actions, because I see that it is good and honourable, and their Queen's doings abominable and to be detested.'1

It would have been well if Elizabeth had rested here; but after her conversation with Murray, and not liking the language in which he replied to her menaces, she ventured upon a step, which, if it had been likely to succeed as in the end, and when circumstances changed, it succeeded but too fatally-might have created, and was intended to create, a civil war in Scotland. She had directed Throgmorton when she sent him on his commission, if he failed with the Confederate Lords, to address himself to the Hamiltons. She had been warned of the game which the Hamiltons were playing, but she believed that she could tempt them through their ambition to declare themselves for the Queen; and while Throgmorton was busy with the Lords, she attempted through some other agent to work upon their adversaries. Her advances were not successful.

'I understand by a very sure friend,' Bedford wrote to Cecil, 'that her Majesty does work with the Hamiltons against the Lords, and that somewhat has been offered to them in that behalf. Her Majesty has spent much money to rid the French out of this country, and this is the next way to bring them in again, and breed her Majesty great disquietness in the end-what else I dare not say. Her Majesty is a wise princess, and you and the rest be wise councillors. As soon as the Hamiltons understood thereof they sent to the Lords and

1 Bedford to Throgmorton, August 4: Conway MSS.

offered the sooner to agree; so that thus little was saved, for this was the way to have one Scotsman cut another's throat.'1

2

The effect indicated by Bedford was brought more plainly before Throgmorton, who himself also knowing what Elizabeth expected of him, had put out feelers in the same direction.' The Hamiltons, as Bedford truly said, immediately betrayed to the Lords the advances which had been made to them. So wild Elizabeth's movements seemed to both parties, that each assumed she must be influenced by some sinister motive. The Hamiltons imagined that she wished to weaken Scotland by a civil war; Maitland, who more respected her ability than her principles, suspected her of an insidious desire to provoke them to make an end of the Queen.' 3

Both concurred in believing that she meant ill to

2 On the 6th of August Leicester wrote to him to say that 'her Majesty did will that he should make all search and inquiry to know what party might be made for the Queen, whether the house of Hamilton did stand for her or no, and that as much encouragement as was possible might be given to them for their better maintenance therein.'Conway MSS.

1 Bedford to Cecil, July-, 1567: | in reply, 'that seek to bring her death Border MSS. to pass, what show soever the Queen your mistress and you do make to save her life and set her at liberty. The Hamiltons and you concur together-you have nothing in your mouths but liberty, and nothing less in your hearts. I have heard what you have said to me. I assure you if you should use this speech unto them which you do unto me, all the world could not save the Queen's life three days to an end-and as the case standeth, it will be much ado to save her life.'-Throgmorton to Elizabeth, August 9: MSS. Scot

3 Throgmorton, after the coronation, in obedience to orders from home, had given a severe message to Maitland. It is you,' said Maitland | land.

them and to Scotland, and, in consequence, instant and sinister overtures came in from all the noblemen who had hitherto held aloof from the Confederates. The true objects of the Hamiltons, long suspected, now began to show themselves. They cared nothing for the Queen ; they cared much for the greatness of their house, and something they cared for Scotland. They had no humour to fill the country with blood to please their 'auld enemies; and if the Confederate Lords would resolve finally to abandon the detested alliance with England, return to their old traditions, accept France for their patron, and admit the Hamilton succession, the prisoner at Lochleven might cease to be a difficulty. Her life, in fact, was the only obstacle to an immediate union of parties. Were she once dead no question could be raised about her. So long as she lived there was the fear that she might one day be restored by Elizabeth; and if the Hamiltons came over to the Lords while this possibility continued, they would lose her thanks for their former well-doings, incur as much danger as those who had been first and deepest in the action against her, and suffer most having most to lose.' 'Let the Lords proceed,' they said; 'let them provide for themselves and such as would join with them, that they should come to no dangerous reckoning (meaning thereby the despatch of the Queen, for they said they could not honour two suns), and it should not be long ere they could accord and run all one course.' These were the words which on the 9th of August were reported to Throgmorton by Murray of Tullibardine, as a

communication which had been just received from the counter-confederacy at Hamilton Castle. Throgmorton had heard something of it before. The Archbishop was known to have promoted the Bothwell marriage merely to ruin the Queen; yet selfishness and baseness so profound seemed scarcely credible when laid out in black and white.

'Surely,' Throgmorton said, 'the Hamiltons could make more by the Queen's life than by her death. They might make a better bargain by marrying her to the Lord of Arbroath.'

The alternative had been considered, Tullibardine replied, but after careful thought had been laid aside. 'They saw not so good an outgate by this device as by the Queen's destruction; for she being taken away, they accounted but the little King betwixt them and home. They loved not the Queen: they knew she had no great fancy to any of them, and they thus much feared her, the more because she was young and might have many children, which was the thing they would be rid of.'

'My Lord,' he continued, as he saw Throgmorton still half incredulous, 'never take me for a true gentleman if this be not true that I tell you. The Archbishop of St Andrews and the Abbot of Kilwinning have proposed this much to me within these forty-eight hours.' 2

1

The substantial truth of Tullibardine's words was

1 Gawen Hamilton.

2 Throgmorton to Elizabeth, August 9: MSS. Scotland.

easily ascertained. Both the Hamiltons and Lord Huntly had made the same proposals, had suggested the same measures through separate messengers; and, perplexed and fatally disheartened, Throgmorton went once more to Mar and Maitland, on whose general moderation he believed that he could rely. From neither of them however could he gather any comfort. Mar told him that he would do what he could for the Queen in the way of persuasion, but to save her life,' he said, 'by endangering her son estate, or by betraying my marrows, I will never do it, my Lord Ambassador, for all the gowd in the world.' 1

or his

Maitland was scarcely less discouraging, and replied to his appeal with mournful bitterness.

'My Lord,' he said, 'we know all the good purposes which have passed between you and the Hamiltons and the Earl of Argyle and Huntly. You know how I have proceeded with you since your coming hither; I have given you the best advice I could to prevent extremity, and either the Queen your sovereign will not be advised, or you do forbear to advise her. I say unto you, as I am a Christian man, if we which have dealt in this action would consent to take the Queen's life from her, all the lords which hold out and lie aloof from us would come and join with us within two days. My Lord Ambassador, if you should use the speech to the Lords which you do to me, all the

1 Throgmorton to Leicester, August 9: MSS. Scotland.