CHAP XIX and had promised to love her as an aunt and respect her as her mother-in-law,' if in future they could September be friends. Lady Lennox replied with a protest to 1570 Cecil against the restoration as tending to obscure the memory of the crimes of which she was indisputably guilty.1 Elizabeth herself too had for ever fresh and fresh causes of suspicion dragged before her. A gold brooch fell into her hands in which the lion of Scotland was represented crushing a leopard's skull. The rose and thistle were twined below them with the words 'Ainsy abattra le lyon Esconçoys le liépart Anglois.' 'If that be our hap,' said Randolph, by whom the emblem was sent to London, if that be our hap to have our lion of England clawn by the powle, we have 1 LADY LENNOX TO CECIL. 'September 8. 'Good Master Secretary,-You shall understand that I have heard of some Commissioners that shall go to the Queen of Scotland to treat with her of matters tending to her liberty to go thither, of which she herself doth already make assured account. The knowledge thereof is to me of no small discomfort, considering that notwithstanding the grievous murder which by her means only upon my son her husband was executed, divers persons in this realm doth yet doubt, and a great many doth credit, that since her coming hither she is found clear, and not to be culpable of that fact; because, as they say, since all the conventions and conferences had between the nobility touching that matter, it has not been published and made known that the said Queen was found in any way guilty therein. Much more when they already deceived shall see her released to go home at her pleasure (though upon some devised conditions to serve the present), their former conceits shall be verified; and therein they being satisfied it may appear that she hath sustained insufferable wrongs to be for no offence so long restrained within this realm. The rest thereof I refer to your wisdom. I am enforced to crave your friendship herein, and to impart this my meaning to her Majesty, whose Highness I trust will hold me excused, considering whereupon I ground my desire for the stay of her who otherwise I doubt shall stir up such ill as hereafter all too late may be repented.'-MSS. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, Rolls House. overlong nourished so cruel a beast that will devour CHAP XIX the whole estate.' 1 1570 Nevertheless the Queen determined to persevere. September She had given her word to the King of France, she said, and she meant to keep it; adding, with a proud consciousness of the truth of the words, that no Sovereign in Christendom would have shown the forbearance which she had shown throughout the whole business. 2 She repeated her desire that Lennox and Morton should send commissioners to London. She assured them that they need be under no alarm. She would provide as carefully for them as for herself, but the cause must come to an end; she could no longer with honour or reason continue to hold the Queen of Scots in restraint.' 3 Of all conditions the best would be the Queen of Scots' marriage to some safe person, Sir Henry Carey or some one like him. Could this be arranged other securities might be dispensed with; if not, it was necessary to tie her hands. The French Government promised to be contented with anything provided she was still recognised as Queen. Elizabeth fell back upon the terms which had been sketched by Maitland. England, Scotland, the people, and Sovereigns should be united in a perfect amity;' without prejudice to her future claims the Queen of Scots should abandon definitely her present pretences to the Crown of England; and she should swear, in the presence of the assembled English and Scotch nobility, never more to trouble the peace of that realm. She should make 1 Randolph to Cecil, Oct. 2.Compare La Mothe, Dépêches, Oct. 25. ELIZ. IV. H 2 La Mothe.-Ibid. 3 Elizabeth to Sussex, Sept. 28.— MSS. Scotland. 1570 CHAP XIX no league with foreign Powers to England's prejudice, introduce no foreign troops, and form no marriage September without Elizabeth's consent, especially none with the Duke of Anjou. The religion established in Scotland should not be changed; Dumbarton Castle should be held by an English garrison; the Prince should be brought to England to be educated. To obviate any future objection that she was consenting under compulsion, the Queen of Scots should, 'by an instrument to be devised in due form of law, declare herself at liberty,' and 'confirm the articles collectively and separately under the Great Seal of Scotland.' Should she violate her engagements in any part, she should be in mere justice adjudged, deputed, and taken as a person by her own consent, deprived of any title, challenge, or claim to the eventual English succession,' and 'the Queen of England should have liberty in the same cause to promote the young King by all means possible to the honour of Scotland.'1 เ These conditions were to be sent down to Chatsworth, before further steps were taken, for the Queen of Scots' approval. If she made difficulties, she was to be reminded of her incessant conspiracies against Elizabeth, such as no Sovereign had ever remitted when the pretending party was in the power of the possessor of the Crown;' and if this failed, she was to be told that the Queen's Majesty had hitherto forborne to publish such matters as she might have done to have touched the Queen of Scots for the murder of her husband,' with a hint that if driven to extremities, Elizabeth might yet have recourse to those means for CHAP XIX her own protection.' 1570 There was no fear, however, that Mary Stuart would September require to be pressed in this way. If France continued cold and Spain apathetic, her friends had agreed that she was to raise no more difficulties than would suffice to allay suspicion. The one paramount object was to get her out of England, and this once done, means could be found to break the chains of the strictest treaty which art could draw. The Pope, with his power to bind and to loose, would absolve her of her oaths; and a way would be found' to escape from the more substantial engagements. Maitland had instructed her from time to time in the course which she was to pursue. Two of his letters were intercepted by Lennox, and at last, though written in cipher, were read by Cecil's industry-at last, though with difficulty, and not till later in the winter, not in time to cut off the negotiations in the bud, but in time to prevent the deadly flower from growing to maturity. ' As representing the spirit in which the Queen of Scots and her friends were about to enter into the conference, the sincerity of those professions with which Mary Stuart had requested the Pope's permission to illude Elizabeth, the substance of these letters may be given in this place. On the 9th of August, while still at Blair Athol, and after his correspondence with Sussex, Maitland wrote to the Queen of Scots to tell her to allow nothing to interfere with the completion of the treaty. Help eventually might be looked for from abroad. Elizabeth was false-on his life he could swear that 1 Notes in Cecil's hand.-MSS. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. CHAP XIX she meant no good-but Mary Stuart must continue 1570 October เ เ to treat with her as though she had confidence in her friendship,' 'and must give her words for words.' 1 To the Bishop of Ross a few days later he wrote more in detail. 'We are to yield in everything,' he said, 'and receive humbly at English hands what they 'please to give us. It breaks my heart to see us at 'this point that Englishmen may give us law as they 'will. I understand by your letter that the Duke of 'Norfolk is at liberty, which is the best news I have 'heard this twelve months; and unless it had been 'the Queen of Scots' restitution, or that the Queen of 'England had gone ad Patres, ye could not have sent 'me any word whereat I would have been more glad. 'I hope to God since that has come to pass, the rest 'shall follow shortly. When ye write the Queen of 'England gives you good words, ye do well to make 'semblant to believe her, and to hope for goodness at 'her hands, but on my peril in your heart trust never 'word she speaks, for ye shall find all plain craft with'out true meaning. Always continue in the treaty ' until the untruth appears of itself. You desire my opinion what is to be answered to the demand of the 'Prince, some of the nobility for hostages, and the 'castle of Dumbarton. I will write you frankly what 'I think. The Queen of Scots is in the Queen of 'England's hands, and I think she intends never with 'her goodwill to part from her, and therefore to satisfy 'other Princes proposes the harder conditions which 'she thinks shall be refused. It is for the Queen of Scots hard to deliver her son in England, and it is 1 Maitland to the Queen of Scots, Aug. 9.-MSS. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, Rolls House. |