federacy and mutual defence; they also secretly corresponded with the English resident, and sought to fill the nation with distrust and apprehension.

Darnly, on his side, impatient of the opposition of Murray, formed a plot to assassinate him during the meeting of the convention at Perth. Murray also and his associates conspired to seize the person of Darnly, and to carry him a prisoner to England. Both these projects were rendered abortive by the vigilance of those against whom they were formed, Murray, warned of the danger which threatened him, avoided the meditated blow by not going to Perth, while the queen, informed of the conspiracy against her lover, retired with him precipitately to the other side of the Forth. All hopes of conciliation were now at an end: the mutual enmity of the different factions became aggravated and inflamed.

Mary, on her return to Edinburgh, by proclamation, summoned her vassals to her protection, who obeyed with alacrity the mandate. For the popularity which she had acquired by her mild administration, she was principally indebted to the prudence of Murray, whose services were however obliterated in his present offence. Mary, irritated at his opposition to her inclinations, summoned him to appear before her, and to answer to the charges preferred against him. Murray and his adherents were at the same time assem

bled at Stirling, to deliberate on the measures it would be proper for them to adopt. But the general disposition which appeared in the nation to gratify the queen on a subject so nearly concerning her, induced them, after imploring the protection of Elizabeth, to put an end to their consultations, disperse, and retire.

Thus triumphant over all her adversaries, Mary determined no longer to defer the conclusion of an event in which her heart was so deeply interested, and which had so long engrossed her attention. On the 29th of July, 1565, she gave her hand to lord Darnly in the royal chapel, where, the pope's dispensation having been previously obtained, the ceremony was performed according to the rites of the Roman church. Proclamations were issued at the same time, by which the title of king of Scots was conferred upon Darnly; while it was commanded, that all writs at law should henceforth run in the joint names of king and queen. The right of the queen to make choice of a husband without the assent of parliament was very disputable; but in raising him to be the master of her people, and conferring upon him the title and dignity of king, she certainly outstripped her authority. The consent of parliament was however obtained before Darnly ventured to assume his privileges. Mary pos

sessed so entirely the confidence of her subjects, that these irregular proceedings, notwithstanding the clamours of the opposite faction, produced no symptoms of general discontent.

Three days after these inauspicious nuptials, Murray was again summoned to court, and on his non-appearance declared an outlaw. At the same time lord Gordon, who since the insurrection of his father had been detained a prisoner, was set at liberty; the earl of Sutherland also, who on account of the same conspiracy had fled into Flanders, was recalled to Scotland, and Bothwell permitted to return. These men, who considered Murray as the enemy to their families, and who were animated against him with implacable hatred, formed on this union of sentiment the strictest bond with the queen, over all whose councils they acquired an ascendant. The inexorable resentment of Mary against Murray was rendered apparent by this confederacy with his enemies. The malecontents, unable to make head against the forces of the crown, fled into Argyleshire; whence they supplicated the assistance of England.

Elizabeth, in the mean time, the farther to embarrass Mary, blamed anew both her choice in a husband and the precipitation with which the nuptials had been concluded. Having required

Lennox and his son, whom she still claimed as her subjects, to return to England, she interceded earnestly in behalf of Murray, whose behaviour she justified as guiltless and even laudable. Mary, mortified by a message so contemptuous towards the man of her choice, vindicated her conduct with equal force and spirit, rejected the intercession of Elizabeth for Murray, and gave symptoms of resentment that she should pretend to interfere with the internal government of her kingdom. Nor did she in the least relax the severity with which she had treated Murray and his adherents, who now, having received from England a small supply of money, appeared openly in arms, and endeavoured to raise their followers in the western counties. By the vigilance of the crown, whose military operations were concerted and executed with equal vigour and success, the insurgents were prevented from assembling any considerable bodies. Mary, to encourage her forces, marched with them, rode with loaded pistols, and endured with fortitude the hardships of the field. The troops, superior in numbers to the malecontents, and inspired by the courage of their queen with enthusiastic ardour, struck a damp to the hearts of their enemies, who dared not face them in the field; but, having dexterously passed the army, they proceeded rapidly to Edinburgh, whose citi

zens they sought to rouse to arms. On the approach of the queen they were however forced to give way, and retreat in disorder towards the western borders,

Mary, uncertain of the route they had taken, employed her troops in securing the counties in the heart of the kingdom. Having seized the places of strength held by the insurgents, she obliged the nobles and barons whom she most distrusted to unite in an association for her defence. The country thus left in tranquillity, the queen, with an army of 18,000 men, marched in pursuit of the rebels, who, from every place where they halted, had sent her letters full of submission, and proposals towards an accommodation. These propositions were by the queen received with disdain; determined to crush the mutinous spirit of her subjects, the present opportunity she conceived was not to be rejected. The malecontents retired as she advanced; and, fleeing into England, placed themselves under the protection of the earl of Bedford, warden of the marches.

Murray wanted nothing here which the personal friendship of the earl could supply; but from Elizabeth, who, by exciting discord among the Scots, had already accomplished her purpose, he received neither, consolation nor support. Ac