demanded Queen of fident was she that, in imagination she had already CHAP IX seated herself on Elizabeth's throne. To the condi- 1565 tions of friendship offered by Tamworth she replied August in language which could scarcely have been more peremptory had she entered London at the head of a victorious army. Not condescending to notice what was Conditions demanded of herself, she required Elizabeth immediately by the to declare her by Act of Parliament next in the succes- Scots. sion; and failing herself and her children, to entail the Crown on Lady Margaret Lennox and her children, 'as the persons by the law of God and nature next inheritable.' The Queen of England should bind herself 'neither to do nor suffer to be done either by law or otherwise,' anything prejudicial to the Scottish title; to abstain in future from all practices with subjects of the Scottish Crown; to enter no league, and contract no alliance, which could affect the Queen of Scots' fortunes unfavourably. On these terms-but on these aloneshe would consent to leave Elizabeth in undisturbed possession during her own or her children's lifetime; she would abstain from encouraging the English Catholics to rise in rebellion in her behalf, and from inviting an invasion from Spain or France.' And she condescended to promise to throw dust in the eyes of the Protestants. in both countries-although she was receiving the support of the Pope and seeking the support of the King of Spain in the sole interests of Romanism-that in the event of herself and her husband succeeding to the throne of England, the religion established there by law should not be interfered with. An answer, every sentence of which must have stung 1 Offer of the King and Queen of Scotland, by Mr. Tamworth, August 1565.-Scotch MSS. Rolls House. 1565 CHAP IX Elizabeth like a whip-lash, might have for the moment satisfied Mary Stuart's passion; but her hatred of her August sister of England was passing into contempt, and she believed she might trample upon her with impunity. Tamworth having received his message desired to return with it to England. He applied for a passport, which was given him signed by Darnley as King of Scotland; and Elizabeth had forbidden him to recognize Darnley in any capacity but that of the Queen's husband. He desired that the wording might be changed: his request was refused. He requested that a guard might escort him to the Border: it could not be granted. He set out without attendance and without a safe-conduct: he was arrested and carried prisoner to Hume Castle. The lords at Stirling had been already so perplexed by Elizabeth's timidity that they had broken up and dispersed. Argyle and Murray retired to the western highlands, and sent an earnest message that unless they could be immediately relieved they would be overthrown.' The arrest of Tamworth added to their dismay. Yet in spite of past experience they could not believe Elizabeth capable of breaking promises so emphatically and so repeatedly made to them. They wrote through Randolph that they were still at the Queen of England's devotion. They would hold out as long as their strength lasted; but it was already tasked to the uttermost, and if left to themselves they would have to yield to superior force. The catastrophe came quicker than they anticipated. The friends of the Congregation were invited by circulars to meet at Ayr on the 24th of August. On the 25th the Queen of Scots-after a tempestuous interview 1 Tamworth to Cecil and Leicester, August 10.-Scotch MSS. Rolls House. 1565 Stuart takes with Randolph, who had demanded Tamworth's release- CHAP IX mounted her horse and rode out of Edinburgh at the head of 5000 men to meet her enemies in the field. August Darnley, in gilt armour, was at her side. She herself Mary carried pistols in hand and pistols at her saddlebow. Her the field. one peculiar hope was to encounter and destroy her brother, against whom-above and beyond his political opposition-she bore an especial and unexplained animosity.' I never heard more outrageous words than she spoke against my Lord of Murray. She said she would rather lose her crown than not be revenged upon him. She has some further cause of quarrel with him than she cares to avow.'-Randolph to Cecil, August 27. MS. Rolls House. Shortly after, Randolph imagined that he had discovered the 'further cause.' The hatred conceived against my Lord of Murray is neither for his religion nor yet for that she now speaketh-that he would take the crown from her, as she said lately to myself-but that she knoweth that he knoweth some such secret fact, not to be named for reverence sake, that standeth not with her honour, which he so much detesteth, being her brother, that neither can he show himself as he hath done, nor she think of him but as of one whom she mortally hateth. Here is the mischief- this is the grief; and how this may be solved and repaired it passeth man's wit to consider. This reverence, for all that, he hath to his sovereign, that I am sure there are very few that know this grief; and to have this obloquy and reproach of her removed, I believe he would quit his country for all the days of his life.'-Randolph to The mystery alluded to was appa- 'Elle s'estant ung peu teue, et secoué sa teste, me respondit que c'estoit pour ce que la Royne d'Escosse avoit esté informée que le Comte de Murray avoit voullu pendre ung Italien nommé David qu'elle aymoit et favorisoit, luy donnant plus de credit que ses affaires et honneur ne devoient.'-Paul de Foix au Roy. TEULET, vol. ii. CHAP IX With the money sent her from abroad she had con1565 trived to raise six hundred 'harquebussmen,' whom the August half-armed retainers of the lords could not hope to engage successfully. Passing Linlithgow and Stirling she swept swiftly round to Glasgow, and cut off the retreat of the Protestants into the western hills. A fight was looked for at Hamilton, where a hundred gentlemen of her party determined to set on Murray in the battle, and either slay him or tarry behind lifeless." Outnumbered for they had in all but 1300 horseand outmanœuvred by the rapid movements of the Queen, the Protestants fell back on Edinburgh, where they expected the citizens to declare for them. On the last of August-six days after Mary Stuart had left Holyrood-Chatelherault, Murray, Glencairn, Rothes, Boyd, Kirkaldy, and a few more gentlemen, rode with their servants into the West Port, and sending a courier to Berwick with a pressing entreaty for help, they preThe Lords in pared to defend themselves. But the Calvinist shopEdinburgh. keepers who could be so brave against a miserable priest had no stomach for a fight with armed men. The Queen was coming fast behind them like an avenging fury; and Erskine - who was inclining to the royal side-began to fire on the lords from the castle. In the town they could find neither help nor support from any one;' and the terrified inhabitants could only entreat and even insist that they should depart. A fortnight before, a little money and a few distinct words from England would have sufficed to save them. Mary Stuart's courage and Elizabeth's remissness had by this time so strengthened the party of the Queen that 'little 1 Randolph to Cecil, September 4.-MS. Rolls House. beth to good could now be done without greater support than CHAP IX could be in readiness in any short time.' The lords 1565 could only retire towards the Border and wait Elizabeth's September pleasure. What was promised,' Randolph passionately Randolph wrote to Cecil, 'your honour knoweth. Oh, that her prays ElizaMajesty's mind was known! If the Earl of Bedford declare herhave only commission to act in this matter both Queens may be in one country before long. In the whole world if there be a more malicious heart towards the Queen my sovereign than hers that here now reigneth, let me be hanged at my home-coming or counted a villain for ever.' 1 Mary meanwhile had re-entered Edinburgh, breathing nothing but anger and defiance. Argyle was in his own Highlands, wasting the adjoining lands of Athol and Lennox; but she scarcely noticed or cared for Argyle. The affection of a sister for a brother was curdled into a hatred the more malignant because it was unnatural. Her whole passion was concentrated on Murray, and after Murray on Elizabeth. The day before she had left Holyrood for the west an Englishman named Yaxlee had arrived there from Flanders. This person, who has been already mentioned as in the service of Lady Lennox, had been employed by her as the special agent of her correspondence with the continental courts. Lady Lennox being now in the Tower, Yaxlee followed the fortunes of her son, and came to Scotland to place himself at the disposal of Mary Stuart. He was a conspirator of the kind most dangerous to his employers-vain, loud, and confident, fond of boasting of his acquaintance with kings and princes, and promising to bring to a good end whatso 1 Randolph to Cecil, September 4.-MS. Rolls House. ELIZ. II. self. |