prevent Mary also from doing so, lest she should see | to disobey, as enjoying all their lands and means of before her a lineage not her own ready to occupy her living in England. throne immediately after her death. She, therefore, adopted a mean and shuffling policy, recommending one match after another to her kinswoman, but throwing in obstacles whenever any of them seemed kely to take place. At first she appeared desirous that Mary should marry the Earl of Leicester, a nobleman whom, though by no means distinguished by talents or character, she herself admired so much for his personal beauty, as to say, that except for her vow never to marry, she would have chosen him for her own husband. It may be readily believed, that she had no design such a match as she hinted at should ever take place, and that if Mary had expressed any readiness to accept of Leicester, Elizabeth would have found ready means to break off the marriage. This proposal, however, was not at all agreeable to Queen Mary. Leicester, if his personal merit had been much greater, was of too low a rank to pretend to the hand of a Queen of Scotland, and Queen Dowager of France, to whom the most powerful monarchs in Europe were at the same time paying The Archduke Charles, third son of the Emperor of Germany, was proposed on one side; the hereditary Prince of Spain was offered on another; the Duke of Anjou, who became afterwards Henry II. of France, also proposed himself. But if Mary had accepted the band of a foreign Prince, she would in so doing have resigned her chance of succeeding to the English crown; nay, considering the jealousy of her subjects of the Protestant religion, she might have endangered her possession of that of Scotland. She was so much impressed by these considerations, that she went so far as to intimate that she might consent to the match with the Earl of Leicester, provided that Elizabeth would recognise her as next heir to the English Crown, in case of her own decease without children. This, however, did not suit Elizabeth's policy. She did not desire Mary to be wedded to any one, far less to Leicester, her own personal favourite; and was therefore extremely unlikely to declare her sentiments προτι the succession, (a subject on which she always observed the most mysterious silence,) in order to bring about the union of her rival with the man she herself preferred. Mean time, the views of Queen Mary turned towards a young nobleman of high birth, connected nearly both with her own family and that of Elizabeth. This was Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, eldest son of the Earl of Lennox. You may recollect, that after the battle of Flodden, the Earl of Angus marned the Queen Dowager of Scotland; and in the tumults which followed, was compelled to retire for a season to London. While Angus resided in England, his wife bore him a daughter, called Lady Margaret Douglas, who, when her parents returned to Scotland, continued to remain at the English court, under the protection of her uncle, King Henry. Again you most remember, that during the regency of the Duke of Chatelherault, the Earl of Lennox attempted to place himself at the head of the English party in Scotland, but his efforts failing through want of power or of conduct, he also was compelled to retire to England, where Henry VIII., in acknowledgment of his unavailing effort, bestowed on him the hand of his niece, Lady Margaret Douglas, who, in right of her mother Margaret, had a claim of inheritance to the English crown. The young Lord Darnley's father being of such high rank, and his parents having such pretensions, Mary imagined that in marrying him she would gratify the wishes of Elizabeth, who seemed to point out, though ambiguously, a native of Britain, and one not of royal rank, as her safest choice, and as that which would be most agreeable to herself. Elizabeth seemed to receive the proposal favourably, and suffered the young man, and his father Lennox, to visit the court of Scotland, in the hope that their presence might embroil matters farther; and thinking that, in case the match should be likely to take place, she might easily break it off by recalling them as her subjects; a command which she supposed they would not dare Young Darnley was remarkably tall and handsome, perfect in all external and showy accomplishments, but unhappily destitute of sagacity, prudence, steadiness of character, and exhibiting only doubtful courage, though extremely violent in his passions. Had this young man possessed a very moderate portion of sense, or even of gratitude, we might have had a different story to tell of Mary's reign-as it was, you will hear a very melancholy one. Mary had the misfortune to look upon this young nobleman with partiality, and was the more willing to gratify her own inclination in his favour, that she longed to put an end to the intrigues by which Queen Elizabeth had endeavoured to impose upon her, and prevent her marriage. Indeed, while the two Queens used toward each other the language of the most affectionate cordiality, there was betwixt them neither plain dealing nor upright meaning, but great dissimulation, envy, and fear. Darnley, in the mean time, endeavouring to strengthen the interest which he had acquired in the Queen's affections, had recourse to the friendship of a man of low rank indeed, but who was understood to possess particular influence over the mind of Mary, This was an Italian of humble origin, called David Rizzio, who had been promoted from being a menial in the Queen's family, to the confidential office of French Secretary. His talents for music gave him frequent admission to Mary's presence, as she delighted in that art; and his address and arts of insinuation, gained him a considerable influence over her mind. It was almost necessary that the Queen should have near her person some confidential officer, skilled at once in languages and in business, through whom she might communicate with foreign states, and with her friends in France in particular. No such agent was likely to be found in Scotland, unless she had chosen a Catholic priest, which would have given more offence to her Protestant subjects, than even the employment of a man like Rizzio. Still the elevation of this person, a stranger, and a Catholic, to the rank of a minister of the crown-and, yet more, the personal familiarity to which the Queen condescended to admit him, and the airs which this low-born foreigner pretended to assume, became the subject of offence to the proud Scottish nobles, and of vulgar scandal among the common people. Darnley, anxious to strengthen his interest with the Queen on every hand, formed an intimacy with Rizzio, who employed all the arts of flattery and observance to gain possession of his favour, and unquestionably was serviceable to him in advancing his suit. The Queen, in the mean while, exerted herself to remove the obstacles to her union with Darnley, and with such success, that, with the approbation of far the greater part of her subjects, they were married at Edinburgh on the 29th July, 1565. WHEN Elizabeth received news that this union was determined upon, she gave way to all the weakness of an envious woman. She remonstrated against the match, though, in fact, Mary could scarce have made a choice less dangerous to England. She recalled Lennox and his son Darnley from Scotland-a mandate which they refused, or delayed to obey. She committed the Countess of Lennox, the only one of the family within her reach, a prisoner to the Tower of London. Above all, she endeavoured to disturb the peace of Scotland, and the government of Mary and her new husband, by stirring up to insurrection those among the Scottish nobility to whom the match with Darnley was distasteful. The Queen's brother, the Earl of Murray, was by far the most able and powerful of those who were displeased by Mary's marriage. Darnley and he were personal enemies, and, besides, Murray was stant execution of his wishes, and his animosity on the principal of the Lords of the Congregation, who this occasion turned against the Italian Secretary, affected to see danger to the Protestant religion in once his friend, but whom he now esteemed his Mary's choice of Darnley for a husband, and in the deadly foe, because he supposed that Rizzio encourdisunion which it was likely to create with England. aged the Queen in resisting his hasty ambition. His Murray even laid a plan to intercept Darnley, seize resentment against the unhappy stranger arose to his person, and either put him to death, or send him such a height, that he threatened to poniard him prisoner to England. A body of horse was for this with his own hand; and as Rizzio had many enemies, purpose stationed at a pass under the hill of Ben- and no friend save his mistress, Darnley easily pronartey, near Kinross, called the Parrot-well, to in-cured instruments, and those of no mean rank, to tercept the Queen and Darnley as they returned from take the execution of his revenge on themselves. a Convention of Estates held at Perth. They only The chief of Darnley's accomplices, on this unescaped the danger by a hasty march, commenced happy occasion, was James Douglas, Earl of Morton, early in the morning. Chancellor of the Kingdom, tutor and uncle to the After the marriage, Murray and his confederates, Earl of Angus, (who chanced then to be a minor,) who were the Duke of Chatelherault, Glencairn, Ar- and administrator therefore, of all the power of the gyle, Rothes, and others, actually took up arms. great house of Douglas. He was a nobleman of high The Queen, in this emergency, assembled her sub-military talent and political wisdom, but although a jects around her. They came in such numbers as pretender to sanctity of life, his actions show him to showed her popularity. Darnley rode at their head have been a wicked and unscrupulous man. Although in gilded armour, accompanied by the Queen herself, Chancellor of the Kingdom, and therefore bound having loaded pistols at her saddle bow. Unable to peculiarly to respect the laws, he did not hesitate to stand their ground, Murray and his accomplices enter into the young King's cruel and unlawful pureluded the pursuit of the royal army, and made a pose. Lord Ruthven, a man whose frame was exsudden march on Edinburgh, where they hoped to hausted by illness, nevertheless undertook to buckle find friends. But the citizens not adopting their on his armour for the enterprise; and they had no cause, and the Castle threatening to fire on them, difliculty in finding other agents. the insurgents were compelled to retreat, first to Hamilton, then to Dumfries, until they finally disbanded their forces in despair, and the leaders fled into England. Thus ended an insurrection, which, from the hasty and uncertain manner in which the conspirators posted from one part of the kingdom to another, obtained the popular name of the Run-about Raid (or ride.) It would have been easy to have seized on Rizzio, and disposed of him as the Scots Peers at the Bridge of Lauder used the favourites of James III. But this would not have accomplished the revenge of Darnley, who complained that the Queen showed this mean Italian more civility than she did to himself, and therefore took the barbarous resolution of seizing him in her very presence. This plan was the more atrocious, as Mary was at this time with child; and the alarm and agitation which such an act of violence was likely to produce, might endanger her life, or that of her unborn offspring. Elizabeth, who had encouraged Murray and his associates to rise against Mary, was by no means desirous to have the discredit of having done so, when she saw their attempt was unsuccessful. She caused Murray and the Abbot of Kilwinning to ap- Whilst this savage plot was forming, Rizzio repear before her in presence of the ambassadors of ceived several hints of what was likely to happen. Sir France and Spain, who had accused her of foment- James Melville was at pains to explain to him the ing the Scottish disturbances. "How say you," she danger that was incurred by a stranger in any counexclaimed, "my Lord of Murray, and you his com- try, who rose so high in the favour of the Prince, as to panion? Have you had advice or encouragement excite the disgust of natives of the land. A French from me in your late undertaking?" The exiles, priest, who was something of an astrologer, warned afraid to tell the truth, were contented to say, how-him to beware of a bastard. To such councils, he ever falsely, that they had received no advice or replied, "that the Scottish were more given to assistance at her hands. "There you indeed speak threaten than to strike; and as for the bastard, (by truth," replied Elizabeth; "for never did I, or any whom he supposed the Earl of Murray to be meant,) in my name, stir you up against your Queen; and an he would take care that he should never possess evil example have you set to my subjects, as well as power enough in Scotland to do him any harm. Thus to those of other sovereigns. Get you gone from my securely confident, he continued at court, to abide his presence, as unworthy traitors." Mortified and dis- fate. graced, Murray and his companions again retired to the Border, where Queen Elizabeth, notwithstanding her pretended resentment, allowed them privately, means of support, until times should permit them to return into Scotland, and renew disturb ances there. Mary had thus overcome her refractory subjects, but she soon found that she had a more formidable enemy in the foolish and passionate husband whom she had chosen. This headstrong young man behaved to his wife with great disrespect, both as a woman and as a Queen, and habitually indulged himself in intoxication, and other disgraceful vices. Although already possessed of more power than fitted his capacity or age, for he was but nineteen, he was importunate in his demands for obtaining what was called in Scotland the Crown Matrimonial; that is, the full equality of royal right in the crown with his consort. Until he obtained this eminence he was not held to be King, though called so in courtesy. He was only the husband of the Queen. This Crown Matrimonial had been bestowed on Mary's first husband, Francis, and Darnley was determined to be possessed of the same rank. But Mary, whose bounty had already far exceeded his deserts, as well as his gratitude, was determined not to make this last concession, at least without the advice and consent of the Parliament. The childish impatience of Darnley made him regard with mortal hatred whatever interfered with the in Those Lords who engaged in the conspiracy did not agree to gratify Darnley's resentment against Rizzio for nothing. They stipulated, as the price of their assistance, that he should in turn aid them in obtaining pardon and restoration to favour for Murray, and his accomplices in the Run-about Raid; and intimation was despatched to these noblemen, apprising them of the whole undertaking. of laying aside the state of a sovereign, and indulging Queen Mary, like her father, James V., was fond in small private parties, quiet, as she termed them, and merry. On these occasions, she admitted her favourite domestics to her table, and Rizzio seems frequently to have had that honour. On the 9th March, 1566, six persons had partaken of supper in a small cabinet adjoining the Queen's bed-chamber, and having no entrance save through it. Rizzio was of the number. About seven in the evening, the gates of the palace were occupied by Morton, with a party of two hundred men; and a certain number of the conspirators, headed by Darnley himself, came into the Queen's apartment by a secret staircase. Darnley first entered the cabinet, and stood for an instant in silence, gloomily eyeing his victim. Lord Ruthven followed in complete armour, looking pale and ghastly, as one recovered from long sickness. Others crowded in after them, till the little closet was full of armed men. While the Queen demanded the purpose of their coming, Rizzio, who saw that his life was aimed at, got behind her, and clasped the CHAP. XXVIII.] SCOTTISH HISTORY. folds of her gown, that the respect due to her person of godmother to the young Prince, which he profferAfter a splendid solemnity at christening the heir might protect him. The assassins threw down the ed to her in Queen Mary's name. table, and seized on the unfortunate object of their vengeance, while Darnley himself took hold of the of Scotland, Queen Mary seems to have turned her Queen. It was their intention, doubtless, to have mind towards settling the disorders of her nobility; dragged Rizzio out of Mary's presence, and to have and, sacrificing her own justifiable resentment, she killed him elsewhere; but their fierce impatience yielded so far as to grant pardon to all those concernhurried them into instant murder. George Douglas, ed in the murder of Rizzio. Two men of low rank, called the Postulate of Arbroath, a natural brother of and no more, had been executed for that crime. the Earl of Morton, set the example, by snatching Lord Ruthven, the principal actor, had died in EngDarnley's dagger from his belt, and striking Rizzio land, talking and writing as composedly of "the with it. He received many other blows. They slaughter of David," as if it had been the most indifdragged him through the bed-room and ante-cham-ferent, if not meritorious action possible. George ber, and despatched him at the head of the staircase, Douglas, who struck the first blow, and Ker of Falwith no less than fifty-six wounds. Ruthven, after donside, another ruffian, who offered his pistol at all was over, fatigued with his exertions, sat down in the Queen's bosom in the fray, were exempted from the Queen's presence, and called for a drink to refresh the general pardon. Morton and all the others were ders. him, as if he had been doing the most harmless thing permitted to return, to plan new treasons and murin the world. The witnesses, the actors, and the scene of this cruel tragedy, render it one of the most extraordinary which history records to us. The cabinet and the bed-room still remain in the same condition in which they were at the time; and the floor near the head of the stairs bears visible marks of the blood of the unhappy Rizzio. The Queen continued to beg his life with prayers and tears; but when she learned that he was dead, she dried her tears-"I will now," she said, "study revenge." The conspirators, who had committed the cruel action, entirely or chiefly to gratify Darnley, reckoned themselves, of course, secure of his protection. They united themselves with Murray and his associates, who were just returned from England according to appointment, and agreed upon a course of joint measures. The Queen, it was agreed, should be put into restraint in Edinburgh Castle, or elsewhere; and Murray and Morton were to rule the state under the name of Darnley, who was to obtain the Crown Matrimonial, which he had so anxiously desired. But all this scheme was ruined by the defection of Darnley. As fickle as he was vehement, and as timorous as he had shown himself cruel, Rizzio was no sooner slain than Darnley became terrified at what had been done, and much disposed to deny having given authority for the crime. Finding her weak-minded husband in a state between remorse and fear, Mary prevailed on him to take part against the very persons whom he had instigated to the late atrocious proceeding. Darnley and Mary escaped together out of Holyrood house, and fled to Dunbar, where the Queen issued a proclamation which soon drew many faithful followers around her. It was now the turn of the conspirators to tremble. That the Queen's conquest over them might be the more certain, she pardoned the Earl of Murray, and those concerned in the Runabout Raid, as guilty of more venial offences than the assassins of Rizzio; and thus Murray, Glencairn, and others, were received into favour, while Morton and his comrades fled in their turn to England. No Scottish subject, whatever his crime, could take refuge there without finding secret support, if not an Such was Elizabeth's constant open welcome. policy. A thoughtless action of Mary seemed to confirm this suspicion. Bothwell, among other offices of authority, held that of Lord Warden of all the Queen Mary was now once more in possession of Marches, and was residing at the Castle of Hermitauthority, but much disturbed and vexed by the silly age, a royal fortress which belonged to that office, conduct of her husband, whose absurdities and inso- in order to suppress some disorders on the Border. lence were not abated by the consequences of Riz-In October, 1566, attempting with his own hand to zio's death; so that the royal pair continued to be upon the worst terms with each other, though disguised under a species of reconciliation. On 19th June, 1566, Mary was delivered of a son, afterward James VI. When news of this event reached London, Queen Elizabeth was merrily engaged in dancing; but upon hearing what had happened, she left the dance, and sate down, leaning her head on her hand, and exclaiming passionately to her ladies, "Do you not hear how the Queen of Scots hath a fine son, and I am but a barren stock !" But next morning she had recovered herself sufficiently to maintain her usual appearance of outward civility, received the Scottish ambassador with much seeming favour, and accepted with thanks the office seize a Border freebooter called John Elliot of the Queen, who was then at Jedburgh, holding a court Park, he was severely wounded in the hand. The of justice, hastened through woods, morasses, and waters, to pay a visit to the wounded Warden; and though the distance was twenty English miles, she went and returned from Hermitage Castle in the same day. This excursion might arise solely from Mary's desire to learn the cause and particulars of a great outrage on her Lieutenant; but all those who wished ill to her, who were a numerous body, represented it as expressing her anxiety for the safety of her lover. In the mean time, the dissensions between Darnley and the Queen continued to increase; and as he must have been disliked by Mary from the numerous | sons, kinsmen, retainers, and servants of the Earl of quarrels and affronts he put upon her, as well as from his share in the murder of Rizzio, so those who had been concerned with him in that last crime, considered him as a poor, mean-spirited wretch, who, having engaged his associates in so daring an act, had afterward betrayed and deserted them. His latter conduct showed no improvement in either sense or spirit. He pretended he would leave the kingdom, and by this and other capricious resolutions, he so far alienated the affections of the Queen, that many of the unscrupulous and plotting nobles by whom she was surrounded, formed the idea that it would be very agreeable to Mary if she could be freed from her union with this unreasonable and illtempered young man. The first proposal made to her was, that she should be separated from Darnley by a divorce. Bothwell, Maitland, Morton, and Murray, are said to have joined in pressing such a proposal upon Queen Mary, who was then residing at Craigmillar Castle, near Edinburgh, but she rejected it steadily. A conspiracy of a darker kind was then agitated, for the murder of the unhappy Darnley; and Bothwell seems to have entertained little doubt that Mary, thus rid of an unacceptable husband, would choose himself for his successor. He spoke with the Earl of Morton on the subject of despatching Darnley, and represented it as an enterprise which had the approbation of the Queen. Morton refused to stir in a matter of so great consequence, unless he received a mandate under the Queen's hand. Bothwell undertook to procure him such a warrant, but he never kept his word. This was confessed by Morton at his death. When it was asked of him by the clergyman who received his confession, why he had not prevented the conspiracy, by making it public? he replied, "that there was no one to whom he could confess it with safety. The Queen," he said, "was herself in the plot; and if I had told Darnley, his folly was so great that I am certain he would have betrayed it to his wife, and so my own destruction would have been assured." But though he did not acknowledge more than I have told you, Morton was always supposed to have been one of the conspirators; and it was universally believed that a daring and profligate relation of his, called Archibald Douglas, Parson of Glasgow, was one of the actual murderers, and while these suspicions hung over Morton himself, he seems to have had no reason for believing Mary's guilt, excepting what Bothwell told him; while he admits that Bothwell never showed him any warrant under the Queen's hand, though he promised to do so. It seems probable that Maitland of Lethington also knew the fatal and guilty secret. Morton and he, however, were both men of deep sagacity. They foresaw that Bothwell would render himself, and perhaps the Queen also, odious to the nation by the dark and bloody action which he meditated, and therefore they resolved to let him run on his course, in the hope that he would come to a speedy fall, and that they themselves might succeed to the supreme power. While these schemes were in agitation against his life, Darnley fell ill at Glasgow, and his indisposition proved to be the small-pox. The Queen sent her physician, and after an interval went herself to wait upon him, and an apparent reconciliation was effected between them. They came together to Edinburgh on the 31st January, 1566-67. The King was lodged in a religious house called the Kirk of Field, just without the walls of the city. The Queen and the infant Prince were accommodated in the Palace of Holyrood. The reason assigned for their living separate was the danger of the child catching the smallpox. But the Queen showed much attention to her husband, visiting him frequently; and they never seemed to have been on better terms than when the conspiracy against Darnley's life was on the eve of being executed. Mean while Darnley and his groom of the chamber were alone and separated from any other persons, when measures were taken for his destruction in the following horrible manner : On the evening of the 9th February, several per Bothwell, came in secret to the Kirk of Field. They had with them a great quantity of gunpowder; and by means of false keys they obtained entrance into the cellars of the building, where they disposed the powder in the vaults below Darnley's apartment, and especially below the spot where his bed was placed. About two hours after midnight upon the ensuing morning, Bothwell himself came, disguised in a riding-cloak, to see the execution of the cruel project. Two of his ruffians went in and took means of firing the powder, by lighting a piece of slow-burning match at one end, and placing the other amongst the gunpowder. They remained for some time watching the event, and Bothwell became so impatient, that it was with difficulty he was prevented from entering the house, to see whether the light had not been extinguished by some accident. One of his accomplices, by looking through a window, ascertained that it was still burning. The explosion presently took place, blew up the Kirk of Field, and alarmed the whole city. The body of Darnley was found in the adjoining orchard. The bed in which he lay had preserved him from all action of the fire, which occasioned a general belief that he and his chamber-groom, who was found in the same situation, had been strangled and removed before the house was blown up. But this was a mistake. It is clearly proved, by the evidence of those who were present at the event, that there were no means employed but the gunpowder, a mode of destruction sufficiently powerful to have rendered any other unnecessary. CHAPTER XXIX. Marriage of Mary and Bothwell-Mary's Surrender to the Con federated Lords at Carberry-Her Imprisonment in Lochleven Castle, and Escape thence-Battle of Langside, and Mary's Flight to England--Unjust Conduct of Elizabeth towards the Scottish Queen-Regency and Murder of Murray-Civil Wars in Scotland-Regency of Morton-His Trial and ExecutionRaid of Ruthven-Affairs of James VI. managed by Stewart Earl of Arran-Disgrace and Death of this Favourite. THE horrible murder of the unhappy Darnley excited the strongest suspicions, and the greatest discontent, in the city of Edinburgh, and through the whole kingdom. Bothwell was pointed out by the general voice as the author of the murder; and as he still continued to enjoy the favour of Mary, her reputation was not spared. To have brought this powerful criminal to open and impartial trial, would have been the only way for the Queen to recover her popularity. Mary made a show of doing this public justice, but under circumstances which favoured the criminal. Lennox, father of the murdered Darnley, had, as was his natural duty, accused Bothwell of the murder of his son. But he received little countenance in prosecuting the accused. Every thing seemed to be done as hastily as if it were determined to defeat the operations of justice. Lennox received information on the 28th of March, that the 12th of April was appointed for the day of trial; and at so short warning as fourteen days, he was summoned, as nearest relation of the murdered Monarch, to appear as accuser, and to support the charge he had made against Bothwell. The Earl complained that the time allowed him to prepare the charge and evidence necessary for convicting so powerful a criminal, was greatly too short, but he could not prevail to have it extended. It was a usual thing in Scotland for persons accused of crimes, to come to the bar of a court of justice attended by all their friends, retainers, and dependents, the number of whom was frequently so great, that the judges and accusers were overawed, and became afraid to proceed in the investigation; so that the purposes of justice were for the time frustrated. Bothwell, conscious of guilt, was desirous to use this means of protection to the utmost. appeared in Edinburgh with full five thousand attendants. Two hundred chosen musketeers kept close by his side, and guarded the doors of the court as soon as the criminal had entered. In such circumstances, there could be no chance of a fair trial. Lennox did not appear, saving by one of his vassals, He CHAP. XXIX.] SCOTTISH who protested against the proceedings of the day. No charge was made,-no proof, of course, was required, and a jury, consisting of nobles and gentlemen of the first rank, acquitted Both well of a crime of which all the world believed him to be guilty. The public mind remained dissatisfied with this mockery of justice; but Bothwell, without minding the murmurs of the people, hurried forward to possess himself of the situation which he had made vacant by the murder of Darnley. He convened a number of the principal nobility, at a feast given in a tavern, and prevailed on them to sign a bond, in which they not only declared Bothwell altogether innocent of the King's death, but recommended him as the fittest person whom her Majesty could choose for a husband. Morton, Maitland, and others, who afterward were Mary's enemies and accusers, subscribed this remarkable deed, either because they were afraid of the consequences of a refusal, or because they thought it the readiest and safest course to encourage Bothwell and the Queen to run headlong to their ruin, by completing a marriage which must be disgustful to the whole kingdom. Murray, the most important person in Scotland, had kept aloof from all these proceedings. He was in Fife when the King was murdered, and about three days before Bothwell's trial, he obtained leave of his sister the Queen to travel to France. Probably, he did not consider himself as very safe, in case Bothwell should rise to be King. HISTORY. from whence they fled to Dunbar, the Queen being Mary surrendered herself, upon promise of respect The Earl of Bothwell, thus authorized by the apparent consent of the nobility, and, no doubt, thinking himself secure of the Queen's approbation, suddenly appeared at the bridge of Cramond with a thousand and kind treatment, to the Laird of Grange, and was horse, as Mary arrived there on her return from Stir- conducted by him to the headquarters of the confedling to Edinburgh. He took the Queen's horse by erate army. When she arrived there the Lords the bridle, and surrounding and disarming her attend-received her with silent respect; but some of the ants, he led her, as if by an appearance of force, to the soldiers hooted at and insulted her until Grange, strong castle of Dunbar, of which he was governor. drawing his sword, compelled them to be silent. The On this occasion Mary seems neither to have at- Lords adopted the resolution of returning to the tempted to resist, nor to have expressed that feeling capital, and conveying Mary thither, surrounded by of anger and shame which would have been proper their troops. to her character as a queen or as a woman. Her attendants were assured by the officers of Bothwell, that she was carried off in consequence of her own consent; and considering that such an outrage was offered to a Sovereign of her high and bold spirit, her tame submission and silence under it seems scarce otherwise to be accounted for. They remained at Dunbar ten days, after which they again appeared in Edinburgh, apparently reconciled; the Earl carefully leading the Queen's palfrey, and conducting her up to the Castle of Edinburgh, the government of which was held by one of his adherents. Whilst these strange proceedings took place, Bothwell had been able to procure a sentence of divorce against his wife, a sister of the Earl of Huntly. On the 12th of May, the Queen made a public declaration, that she forgave Bothwell the late violence which he had committed; and that, although she was at first highly displeased at him, she was now resolved not only to grant him her pardon, but also to promote him to further honours. She was as good as her word, for she created him Duke of Orkney; and, on the 15th of the same month, did Mary, with unpardonable indiscretion, commit the great folly of marrying this profligate and ambitious man, stained as he was with the blood of her husband Darnley. The Queen was not long in discovering that by this unhappy marriage she had gotten a more ruthless and wicked husband, than she had in the flexible Darnley. Bothwell used her grossly ill, and being disappointed in his plans of getting the young Prince into his keeping, used such upbraiding language to Mary, that she prayed for a knife with which to stab herself, rather than endure his ill treatment. In the mean time, the public discontent rose high, and Morton, Maitland, and others, who had been privy to the murder of Darnley, placed themselves at the head of a numerous party of the nobility, who resolved to revenge his death, and remove Bothwell from his usurped power. They took arms hastily, and had nearly surprised the Queen and Bothwell, while feasting in the house of the Lord Borthwick, As the unhappy Queen approached Edinburgh, led, as it were, in triumph by the victors, the most coarse and insulting behaviour was used towards her by the lower classes. There was a banner prepared for this insurrection, displaying, on the one side, the portrait of Darnley, as he lay murdered under a tree in the fatal orchard, with these words embroidered, "Judge, and avenge my cause, O Lord!" and on the other side, the little Prince on his knees, through the streets, with her hair loose, her garments holding up his hands, as if praying to Heaven to punish his father's murderers. As the Queen rode disordered, covered with dust, and overpowered with grief, shame, and fatigue, this fatal flag was displayed before her eyes, while the voices of the rude multitude upbraided her with having been an accomplice in Darnley's murder. The same cries were repeated, and the same insulting banner displayed, before the windows of the Lord Provost's house, to which she was for a few hours committed as if a prisoner. The better class of craftsmen and citizens were at length moved by her sorrows, and showed such a desire to take her part, that the Lords determined to remove her own indiscretions, and the resentment of her her from the city, where respect to her birth and sorrows seemed likely to create partisans, in spite of enemies. Accordingly, on the next morning, being 16th June, 1567, Mary, escorted by a strong armed force, was conveyed to the Castle of Lochleven, The insurgent Lords now formed themselves into which stands on a little island, surrounded by a lake of the same name, and was there detained a prisoner. nation. Their first attention was turned to securing a Secret Council, for managing the affairs of the Bothwell, although, perhaps, there may have been some even amongst their own number, Morton, for example, and Maitland, who had been participant with him in the murder of Darnley, who could not be very desirous that he should be produced on a public trial. But it was necessary to make a show of pursuing him, and many were sincerely desirous that he should be taken. |