with so much ability and energy, that the chiefs of the confederates, even Murray himself, were obliged to fly to England. When the French and Spanish Ambassadors loudly complained that Elizabeth had excited, supported, and given an asylum to the rebels, Murray and his confederates declared, in the presence of those Ambassadors, that the Queen was innocent, and were therefore severely reprimanded by Elizabeth for their conduct. This proceeding has generally been represented as a false diplomatic artifice; it appears, however, from the confidential letters of Cecil to persons in office, that Elizabeth wished to preserve peace with Scotland, and was only resolved to defend herself in case of an attack. (64)

At all events the Ambassadors who complained were now obliged to be silent, and the exiles to bear Elizabeth's reproaches, as they felt that a breach between England on one hand, and France and Spain on the other, would only injure their cause. Elizabeth, too, continued to grant them an asylum, for Mary had, on her part, received English exiles, had supported the Irishman O'Neale, had not restrained Scotch pirates, and had contrived with the Pope new intrigues against England. That Mary's adherents here were very active, though without success, and that Melvil, her Ambassador, was aware of it, can hardly be doubted, any more than that Elizabeth was concerned in the Scotch

troubles, and (though without raising complaints or commencing war,) would not suffer the Protestant party to be entirely suppressed, which, as she said, had been condemned without due observance of the course of law. In the further correspondence between the two Queens, civilities and reproaches alternately succeeded each other without leading to anything decisive; yet Mary's power and authority became more consolidated, so that many persons expected a continuance of tranquillity for the future, and placed her talents for government almost upon a level with those of her rival Elizabeth. But design and accident, passion and conviction, her own fault and that of others, combined together, in various ways, to obscure and at length to destroy these cheerful prospects.

Mary's joy at having succeeded in marrying her cousin Darnley was of short duration. She discovered, but too soon, that his personal beauty was not accompanied by mental qualifications or moral virtues. He was violent and yet fickle, domineering, yet easily led by flatteries, proud and ambitious, yet ignorant, and unfit for business, addicted to drinking and low pleasures. Instead of attending to the advice of Mary, to whom he was indebted for his elevation, or of answering her behaviour which, at the beginning, was extremely kind, he neglected her in many ways, and said afterwards that he had many serious grounds of complaint.(65)

David Rizio, a singer from Turin, had obtained, by his agreeable voice, access to the Queen, who was fond of music, and afterwards, by various acts, had so insinuated himself, that she raised him above all the nobles and officers of her court; and, without consulting her husband, intrusted him with the most important affairs. When the Queen was speaking with deputies of the nobility, or even in the full assembly of the States, Rizio unbecomingly interfered, and to this presumption were added ridiculous vanity, and blamable covetousness. He became still more odious when it was discovered that he was in the pay of the Pope, that he managed the correspondence of Mary with Pius IV. on the establishment of the Roman Catholic religion, and persuaded her to listen to the cruel advice of France and Spain, with respect to the Pro

testants.

66

Rizio's expenditure and suite of attendants exceeded those of the King; he was Mary's daily guest at table; remained for half the night in her company, and, it is said, was found by Darnley in her chamber, which was bolted. (6) By all this, Darnley felt extremely offended, both as a King and husband; and, though there is no sufficient proof against Mary in the latter point, her conduct was, at all events, very injudicious and improper. Without regarding the warnings of Melvil and other persons attached to her, she persisted in her

course, summoned a Parliament to condemn the fugitive Lords, and sequestered their estates. She permitted Romish worship to be everywhere celebrated, restored the archbishop of St. Andrew's to all his rights, commissioned him to institute enquiries against the heretics, and deprived the Protestant Clergy of almost all the powers that had been granted to them. This breach of all her promises, the well-founded apprehension of persecutions, such as Philip was at that time exercising in the Netherlands through Alba, caused many discontented persons to unite, and the offended Darnley placed himself at the head of a conspiracy, the object of which was, that he should in future manage the affairs of the State as King, that all the exiles should return, and Rizio be murdered.

Late in the evening of the 9th of March, 1566, Darnley entered the room in which were the Queen with Rizio and the Countess of Argyle, and kissed her with apparent tenderness. But he was soon followed by several conspirators, and, without regard to Mary's offer that the accused should appear before a court of justice, without regard to Rizio's throwing himself at the Queen's feet for protection, he was dragged into an adjoining apartment and murdered, with fifty-six wounds. The King called to the people, who had flocked together, from the window, that all had been done by his command. But the Queen, after having wept bit

terly, dried up her tears, and then said, "No more tears, I will think only on revenge. At first, she was kept like a prisoner, but when she granted a pardon to the Lords who had previously fled to England, gained over her half-brother, Murray, who had returned, and persuaded Darnley publicly to deny all participation in the conspiracy; affairs took so favourable a turn for her, that the guilty were obliged to fly, but some of them were taken and put to death. But Darnley, after such manifest falsehood and breach of faith, was despised by all parties, and the Queen's indifference was changed into aversion and hatred. him to the baptism of his son James, born on the 19th of June, 1566, which was celebrated according to the rites of the Romish Church. (67)

She did not even invite

When Elizabeth received the information of James's birth, she exclaimed, "Now the Queen of Scotland has a son, while I am a barren tree!" She soon collected herself however, and testified by letters, presents, and deputies, the interest she took in the event, which was of the greater importance, as the friends of Elizabeth and of a Protestant government now vehemently insisted in Parliament, in November, 1566, that she should marry, and the friends of Mary, on the other side, that the succession to the throne should be determined. When an intimation not to touch again on this subject proved ineffectual and the confirmation of Mary's right appeared to