress and appearance. Symbols of religion missioners at last yielded, and allowed her ixi name six, who should be summoned to attend her. She did so, and the six came down. The sad procession then proceeded to the hall. Mary was in full court dress, and walk- ed into the apartment with the air and com- posure of a reigning queen. She leaned on the arm of her physician. Sir Andrew Melville followed, bearing the train of her robe. Her dress is described as a gown of black silk, bor- dered with crimson velvet, over which was a atin mantle. A long veil of white crape, edged with rich lace, hung down almost to the ground. Around her neck was an ivory cru- cifix that is, an image of Christ upon the cross, which the Catholics use as a memorial of our Savior's sufferings and a rosary, which is a string of beads of peculiar arrangement, often employed by them as an aid in their de- votions. Mary meant, doubtless, by these sym- bols, to show to her enemies and to the world, that though she submitted to her fate without resistance, yet, so far as the contest of her life bad been one of religious faith, she had no in- tention of yielding. Mary ascended the platform and took her neat in the chair provided for her. With the 1587.] THE END. 281 Mary's firmness in her faith. Her last prayer exception of stifled sobs here and there to be heard, the room was still. An officer then ad vanced and read the warrant of execution, which the executioners listened to as their au- thority for doing the dreadful work which the\ were about to perform. The Dean of Peter- borough, the Protestant ecclesiastic whom Marv had refused to see, then came forward to the foot of the platform, and most absurdly com- menced an address to her, with a view to con- vert her to the Protestant faith. Mary inter- rupted him, saying that she had been born and had lived a Catholic, and she was resolved so to die ; and she asked him to spare her his use- less reasonings. The dean persisted in going on. Mary turned away from him, kneeled down, and began to offer a Latin prayer. The dean soon brought his ministrations to a close, and then Mary prayed for some time, in a dis tinct and fervent voice, in English, the large company listening with breathless attention. She prayed for her own soul, and that she might have comfort from heaven in the agoLy f death. She implored God's blessing upon France; upon Scotland; upon England; upon Queen Elizabeth ; and, more than all, upon hei son. During this time she held the ivory cm 282 MARY QUEEN CF SCOTS. [158? The execution. Heart-rending scene. Disposition of the body cifix in her hand, clasping it and raising it from time to time toward heaven. When her prayer was ended, she rose, and, with the assistance of her attendants, took off her veil, and such other parts of her dress as it was necessary to remove in order to leave the neck bare, and then she kneeled forward and laid her head upon the block. The agitation of the assembly became extreme. Some turned away from the scene faint and sick at heart ; some looked more eagerly and intensely at the group upon the scaffold ; some wept and sobbed aloud. The assistant executioner put Mary's two hands together and held them ; the other raised his axe, and, after the horrid sound of two or three successive blows, the assistant held up the dissevered head, saying, " So perish all Queen Elizabeth's enemies." The assembly dispersed. The body was taken into an adjoining apartment, and pre- pared for interment. Mary's attendants wished to have it delivered to them, that they might comply with her dying request to convey it tc Franco ; but they were told that they could not be allowed to do so. The body was interred with great pomp and ceremony in the Cathe* 1587. J THE END 28b Elizabeth's affected surprise. Her conduct dral at Peterborough, where it remained in peace for many years. Now that the deed was done, the great prob* lem with Elizabeth was, of course, to avert the consequences of the terrible displeasure and thijst for revenge which she might naturally suppose it would awaken in Scotland and in France. She succeeded very well in accom- plishing this. As soon as she heard of the ex- ecution of Mary, she expressed the utmost sur- prise, grief, and indignation. She said that she had, indeed, signed the death warrant, but it was not her intention at all to have it execut- ed ; and that, when she delivered it to the offi- cer, she charged him not to let it go out of his possession. This the officer denied. Elizabeth insisted, and punished the officer by a long im- prisonment, and perpetual disgrace, for his pre- tended offense. She sent a messenger to James, explaining the terrible accident, as she termed it, which had occurred, and deprecating his dis- pleasure. James, though at first filled with indignation, and determined to avenge hia mother's death, allowed himself to be appeased About twenty years after this, Elizabeth jied, and the great object of Mary's ambition 284 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. [1587 The end of Mary's ambition realized. Accession of James I throughout her whole life was attained by the union of the Scotch and English clowns on the (read of her son. As soon as Elizabeth ceasod to breathe. James the Sixth of Scotland waf proclaimed James the First of England. Hs was at that time nearly forty years of age. He was married, and had several young children. The circumstances of King James's journey to London, when he went to take possession of his new kingdom, are related in the History of Charles I., belonging to this series. Though James thus became monarch of both England and Scotland, it must not be supposed that the two kingdoms were combined. They remain- ed separate for many years two independent kingdoms governed by one king. When James succeeded to the English throne, his mother had been dead many years, and what- ever feelings of affection may have bound his heart to her in early life, they were now well- nigh obliterated by the lapse of time, and by the new ties by which he was connected with his wife and his children. As soon as he was seated on his new throne, however, he ordered the Castle of Fotheringay, which had been the scene of his mother's trial and death, to be lev- eled with the ground, and he transferred he! 1587 THE END. 285 Tomb of Mary at Westminster Abbey remains to Westminster Abbey, where they stii repose. MARY'S TOMB AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY 286 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS 11587 Mary's lore and ambition. She triumphs in the end If the lifeless dust had retained its conscious- ness when it was thus transferred, with what intense emotions of pride and pleasure would the mother's heart have been filled, in being thus brought to her final home in that ancient sepulcher of the English kings, by her son, now, at last, safely established, where she had so long toiled and suffered to instate him, in his place in the line. Ambition was the great, paramount, ruling principle of Mary's life. Love was, with her, an occasional, though per- fe.ct.ly uncontrollable impulse, which came sud. denly to interrupt her plans and divert her from her course, leaving her to get back to it again, after devious wanderings, with great difficulty and through many tears. The love, with the consequences which followed from it, destroyed her ; while the ambition, recovering itself aftei every contest with its rival, and holding out perseveringly to the last, saved her son; so that, in the long contest in which her life was spent though she suffered all the way, and at la?t tMcrificed herself, she triumphed in the end. THE END. BOOKS BY THE ABBOTTS. " HAKPKR & BROTHERS will send any of the following works by mail, postage prepaid, to any address, on receipt of the price. THE FRANCONIA STORIES. By JACOB ABBOTT. In Ten Volumes. Illustrated. Cloth, 75 cents per Vol. ; the set in a box, $7 50. 1. MALLEVILLE. 6. STUYVESANT. 2. MARY BELL. 7. AGNES. 3. ELLEN LINN. 8. MARY ERSKINE. 4. WALLACE. 9. RODOLPHUS. 5. BEECHNUT. 10. CAROLINE. MARCO PAUL SERIES. Marco Paul's Voyages and Travels in the Pursuit of Knowledge. By JACOB ABBOTT. Beautifully Illustrated. Complete in six Volumes, 16mo, Cloth, 75 cents per Volume, Price of the set, in a box, $4 50. 1. IN NEW YORK. 4. IN VERMONT. 2. ON THE ERIE CANAL. 5. IN BOSTON. 8. IN THE FORESTS OF MAINE. 6. THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. RAINBOW AND LUCKY SERIES. By JACOB ABBOTT. Beautifully Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, 75 cents each. The set complete, in a box, $3 75. 1. HANDIE. 3. SELLING LUCKY. 2. RAINBOW'S JOURNEY. 4. UP THJ RIVER. 5. THE THREE PINES. YOUNG CHRISTIAN SERIES. By JACOB ABBOTT. In Four Volumes. Illustrated. 12moi Cloth, $1 75 per Vol. The set complete, Cloth, $7 00. 1. THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN. 3. THE WAY TO Do GOOD. 2. THE CORNER STONE. 4. HOARYHEAD AND M'DONNKR THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN. By JACOB ABBOTT. A Memorial Volume. With a Sketch of the Author by one of his Sons. Illustrated by a Steel-Plate Portrait of. the Author, asd Woodcuts. !2mo,"Clo*^ |2 00, 2 Books by the Abbotts. HARPER'S STORY BOOKS. A Series of Narratives, Biographies, and Tales, for the In. struction and Entertainment of the Young. By JACOB AB. BOTT. Embellished with more than One Thousand beautiful Engravings. Square 4to, complete in 12 large Volumes, oi 86 small ones. VOL. L BRUNO; or, Lessons of Fidelity, Patience, and Self-Denial Taught by a Dog. WILLIE AN D THE MORTGAGE : showing How Much may be Accomplished by a Boy. THE STRAIT GATE; or, The Rule of Exclusion from Heaven. VOL. II. THE LITTLE LOUVRE ; or, The Boys' and Girls' Picture- Gallery. PRANK ; or, The Philosophy of Tricks and Mischief. EMMA ; or, The Three Misfortunes of a Belle. VOL. in. VIRGINIA; or, A Little Light on a Very Dark Saying. TIMBOO AND JOLIBA; or, The Art of Being Useful. TIMBOO AND FANNY; or, The Art of Self-Instruction. VOL. IV. THE HARPER ESTABLISHMENT; or, How the Story Books are Made. FRANKLIN, the Apprentice-Boy. THE STUDIO ; or, Illustrations of the Theory and Practice of Drawing, for Young Artists at Home. VOL. V. THE STORY OF ANCIENT HISTORY, from the Earliest Periods to the Fall of the Roman Empire. THE STORY OF ENGLISH HISTORY, from the Earliest Periods to the American Revolution. THE STORY OF AMERICAN HISTORY, from the Earliest Settlement of the Country to the Establishment of tke Federal Constitution. A 000026365 7 University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. . o/o \