Butsheunderstoodthatshecouldnotrevengeherselfatoneandthesametimeonherhusbandandhiscompanions：shesettowork，then，withallthecharmsofherwitandbeautytodetachthekindfromhisaccomplices。Itwasnotadifficulttask：whenthatbrutalragewhichoftencarriedDarnleybeyondallboundswasspent，hewasfrightenedhimselfatthecrimehehadcommitted，andwhiletheassassins，assembledbyMurray，wereresolvingthatheshouldhavethatgreatlydesiredcrownmatrimonial，Darnley，asfickleashewasviolent，andascowardlyashewascruel，inMary’sveryroom，beforethescarcelydriedblood，madeanothercompact，inwhichheengagedtodeliveruphisaccomplices。Indeed，threedaysaftertheeventthatwehavejustrelated，themurdererslearnedastrangepieceofnews——thatDarnleyandMary，accompaniedbyLordSeyton，hadescapedtogetherfromHolyroodPalace。Threedayslaterstill，aproclamationappeared，signedbyMaryanddatedfromDunbar，whichsummonedroundthequeen，inherownnameandtheking’s，alltheScottishlordsandbarons，includingthosewhohadbeencompromisedintheaffairofthe“runineverysense，“towhomshenotonlygrantedfullandcompletepardon，butalsorestoredherentireconfidence。InthiswaysheseparatedMurray’scausefromthatofMortonandtheotherassassins，who，intheirturn，seeingthattherewasnolongeranysafetyfortheminScotland，fledtoEngland，whereallthequeen’senemieswerealwayscertaintofindawarmwelcome，inspiteofthegoodrelationswhichreignedinappearancebetweenMaryandElizabeth。AstoBothwell，whohadwantedtoopposetheassassination，hewasappointedWardenofalltheMarchesoftheKingdom。
Unfortunatelyforherhonour，Mary，alwaysmorethewomanthanthequeen，while，onthecontrary，Elizabethwasalwaysmorethequeenthanthewoman，hadnosoonerregainedherpowerthanherfirstroyalactwastoexhumeRizzio，whohadbeenquietlyburiedonthethresholdofthechapelnearestHolyroodPalace，andtohavehimremovedtotheburial-placeoftheScottishkings，compromisingherselfstillmorebythehonoursshepaidhimdead，thanbythefavourshehadgrantedhimliving。
SuchanimprudentdemonstrationnaturallyledtofreshquarrelsbetweenMaryandDarnley：thesequarrelswerethemorebitterthat，asonecanwellunderstand，thereconciliationbetweenthehusbandandwife，atleastonthelatter’sside，hadneverbeenanythingbutapretence；sothat，feelingherselfinastrongerpositionstillonaccountofherpregnancy，sherestrainedherselfnolonger，and，leavingDarnley，shewentfromDunbartoEdinburghCastle，whereonJune19th，1566，threemonthsaftertheassassinationofRizzio，shegavebirthtoasonwhoafterwardsbecameJamesVI。
CHAPTERIII
Directlyshewasdelivered，MarysentforJamesMelville，herusualenvoytoElizabeth，andchargedhimtoconveythisnewstotheQueenofEngland，andtobeghertobegodmothertotheroyalchildatthesametime。OnarrivinginLondon，Melvilleimmediatelypresentedhimselfatthepalace；butastherewasacourtball，hecouldnotseethequeen，andcontentedhimselfwithmakingknownthereasonforhisjourneytotheministerCecil，andwithbegginghimtoaskhismistressforanaudiencenextday。ElizabethwasdancinginaquadrilleatthemomentwhenCecil，approachingher，saidinalowvoice，“QueenMaryofScotlandhasjustgivenbirthtoason“。Atthesewordsshegrewfrightfullypale，and，lookingaboutherwithabewilderedair，andasifshewereabouttofaint，sheleanedagainstanarm-chair；then，soon，notbeingabletostandupright，shesatdown，threwbackherhead，andplungedintoamournfulreverie。Thenoneoftheladiesofhercourt，breakingthroughthecirclewhichhadformedroundthequeen，approachedher，illatease，andaskedherofwhatshewasthinkingsosadly。“Ah！madam，“Elizabethrepliedimpatiently，“doyounotknowthatMaryStuarthasgivenbirthtoason，whileIambutabarrenstock，whowilldiewithoutoffspring？“
YetElizabethwastoogoodapolitician，inspiteofherliabilitytobecarriedawaybyafirstimpulse，tocompromiseherselfbyalongerdisplayofhergrief。Theballwasnotdiscontinuedonthataccount，andtheinterruptedquadrillewasresumedandfinished。
Thenextday，Melvillehadhisaudience。Elizabethreceivedhimtoperfection，assuringhimofallthepleasurethatthenewshebroughthadcausedher，andwhich，shesaid，hadcuredherofacomplaintfromwhichshehadsufferedforafortnight。Melvillerepliedthathismistresshadhastenedtoacquaintherwithherjoy，knowingthatshehadnobetterfriend；butheaddedthatthisjoyhadnearlycostMaryherlife，sogrievoushadbeenherconfinement。Ashewasreturningtothispointforthethirdtime，withtheobjectofstillfurtherincreasingthequeenofEngland’sdisliketomarriage——
“Beeasy，Melville，“Elizabethansweredhim；“youneednotinsistuponit。Ishallnevermarry；mykingdomtakestheplaceofahusbandforme，andmysubjectsaremychildren。WhenIamdead，I
wishgravenonmytombstone：’HereliesElizabeth，whoreignedsomanyyears，andwhodiedavirgin。’
MelvilleavailedhimselfofthisopportunitytoremindElizabethofthedesireshehadshowntoseeMary，threeorfouryearsbefore；butElizabethsaid，besideshercountry’saffairs，whichnecessitatedherpresenceintheheartofherpossessions，shedidnotcare，afterallshehadheardsaidofherrival’sbeauty，toexposeherselftoacomparisondisadvantageoustoherpride。Shecontentedherself，then，withchoosingasherproxytheEarlofBedford，whosetoutwithseveralothernoblemenforStirlingCastle，wheretheyoungprincewaschristenedwithgreatpomp，andreceivedthenameofCharlesJames。
ItwasremarkedthatDarnleydidnotappearatthisceremony，andthathisabsenceseemedtoscandalisegreatlythequeenofEngland’senvoy。Onthecontrary，JamesHepburn，EarlofBothwell，hadthemostimportantplacethere。
Thiswasbecause，sincetheeveningwhenBothwell，atMary’scries，hadruntoopposethemurderofRizzio，hehadmadegreatwayinthequeen’sfavour；toherpartyhehimselfappearedtobereallyattached，totheexclusionofthetwoothers，theking’sandtheEarlofMurray’s。Bothwellwasalreadythirty-fiveyearsold，headofthepowerfulfamilyofHepburn，whichhadgreatinfluenceinEastLothianandthecountyofBerwick；fortherest，violent，rough，giventoeverykindofdebauchery，andcapableofanythingtosatisfyanambitionthathedidnotevengivehimselfthetroubletohide。Inhisyouthhehadbeenreputedcourageous，butforlonghehadhadnoseriousopportunitytodrawthesword。
Iftheking’sauthorityhadbeenshakenbyRizzio’sinfluence，itwasentirelyupsetbyBothwell’s。Thegreatnobles，followingthefavourite’sexample，nolongerroseinthepresenceofDarnley，andceasedlittlebylittletotreathimastheirequal：hisretinuewascutdown，hissilverplatetakenfromhim，andsomeofficerswhoremainedabouthimmadehimbuytheirserviceswiththemostbittervexations。Asforthequeen，shenolongereventookthetroubletoconcealherdislikeforhim，avoidinghimwithoutconsideration，tosuchadegreethatonedaywhenshehadgonewithBothwelltoAlway，sheleftthereagainimmediately，becauseDarnleycametojoinher。
Theking，however，stillhadpatience；butafreshimprudenceofMary’satlastledtotheterriblecatastrophethat，sincethequeen’sliaisonwithBothwell，somehadalreadyforeseen。
TowardstheendofthemonthofOctober，1566，whilethequeenwasholdingacourtofjusticeatJedburgh，itwasannouncedtoherthatBothwell，intryingtoseizeamalefactorcalledJohnElliotofPark，hadbeenbadlywoundedinthehand；thequeen，whowasabouttoattendthecouncil，immediatelypostponedthesittingtillnextday，and，havingorderedahorsetobesaddled，shesetoutforHermitageCastle，whereBothwellwasliving，andcoveredthedistanceatastretch，althoughitwastwentymiles，andshehadtogoacrosswoods，marshes，andrivers；then，havingremainedsomehourstete-d-
tetewithhim，shesetoutagainwiththesamespedforJedburgh，towhichshereturnedinthenight。
Althoughthisproceedinghadmadeagreatdealoftalk，whichwasinflamedstillmorebythequeen’senemies，whochieflybelongedtotheReformedreligion，Darnleydidnothearofittillnearlytwomonthsafterwards——thatistosay，whenBothwell，completelyrecovered，returnedwiththequeentoEdinburgh。
ThenDarnleythoughtthatheoughtnottoputupanylongerwithsuchhumiliations。Butas，sincehistreasontohisaccomplices，hehadnotfoundinallScotlandanoblewhowouldhavedrawntheswordforhim，heresolvedtogoandseektheEarlofLennox，hisfather，hopingthatthroughhisinfluencehecouldrallythemalcontents，ofwhomtherewereagreatnumbersinceBothwellhadbeeninfavour。
Unfortunately，Darnley，indiscreetandimprudentasusual，confidedthisplantosomeofhisofficers，whowarnedBothwelloftheirmaster’sintention。Bothwelldidnotseemtoopposethejourneyinanyway；butDarnleywasscarcelyamilefromEdinburghwhenhefeltviolentpainsnonetheless，hecontinuedhisroad，andarrivedveryillatGlasgow。Heimmediatelysentforacelebrateddoctor，calledJamesAbrenets，whofoundhisbodycoveredwithpimples，anddeclaredwithoutanyhesitationthathehadbeenpoisoned。However，others，amongthemWalterScott，statethatthisillnesswasnothingelsethansmallpox。
Whateveritmayhavebeen，thequeen，inthepresenceofthedangerherhusbandran，appearedtoforgetherresentment，andattheriskofwhatmightprovetroublesometoherself，shewenttoDarnley，aftersendingherdoctorinadvance。Itistruethatifoneistobelieveinthefollowingletters，datedfromGlasgow，whichMaryisaccusedofhavingwrittentoBothwell，sheknewtheillnesswithwhichhewasattackedtoowelltofearinfection。Astheselettersarelittleknown，andseemtousverysingularwetranscribethemhere；laterweshalltellhowtheyfellintothepoweroftheConfederatelords，andfromtheirhandspassedintoElizabeth’s，who，quitedelighted，criedonreceivingthem，“God’sdeath，thenIholdherlifeandhonourinmyhands！“
FIRSTLETTER
“WhenIsetoutfromtheplacewhereIhadleftmyheart，judgeinwhataconditionIwas，poorbodywithoutasoul：besides，duringthewholeofdinnerIhavenotspokentoanyone，andnoonehasdaredtoapproachme，foritwaseasytoseethattherewassomethingamiss。
WhenIarrivedwithinaleagueofthetown，theEarlofLennoxsentmeoneofhisgentlementomakemehiscompliments，andtoexcusehimselffornothavingcomeinperson；hehascausedmetobeinformed，moreover，thathedidnotdaretopresenthimselfbeforemeafterthereprimandthatIgaveCunningham。Thisgentlemanbeggedme，asifofhisownaccord，toexaminehismaster’sconduct，toascertainifmysuspicionswerewellfounded。Ihaverepliedtohimthatfearwasanincurabledisease，thattheEarlofLennoxwouldnotbesoagitatedifhisconsciencereproachedhimwithnothing，andthatifsomehastywordshadescapedme，theywerebutjustreprisalsfortheletterhehadwrittenme。
“Noneoftheinhabitantsvisitedme，whichmakesmethinktheyareallinhisinterests；besides，theyspeakofhimveryfavourably，aswellasofhisson。ThekingsentforJoachimyesterday，andaskedhimwhyIdidnotlodgewithhim，addingthatmypresencewouldsooncurehim，andaskedmealsowithwhatobjectIhadcome：ifitweretobereconciledwithhim；ifyouwerehere；ifIhadtakenParisandGilbertassecretaries，andifIwerestillresolvedtodismissJoseph？Idonotknowwhohasgivenhimsuchaccurateinformation。
Thereisnothing，downtothemarriageofSebastian，withwhichhehasnotmadehimselfacquainted。Ihaveaskedhimthemeaningofoneofhisletters，inwhichhecomplainsofthecrueltyofcertainpeople。Herepliedthathewas——stricken，butthatmypresencecausedhimsomuchjoythathethoughtheshoulddieofit。Hereproachedmeseveraltimesforbeingdreamy；Ilefthimtogotosupper；hebeggedmetoreturn：Iwentback。Thenhetoldmethestoryofhisillness，andthathewishedtomakeawillleavingmeeverything，addingthatIwasalittlethecauseofhistrouble，andthatheattributedittomycoldness。’Youaskme，’addedhe，’whoarethepeopleofwhomIcomplain：itisofyou，cruelone，ofyou，whomI
haveneverbeenabletoappeasebymytearsandmyrepentance。I
knowthatIhaveoffendedyou，butnotonthematterthatyoureproachmewith：Ihavealsooffendedsomeofyoursubjects，butthatyouhaveforgivenme。Iamyoung，andyousaythatIalwaysrelapseintomyfaults；butcannotayoungmanlikeme，destituteofexperience，gainitalso，breakhispromises，repentdirectly，andintimeimprove？Ifyouwillforgivemeyetoncemore，Iwillpromisetooffendyouneveragain。AllthefavourIaskofyouisthatweshouldlivetogetherlikehusbandandwife，tohavebutonebedandoneboard：ifyouareinflexible，Ishallneverriseagainfromhere。