Maryhadbeenpresentatthebattle，andthecalmandcourageshedisplayedhadmadealivelyimpressiononherwilddefenders，whoallalongtheroadhadheardhersaythatshewouldhavelikedtobeaman，topassherdaysonhorseback，hernightsunderatent，towearacoatofmail，ahelmet，abuckler，andathersideabroadsword。
MarymadeherentryintoEdinburghamidgeneralenthusiasm；forthisexpeditionagainsttheEarlofHuntly，whowasaCatholic，hadbeenverypopularamongtheinhabitants，whohadnoveryclearideaoftherealmotiveswhichhadcausedhertoundertakeit：TheywereoftheReformedfaith，theearlwasapapist，therewasanenemytheless；
thatisalltheythoughtabout。Now，therefore；theScotch，amidtheiracclamations，whethervivavoceorbywrittendemands，expressedthewishthattheirqueen，whowaswithoutissuebyFrancisII，shouldre-marry：Maryagreedtothis，and，yieldingtotheprudentadviceofthoseabouther，shedecidedtoconsultuponthismarriageElizabeth，whoseheirshewas，inhertitleofgranddaughterofHenryVII，intheeventoftheQueenofEngland’sdyingwithoutposterity。Unfortunately，shehadnotalwaysactedwithlikecircumspection；foratthedeathofMaryTudor，knownasBloody。
Mary，shehadlaidclaimtothethroneofHenryVIII，and，relyingontheillegitimacyofElizabeth’sbirth，hadwiththedauphinassumedsovereigntyoverScotland，England，andIreland，andhadhadcoinsstruckwiththisnewtitle，andplateengravedwiththesenewarmorialbearings。
ElizabethwasnineyearsolderthanMary——thatistosay，thatatthistimeshehadnotyetattainedherthirtiethyear；shewasnotmerelyherrivalasqueen，then，butaswoman。Asregardseducation，shecouldsustaincomparisonwithadvantage；forifshehadlesscharmofmind，shehadmoresolidityofjudgment：versedinpolitics，philosophy，history；rhetoric，poetryandmusic，besidesEnglish，hermaternaltongue，shespokeandwrotetoperfectionGreek，Latin，French，ItalianandSpanish；butwhileElizabethexcelledMaryonthispoint，inherturnMarywasmorebeautiful，andaboveallmoreattractive，thanherrival。Elizabethhad，itistrue，amajesticandagreeableappearance，brightquickeyes，adazzlinglywhitecomplexion；butshehadredhair，alargefoot，——[ElizabethbestowedapairofhershoesontheUniversityofOxford；theirsizewouldpointtotheirbeingthoseofamanofaveragestature。]——andapowerfulhand，whileMary，onthecontrary，withherbeautifulashy-
fairhair，——[SeveralhistoriansassertthatMaryStuarthadblackhair；butBrantome，whohadseenit，since，aswehavesaid，heaccompaniedhertoScotland，affirmstatitwasfair。And，sosaying，hetheexecutionertookoffherheaddress，inacontemptuousmanner，todisplayherhairalreadywhite，thatwhilealive，however，shefearednottoshow，noryettotwistandfrizzasinthedayswhenitwassobeautifulandsofair。“]——hernobleopenforehead，eyebrowswhichcouldbeonlyblamedforbeingsoregularlyarchedthattheylookedasifdrawnbyapencil，eyescontinuallybeamingwiththewitcheryoffire，anoseofperfectGrecianoutline，amouthsorubyredandgraciousthatitseemedthat，asafloweropensbuttoletitsperfumeescape，soitcouldnotopenbuttogivepassagetogentlewords，withaneckwhiteandgracefulasaswan’s，handsofalabaster，withaformlikeagoddess’sandafootlikeachild’s，Marywasaharmonyinwhichthemostardententhusiastforsculpturedformcouldhavefoundnothingtoreproach。
ThiswasindeedMary’sgreatandrealcrime：onesingleimperfectioninfaceorfigure，andshewouldnothavedieduponthescaffold。
Besides，toElizabeth，whohadneverseenher，andwhoconsequentlycouldonlyjudgebyhearsay，thisbeautywasagreatcauseofuneasinessandofjealousy，whichshecouldnotevendisguise，andwhichshoweditselfunceasinglyineagerquestions。OnedaywhenshewaschattingwithJamesMelvilleabouthismissiontohercourt，Mary’soffertobeguidedbyElizabethinherchoiceofahusband，——achoicewhichthequeenofEnglandhadseemedatfirsttowishtoseefixedontheEarlofLeicester，——sheledtheScotchambassadorintoacabinet，wheresheshowedhimseveralportraitswithlabelsinherownhandwriting：thefirstwasoneoftheEarlofLeicester。AsthisnoblemanwaspreciselythesuitorchosenbyElizabeth，Melvilleaskedthequeentogiveithimtoshowtohismistress；butElizabethrefused，sayingthatitwastheonlyoneshehad。Melvillethenreplied，smiling，thatbeinginpossessionoftheoriginalshemightwellpartwiththecopy；butElizabethwouldonnoaccountconsent。
Thislittlediscussionended，sheshowedhimtheportraitofMaryStuart，whichshekissedverytenderly，expressingtoMelvilleagreatwishtoseehismistress。“Thatisveryeasy，madam，“hereplied：“keepyourroom，onthepretextthatyouareindisposed，andsetoutincognitoforScotland，asKingJamesVsetoutforFrancewhenhewantedtoseeMadeleinedeValois，whomheafterwardsmarried。“
“Alas！“repliedElizabeth，“Iwouldliketodoso，butitisnotsoeasyasyouthink。Nevertheless，tellyourqueenthatIlovehertenderly，andthatIwishwecouldlivemoreinfriendshipthanwehavedoneuptothepresent“。Thenpassingtoasubjectwhichsheseemedtohavewantedtobroachforalongtime，“Melville，“shecontinued，“tellmefrankly，ismysisterasbeautifulastheysay？“
“Shehasthatreputation，“repliedMelville；“butIcannotgiveyourMajestyanyideaofhexbeauty，havingnopointofcomparison。“
“Iwillgiveyouone，“thequeensaid。“IsshemorebeautifulthanI？“
“Madam，“repliedMelville，“youarethemostbeautifulwomaninEngland，andMaryStuartisthemostbeautifulwomaninScotland。“
“Thenwhichofthetwoisthetaller？“askedElizabeth，whowasnotentirelysatisfiedbythisanswer，cleverasitwas。
“Mymistress，madam，“respondedMelville；“Iamobligedtoconfessit。“
“Thensheistootall，“Elizabethsaidsharply，“forIamtallenough。Andwhatareherfavouriteamusements？“shecontinued。
“Madam，“Melvillereplied，“hunting，riding，performingontheluteandtheharpischord。“
“Issheskilleduponthelatter？“Elizabethinquired。“Ohyes，madam，“answeredMelville；“skilledenoughforaqueen。“
Theretheconversationstopped；butasElizabethwasherselfanexcellentmusician，shecommandedLordHunsdontobringMelvilletoheratatimewhenshewasatherharpischord，sothathecouldhearherwithoutherseemingtohavetheairofplayingforhim。Infact，thesameday，Hunsdon，agreeablytoherinstructions，ledtheambassadorintoagalleryseparatedfromthequeen’sapartmentmerelybytapestry，sothathisguidehavingraisedit。MelvilleathisleisurecouldhearElizabeth，whodidnotturnrounduntilshehadfinishedthepiece，which，however，shewasplayingwithmuchskill。
WhenshesawMelville，shepretendedtoflyintoapassion，andevenwantedtostrikehim；butherangercalmeddownbylittleandlittleattheambassador’scompliments，andceasedaltogetherwhenheadmittedthatMaryStuartwasnotherequal。Butthiswasnotall：
proudofhertriumph，ElizabethdesiredalsothatMelvilleshouldseeherdance。Accordingly，shekeptbackherdespatchesfortwodaysthathemightbepresentataballthatshewasgiving。Thesedespatches，aswehavesaid，containedthewishthatMaryStuartshouldespouseLeicester；butthisproposalcouldnotbetakenseriously。Leicester，whosepersonalworthwasbesidessufficientlymediocre，wasofbirthtooinferiortoaspiretothehandofthedaughterofsomanykings；thusMaryrepliedthatsuchanalliancewouldnotbecomeher。Meanwhile，somethingstrangeandtragiccametopass。
CHAPTERII
AmongthelordswhohadfollowedMaryStuarttoScotlandwas，aswehavementioned，ayoungnoblemannamedChatelard，atruetypeofthenobilityofthattime，anephewofBayardonhismother’sside，apoetandaknight，talentedandcourageous，andattachedtoMarshalDamville，ofwhosehouseholdheformedone。Thankstothishighposition，Chatelard，throughoutherstayinFrance，paidcourttoMaryStuart，who，inthehomageherenderedherinverse，sawnothingmorethanthosepoeticaldeclarationsofgallantrycustomaryinthatage，andwithwhichsheespeciallywasdailyoverwhelmed。ButithappenedthataboutthetimewhenChatelardwasmostinlovewiththequeenshewasobligedtoleaveFrance，aswehavesaid。ThenMarshalDamville，whoknewnothingofChatelard’spassion，andwhohimself，encouragedbyMary’skindness，wasamongthecandidatestosucceedFrancisIIashusband，setoutforScotlandwiththepoorexile，takingChatelardwithhim，and，notimagininghewouldfindarivalinhim，hemadeaconfidantofhim，andlefthimwithMarywhenhewasobligedtoleaveher，chargingtheyoungpoettosupportwithhertheinterestsofhissuit。ThispostasconfidantbroughtMaryandChatelardmoretogether；and，asinhercapacityaspoet，thequeentreatedhimlikeabrother，hemadeboldinhispassiontoriskalltoobtainanothertitle。Accordingly，oneeveninghegotintoMaryStuart’sroom，andhidhimselfunderthebed；butatthemomentwhenthequeenwasbeginningtoundress，alittledogshehadbegantoyelpsoloudlythatherwomencamerunningathisbarking，and，ledbythisindication，perceivedChatelard。Awomaneasilypardonsacrimeforwhichtoogreatloveistheexcuse：MaryStuartwaswomanbeforebeingqueen——shepardoned。
ButthiskindnessonlyincreasedChatelard’sconfidence：heputdownthereprimandhehadreceivedtothepresenceofthequeen’swomen，andsupposedthatifshehadbeenaloneshewouldhaveforgivenhimstillmorecompletely；sothat，threeweeksafter，thissamescenewasrepeated。Butthistime，Chatelard，discoveredinacupboard，whenthequeenwasalreadyinbed，wasplacedunderarrest。
Themomentwasbadlychosen：suchascandal，justwhenthequeenwasabouttore-marry，wasfataltoMary，letalonetoChatelard。Murraytooktheaffairinhand，and，thinkingthatapublictrialcouldalonesavehissister’sreputation，heurgedtheprosecutionwithsuchvigour，thatChatelard，convictedofthecrimeoflese-majeste，wascondemnedtodeath。MaryentreatedherbrotherthatChatelardmightbesentbacktoFrance；butMurraymadeherseewhatterribleconsequencessuchauseofherrightofpardonmighthave，sothatMarywasobligedtoletjusticetakeitscourse：Chatelardwasledtoexecution。Arrivedonthescaffold，whichwassetupbeforethequeen’spalace，Chatelard，whohaddeclinedtheservicesofapriest，hadRonsard’sOdeonDeathread；andwhenthereading，whichhefollowedwithevidentpleasure，wasended，heturned——towardsthequeen’swindows，and，havingcriedoutforthelasttime，“Adieu，loveliestandmostcruelofprincesses！“hestretchedouthisnecktotheexecutioner，withoutdisplayinganyrepentanceorutteringanycomplaint。ThisdeathmadeallthemoreimpressionuponMary，thatshedidnotdaretoshowhersympathyopenly。
MeanwhiletherewasarumourthatthequeenofScotlandwasconsentingtoanewmarriage，andseveralsuitorscameforward，sprungfromtheprincipalreigningfamiliesofEurope：first，theArchdukeCharles，thirdsonoftheEmperorofGermany；thentheDukeofAnjou，whoafterwardsbecameHenryIII。ButtowedaforeignprincewastogiveupherclaimstotheEnglishcrown。SoMaryrefused，and，makingameritofthistoElizabeth，shecasthereyesonarelationofthelatter’s，HenryStuart，LordDarnley，sonoftheEarlofLennox。Elizabeth，whohadnothingplausibletourgeagainstthismarriage，sincetheQueenofScotlandnotonlychoseanEnglishmanforhusband，butwasmarryingintoherownfamily，allowedtheEarlofLennoxandhissontogototheScotchcourt，reservingittoherself，ifmattersappearedtotakeaseriousturn，torecallthemboth——acommandwhichtheywouldbeconstrainedtoobey，sincealltheirpropertywasinEngland。