Elizabeth as post after post came in from Scotland lost her breath at the rapidity of the Queen of Scots' movements; and resolution became more impossible as the need of it became more pressing. On receiving the news that the marriage was actually completed she despatched Tamworth, a gentleman of the bedchamber, to assure the Queen of Scots that whatever might be pretended to the contrary she had throughout been sincerely anxious to support her interests. The Queen of Scots had not given her the credit which she deserved, and was now 'imagining something else in England to content her fancy, as vain persons sometimes would.' Leaving much to Tamworth's discretion, she bade him nevertheless let the Queen of Scots see that her present intentions were thoroughly understood. She was following the advice of those who were labouring to extirpate out of Scotland the religion received there;' the Protestants among own subjects were to be destroyed 'to gain the favour of the Papists in England;' so as with the aid that they would hope to have of some prince abroad and from Rome also upon pretence of reformation in religion, she might when she should see time attempt the same that she did when she was married to France.' It was not for Elizabeth to say what might happen in Scotland; 'but for any other device that the Queen of Scots might be fed withal, she might be assured before God she would find all designs, consultations, intelligences, and advices, from wherever they might come to her, far or near, to be vain and deceitful.' Let her relinquish these idle imaginings, let her restore Murray to the council and un

her

dertake to enter into no foreign alliance prejudicial to English interests, and she might yet regain the confidence of her true friends.

Had Tamworth's instructions gone no further they would have been useless without being mischievous; but a further message betrayed the fatal irresolution to which Elizabeth was yielding. A fortnight previously she had required the Queen of Scots to abandon her own creed; she now condescended to entreat that if her other requests were rejected the Scotch Protestants might at least be permitted to use their own religion without molestation. She might have frightened Mary by a demonstration of force as prompt as her own. To show that she saw through her schemes, yet at the same time that she dared not venture beyond a feeble and hesitating protest, could but make the Queen of Scots desperate of further concealment, and encourage her to go forward more fearlessly than ever.

Mary Stuart,' when Tamworth came into her presence, 'gave him words that bit to the quick.' To the Queen of England's suspicions she said she would reply with her own lawful demands.' 'The Queen of England spoke of imaginations and fancies;' 'she was sorry her good sister thought so disdainfully of her as she would meddle with simple devices. If things went so that she was driven to extremities and practices, she would make it appear to the world that her devices were not to be set at so small a price.' Playing on

1 Instructions to Tamworth, August 1: MS. Rolls House.

Elizabeth's words with a straightforward but irritating irony, she said 'that by God's grace it should appear to the world that her designs, consultations, and intelligences would prove as substantial and no more vain and deceitful than such as her neighbours themselves had at any time taken in hand;' while as to Murray's restoration, she had never yet meddled between the Queen of England and her subjects; but now, 'induced by her good sister's example,' she would request most earnestly for the release and restoration to favour' of her mother-in-law the Lady Margaret, Countess of Lennox.1

Had Philip of Spain been at Mary's shoulder he would have advised her to spare her sarcasms till an armada was in the Channel or till Elizabeth was a prisoner at her feet. As soon as she had made sure of Darnley he would have recommended her to omit no efforts for conciliation. She need not have relinquished one emotion of hatred or one aspiration for revenge; but she would have been taught to wait upon time to soothe down the irritation which she had roused, to cajole with promises, and to compel Elizabeth by the steady if slow pressure of circumstances to give way step by step.

But Mary Stuart was young and was a woman. Her tongue was ready and her passions strong. Philip cared sincerely for Romanism, Elizabeth cared for English liberty, the Earl of Murray cared for the doctrines

1 Answer of the Queen of Scots to Tamworth: Printed in KEITH.

of the Reformation; Mary Stuart was chiefly interested in herself, and she was without the strength of selfcommand which is taught only by devotion to a cause. So confident was she that in imagination she had already seated herself on Elizabeth's throne. To the conditions of friendship offered by Tamworth, she replied in language which could scarcely have been more peremptory had she entered London at the head of a victorious army. Not condescending to notice what was demanded of herself, she required Elizabeth immediately to declare her by Act of Parliament next in the succession; and failing herself and her children, to entail the crown on Lady Margaret Lennox and her children 'as the persons by the law of God and nature next inheritable.' The Queen of England should bind herself 'neither to do nor suffer to be done either by law or otherwise' anything prejudicial to the Scottish title; to abstain in future from all practices with subjects of the Scottish Crown; to enter no league and contract no alliance which could affect the Queen of Scots' fortunes unfavourably. On these terms, but on these alone, she would consent to leave Elizabeth in undisturbed possession during her own or her children's lifetime; she would abstain from encouraging the English Catholics to rise in rebellion in her behalf, and from inviting an invasion from Spain or France;1 and she condescended to promise to throw dust in the eyes of the Protestants in both countries-although she was receiving the sup

1 Offer of the King and Queen of Scotland, by Mr Tamworth, August, 1565: Scotch MSS. Rolls House.

port of the Pope and seeking the support of the King of Spain in the sole interests of Romanism-that in the event of herself and her husband succeeding to the throne of England, the religion established there by law should not be interfered with.

An answer, every sentence of which must have stung Elizabeth like a whip-lash, might have for the moment satisfied Mary Stuart's passion; but her hatred of her sister of England was passing into contempt, and she believed she might trample upon her with impunity.

Tamworth having received his message desired to return with it to England. He applied for a passport, which was given him signed by Darnley as King of Scotland; and Elizabeth had forbidden him to recognize Darnley in any capacity but that of the Queen's husband. He desired that the wording might be changed: his request was refused. He requested that a guard might escort him to the Border: it could not be granted. He set out without attendance and without a safeconduct he was arrested and carried prisoner to Hume Castle.

The lords at Stirling had been already so perplexed by Elizabeth's timidity that they had broken up and dispersed. Argyle and Murray retired to the western Highlands, and sent an earnest message that unless they could be immediately relieved they would be overthrown. The arrest of Tamworth added to their dismay. Yet in spite of past experience they could not

1

1 Tamworth to Cecil and Leicester, August 10: Scotch MSS., Rolls House.