settlement of the Border disputes, the release of prisoners on both sides, and the establishing a sound and lasting tranquillity on the frontiers of the two kingdoms, the seat of ancient and fierce enmities. These commissioners were the infamous James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who, a few years later, involved Queen Mary in disgrace and destruction; Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, father of the celebrated secretary of Mary; and Sir Walter Car, or Ker, of Cessford, ancestor of the Dukes of Roxburgh. Sir Ralph Sadler thought fit to postpone the meeting to the 11th of September, and the Scottish commissioners do not appear to have been sensible of the fact that, in the meanwhile, those of England were actively corresponding with the insurgents. Great caution was used in that matter. In conformity with Cecil's advice, a comfortable letter was drawn up between Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Croft to the Lords of the Congregation, expressing their hearty sorrow at understanding that their godly enterprise, tending principally to the advancement of God's glory, and next to the safeguard and defence of their natural country from the conquest of the French nation, should be unfortunately stayed and interrupted.' But this letter was not sent to its destination; and it seems to have been stopped in consequence of the journey into Scotland of the son and heir of the Duke of Chatellerault, who had been in England in close conference with Cecil, by means of whom the necessary encouragement might be transmitted to the insurgents by word of mouth, thus diminishing the chance of committing Queen Elizabeth as a fomenter of the rebellion. The ex-regent's son, who at this time bore his father's former title of Earl of Arran, stole into Scotland with an English pass, under the assumed name of Monsieur de Beaufort, and he was accompanied by Master Thomas Randall, or Randolph, an able and intelligent agent of Queen Elizabeth, an adept in secret intrigues, who assumed, for the nonce, the name of Barnyby.' This Randall, or Randolph, alias Barnyby, remained a considerable time in Scotland, being in fact the resident envoy of Elizabeth to the Lords of the Congregation. He occasionally corresponded directly with the queen's council, but more generally with Sir R. Sadler. On the 8th of September, three days before the appointed meeting with the commissioners of the Queen-regent of Scotland, Sadler wrote to inform Cecil that Mr. Balnaves had at last arrived at midnight from the Lords of the Congregation, and had made him "the whole discourse of all their proceedings from the beginning." English money and promises had worked the desired effect; the Lords of the Congregation were encouraged to strike another blow. In an armistice concluded at the Links of Leith on the 24th of the preceding month of July, it was covenanted-1. That the town of Edinburgh should use what religion they pleased. 2. That no one should be prosecuted for religion. 3. That no garrison should be placed in Edinburgh. A dispute arose concerning the possession of the high church of St. Giles' in Edinburgh, which the queen-regent desired to retain for the exercise of the Catholic worship, and which the Reformers were equally eager to occupy. But, in fact, John Knox was determined to drive the Romish clergy from every church, from every altar, whether public or private, and thus, immediately after the agreement of the Links of Leith, he extended his demands, insisting that mass should not be said even within the precincts of the palace of Holyrood. Sadler granted the Lords of the Congregation for the present £2000, telling their envoy, that if they made a good use of it, and kept the secret, and the queen's honour untouched, they should soon have more. Balnaves returned well satisfied to the Lords of the Congregation, who took the money as secretly as possible. In the same long letter, in which he reports all that had passed with Balnaves, Sir Ralph informs Cecil that there were other Scot tish Protestants, as Kirkaldy of Grange, Ormeston, and Whitlaw, "which have spent much for this matter, whereof they be earnest prosecutors; and, having lost fifteen or sixteen months' pay, which they should now have had out of France,” looked for some relief, and had been put in some hope thereof; "but," continues Sadler, "because we have been so liberal of the queen's purse, albeit it pleased her majesty to commit the same to the discretion of me the said Sir Ralph, yet we would be glad to know how her highness liketh or misliketh what we have done before we do any more." Elizabeth was obliged to send down more money to Berwick, some of which was paid to Kirkaldy, Ormeston, and Whitlaw, and some, it should appear, to the Earl of Arran, the son of the Duke of Chatellerault the ex-regent. In a day or two Arran was safely delivered in Teviotdale to one of his friends, who undertook to convey him surely and secretly to his father in the castle of Hamilton; and it appears to have been after this return of his son that the ex-regent fully declared for the Lords of the Congregation. Meanwhile, on the ap pointed day, Sadler, with Croft and the Earl of Northumberland, met the commissioners of the queen-regent upon the frontiers. A dispute about the wording of their respective commissions consumed some time, and then, with proper diplomatic slowness, Sadler proceeded to business-a business which, like all Border disputes, could be of the chief port and entrance into that part of lengthened ad infinitum. During these discus- Scotland;" and the Lords of the Congregation sions Knox sent his preachers over the country; attempted to get possession of Edinburgh Castle, the queen-regent "fell into a great melancholy in which, however, they were defeated by Lord and displeasure;" the Congregation began to as- Erskine the governor, who professed to observe semble, and the Frenchmen began to devise means neutrality between the contending parties, and for their own defence. Had she but known half refused to admit either Protestants or Catholics. the intrigues that were at work, the queen-regent In spite of all the precaution of the English had good reason to be melancholy. Her secre- queen and the marvellous address of her agent, tary, William Maitland, wrote to Sadler's asso- Mary's mother was not altogether blind to what ciate, Sir James Croft, desiring him to have no was passing, and she complained, through her less good opinion of him than heretofore, and commissioners, that, without her license and offering his service to the queen's majesty (Eliza- knowledge, many of the Scottish insurgents were beth) in anything that he could: "and further," allowed to pass through England into Scotland. says Croft in a joint letter, "he sent me word that and also out of Scotland into England, to work he attended upon the regent in her court no longer mischief to her government. It is indeed certain. than till he might have good occasion to revolt that the Cardinal of Lorraine, and others who unto the Protestants." At the same time, how-directed the councils of that very youthful couple, ever, more troops arrived from France, and more French money was placed at the disposal of the queen-regent and her party. John Knox was greatly alarmed as to the French money, and he immediately besought Elizabeth to counteract its dangerous effects to the Protestant interests by sending more English money into Scotland. On his recent return from Geneva through England he had had an interview with Cecil, and evidently had arranged beforehand the plan of his operations. He corresponded afterwards with the English secretary and others in England; and on the 21st of September, under the feigned name of John Sinclear, he wrote to Sadler's colleague, Croft, a remarkable letter from St. Andrews. After mentioning the return of the younger Arran, and how the Lords of the Congregation had departed for Stirling to join him and his father, the Duke of Chatellerault, at Hamilton Castle, he passed at once to the question of money, and told Mr. Secretary that unless more money was sent, especially for some chiefs whom he had named in writing, it would be impossible for them to serve in this action.? would have made Francis and Mary quarter the English arms under any circumstances; but notwithstanding this, Elizabeth, with reference to her own conduct, could not justly allege that the first provocation to their mortal quarrel proceeded from Mary. It is almost idle to consider this as a moral question, or as an affair directed personally by the two rival princesses; but as many writers have viewed it in this light, it may be proper to make prominent one or two little facts. Mary was only in her seventeenth year, her husband was nearly a year younger, and both were entirely guided by others. Elizabeth was in her twenty-sixth year, the mistress of her own council and actions, an experienced and most competent person. If, therefore, a false and unfair direction was given to the policy of Mary, it was her misfortune, or an offence for which morally she was not accountable, but in Elizabeth such a thing would be her own crime. The ex- Regent Chatellerault took occasion openly to declare himself on the French fortifying Leith, and he told the queen-regent that she must either dislodge them, or be sure that the Those who take the least favourable view of nobility of Scotland would not suffer nor endure the character of John Knox can hardly suspect it. The regent replied that it was surely as that he wanted money for himself, but he knew lawful for her daughter to fortify where she the world and the mercenary character of most pleased in her own realm as it was for him, the of the Scottish chiefs; and, besides, the sinews of duke, to build fortifications for himself at Hamilwar appear really to have been wanting, and the ton Castle, and that she would not remove the Catholic party, as we have seen, were drawing French from Leith unless she were compelled by funds from France. For a time it was a struggle force. As soon as these matters were known at of the purse between England and France. Eli- Berwick, where agents and spies were constantly zabeth, at all times parsimonious, was at the pre-going and coming, Sadler wrote a short but sensent poor and embarrassed, and yet, under the tentious letter to his old acquaintance the duke, wise guidance of Cecil and Sadler, she continued assuring his grace that if it might lie in so poor to send gold down to Berwick. Meanwhile the a man as he was to do his grace any service, he French fortified Leith, as if "intending to keep should find him most willing and ready thereto, themselves within that place, and so to be masters to the uttermost of his power at all times. The duke and the Lords of the Congregation suppressed the abbeys of Paisley, Kilwinning, and Knox had arrived in Scotland only on the 2d of May of this present year, 1559. 2 Sadler, Papers. 66 making in that country against Scotland, with earnest advice to the lords to seek aid of England; “which letter," adds the adroit agent, "I guess to savour too much of Knox's style to come from France, though it will serve to good purpose." Dunfermline, burning all the images, idols, and Popish stuff in the same, and by means of Alexander Whitlaw, a godly man and most affectionate to England," they assured Sadler that they would take the field after harvest against the French-only they wanted some more money, without which they should not be able to keep their The queen-regent by this time had conveyed men together. At the same time Knox sued all her property out of Holyroodhouse and Edinagain for relief for certain Scottish leaders whom burgh, into Leith. At last, the Lords of the he would not name, but whom Sadler set down Congregation, with the Duke of Chatellerault, as the Earl of Glencairn, the Lairds of Dun, Or- and his son the Earl of Arran, at their head, meston, and Grange, and Alexander Whitlaw. La marched upon the capital: the regent, with the Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens had arrived with French and the Scottish lords of the Catholic party a few troops at Leith, and more were expected. who yet adhered to her, withdrew at their apIn this posture of affairs Sadler recommended the proach within the fortified lines of Leith, there immediate spending of £4000 or £5000, which to await aid from France. The lords called a he thought might save the queen's highness a parliament, and summoned to Edinburgh all the great deal another way. While they were get- gentlemen living upon the Borders, upon pain of ting ready this money in England the regent treason in case of non-attendance. On the 22d wrote to the duke, reproving him for joining of October Balnaves reported that all hope of with the Lords of the Congregation, and accusing concord had that day been taken away, by reason him and the said lords of their practices with that blood had been drawn largely on both sides.' Queen Elizabeth. At the same time the regent At the same time he pressed for more money, and spoke of a new agreement, offering to leave off asked for some English gunpowder. Two days fortifying Leith, to secure liberty for all men to after, the Lords of the Congregation themselves use their conscience, and to send the French out addressed Sadler, telling him that they had deof Scotland by a certain day; but the duke an- prived the queen-regent of her authority, by swered that he could do nothing without the common consent of all the lords and barons preLords of the Congregation. The sum of £3000 sent at Edinburgh-that they had openly proin French coin was down at Berwick by the 10th claimed her deprivation, had inhibited her offi of October; and from Berwick it soon found its cers from executing anything in her name, and way into the pockets of the Lords of the Congrehad further denounced "her French and assisgation; but still those chiefs were slow in taking tants" as enemies to the commonwealth. Touchthe field; and Sadler, through Thomas Randolph, ing the lords' request for more money and for alias Barnyby, told them that they ought to be gunpowder, Sadler replied that he trusted they more diligent in this great and weighty business. would consider secrecy above all things-that he A few days afterwards Sir Ralph was still more did not see how he could send them powder pressing, telling the Lords of the Congregation without an open show and manifestation of Elithat they ought "to take their time while they, zabeth as an enemy to the French, who were have it, and thereby prevent the malice of their then in peace and amity with her: and yet he enemies." Randolph, who was moving about adds, if they can devise which way the same may with the Scottish lords, assured Sadler that some- be secretly conveyed unto them, in such sort as thing would be done presently, for the queen- it could not be known to come from England, he regent had set forth her proclamation, and the could be well content that they had as much Lords of the Congregation had also set forth their gunpowder as might be spared from Berwick proclamation "as vehement on the other side, conveniently. And likewise for money, he was with full determination to fall to no composition." | in good hope of having some to send them soon, By this time continual vexation and alarm had but he prayed that they would use such precau broken the health of Mary of Guise. "Some," tions and mysteries as the importance of the writes Randolph, "think that the regent will matter and the honour of Queen Elizabeth redepart secretly; some that she will to Inch- quired, and be more close and secret in their keith, for that three ships are a-preparing. doings and conferences. Knox, who could rea Some say that she is very sick: some say the devil cannot kill her." In the same secret despatch, which, like most of the rest, was written in a cipher, Randolph says that the prior of St. Andrews has just sent to the Earl of Arran a powerful letter said to be received out of France, containing many news of the great preparations, 1 This blood was drawn in skirmishes outside of the works of Leith. Knox, in his history, says that there was skirmishing, but without great slaughter. In praising himself, Balnaves seems to cast a reflection on his colleagues. He tells Randolph to assure their bonours, the English commissioners, in his name, that the little money he had brought with him had gone farther than £5000 would have gone intrusted to anybody else. the siege of Leit al te son like a politician, had written to Croft or to of & preparations, and intimated to the Lords of the Congregation that she was now ready to enter upon a treaty with them. The Scottish lords chose for their negotiator the able William Maitland of Lethington, who had now deserted from his post of secretary to the regent, a step he had been contemplating for some time. If the English queen had any lingering doubts and misgivings as to braving a war, they were soon removed by this truly accomplished diplomatist. On the 27th of February she concluded, at Berwick, a treaty of mutual defence, which was to last during the marriage of the Queen of Scots with the French king, and for a year after; she solemnly promised never to lay down her arms till the French should be entirely driven out of Scotland; and she gave equally solemn assurances that she would not attack the liberties, laws, and usages of the Scots.' N of the French now in Scotland did not exceed 3000 men. An English army, amounting to 6000 men, under the Lord Grey de Wilton, having marched by Berwick to Preston on the 6th of April, 1560, joined a considerable force brought thither by the Lords of the Congregation; and while the fleet blockaded the port of Leith, and prevented the arrival of any succour from France, the united armies of Scotland and England laid siege to the town on the land side. The Marquis d'Elbœuf had embarked for Scotland with a large force, but his transports were scattered by s storm, and either wrecked on the coast of Holland or driven back to France. In this way the English fleet had no opportunity of distinguish. ing itself in battle. The land troops soon gat glaring proofs that they had in a great degr lost the habit of discipline, and that they we unskilfully commanded. They opened their tre In the month of March, notwithstanding the ches in ground utterly unfit for the purpose, ~~ storms of winter, the English fleet, which con- their guns were so badly pointed as to make lit sisted of thirteen large ships of war, besides tran- or no impression on the bastions which the Fret sports, appeared in the Firth of Forth, and at a had thrown up, or on the walls of Leith. Th critical moment, for 4000 Frenchmen, horse and line of circumvallation was loose and ragged, : foot, had been detached from Edinburgh and so little vigilance was used, that for some t Leith, and were then engaged in ravaging the the French broke through it with impunity. fertile and Protestant county of Fife. D'Oisel, soon appeared that Leith, "though not the their general, who had not proceeded unmolested, inexpugnable, would percase be found of and who was checked by the appearance on his strength as would require time, and that left flank of numerous Scottish bodies under the greatest want which the Scottish chieftains prior of St. Andrews, Lord Ruthven, and Kir- fear was lack of money; for, otherwise, they kaldy of Grange, was transported with joy at the of good courage." This courage, however, sight of the gallant fleet, which he mistook for the been damped by sundry suspicions and m long-promised ships of D'Elbœuf, and he wasted ings. At the very commencement of host a great deal of valuable gunpowder in firing a even while the Scotch and English wel salute. But, presently, Winter, the English ad-gaged with the French, Sir James Cro miral, hoisted his flag, and at that unwelcome sight D'Oisel turned, and began a difficult and dangerous retreat. He, however, reached Edinburgh, where he found the queen-regent in an alarming state of health. Forseeing the dangers and hardships to which her sinking frame would be exposed in a besieged town, the broken-hearted and dying Mary of Guise implored the Lord Erskine to receive her into the castle of Edinburgh; and his lordship, who still maintained his curious neutrality and independence, granted her an asylum upon condition that she should take only a few attendants into the castle with her. Quitting his royal mistress, his steady and affectionate friend, for ever, D'Oisel threw himself into Leith. That place had been well fortified before, and now he employed a short time allowed him by the enemy in adding to its defences; and, notwithstanding the fact that the English attacked Leith rather like bull-dogs than soldiers, D'Oisel and the French engineers must have evinced very considerable skill. The whole force Rymer. "2 Sir George Howard had an interview wi queen-regent in Edinburgh Castle. This stance instantly excited the suspicion of the of the Congregation, who apprehended t zabeth had empowered her diplomatic a make a separate peace, upon conditions a! geous to herself, and that thus the Scottis gents would be abandoned to the venge the French and the queen-mother. And very satisfactory evidence to prove the fears were not altogether groundless." can be little doubt that the selfish an lating Duke of Chatellerault and sever. lords of his party, who were at best b warm Protestants, would have entered w zabeth and the queen-regent into any able accord" that would have promoted : sonal interests, and that they would | John Knox and the Congregation to themselves: but, most auspiciously for t Elizabeth's agents, and Mary of Guise, tained a high spirit even in death, |