210

MARRIAGE OF THE QUEEN OF SCOTS AND DARNLEY.

were likely to be received; though the envoy says that he forebore openly to express the sentiments of his court on this topic. It was after Melvil's departure that Elizabeth, not indeed without reluctance and hesitation, permitted Darnley to accompany the earl his father into Scotland; ostensibly for the purpose of witnessing the reversal of the attainder formerly passed against the earl of Lennox, and his solemn restoration in blood; but really, as she well knew, with the object of pushing his suit with the queen.

Mary no sooner beheld the handsome youth than she was seized with a passion for him, which she determined to gratify; but apprehensive, with reason, of the interference of Eliazbeth, she disguised for the present her inclinations, and engaged with a feigned earnestness in negotiations preparatory to an union with Leicester. Meanwhile she was secretly soliciting at Rome the necessary dispensation for marrying within the prohibited degrees of the church; and it was not till the arrival of this instrument was speedily expected, and all her other preparations were complete, that taking off the mask, she requested her good sister's approbation of her approaching nuptials with the lord Darnley.

It is scarcely credible that a person of Elizabeth's sagacity, with her means of gaining intelligence, and after all that had passed, could have been surprised by this notification of the intentions of the queen of Scots; and it is even problematical how far she was really displeased at the occurrence. Except by imitating her perpetual celibacy, a compliment to her envy and her example which could not in reason be expected,—it might seem impossible for the queen of Scots better to consult the views and wishes of her kinswoman than by uniting herself to Darnley ;-a subject, and an English subject, a near relation both of her own and Elizabeth's, and a man on whom nature had bestowed not a single quality calculated to render him either formidable or respectable. The queen of England, however, frowardly bent on opposing the match to the utmost, directed sir Nicholas Throgmorton, her ambassador, to set before the eyes of Mary a long array of objections and impediments; and he was further authorised secretly to promise support to such of the Scottish nobles as would undertake to oppose it. She ordered, in the most imperious terms, the earl of Lennox and his son to return immediately into England: threw the countess of Lennox into the Tower by way of intimidation; and caused her council to exercise their ingenuity in discovering the manifold inconveniences and dangers likely to arise to herself and her country from the alliance of the queen of Scots with a house so nearly connected with the English crown.

Mary, however, persisted in accomplishing the union on which her mind was set: Darnley and his father neglected Elizabeth's order of recall; and her council vexed her by drawing from the melancholy

forebodings which she had urged them to promulgate two unwelcome inferences; that the queen ought to lose no time in forming a connexion which might cut off the hopes of others by giving to the nation posterity of her own;-and that as the Lennox family were known papists, it would now be expedient to exercise against all of that persuasion the utmost severity of the penal laws. The earl of Murray and some other malcontent lords in Scotland were the only persons who entered with warmth and sincerity into the measures of Elizabeth against the marriage; for they alone had any personal interest in impeding the advancement of the Lennox family. Rashly relying on the assurances which they had received of aid from England, they took up arms against their sovereign; but finding no support from any quarter, they were soon compelled to make their escape across the border, and seek refuge with the earl of Bedford, lord warden of the marches. On their arrival in London, the royal dissembler insisted on their declaring, in presence of the French and Spanish ambassadors, that their rebellious attempts had received no encouragement from her; but after this open disavowal she permitted them to remain unmolested in her dominions, but secretly supplying them with money, and interceding with their offended sovereign in their behalf.

Melvil acquaints us, that when sir Nicholas Throgmorton, on returning from his embassy, found that the promises which he had made to these malcontents had been disclaimed both by her majesty and by Randolph, he stood in awe neither of queen nor council to declare the verity, that he had made such promises in her name; whereof the counsellors and craftiest courtiers thought strange, and were resolving to punish him for avowing the same promise to be made in his mistress' name, had not he wisely and circumspectly obtained an act • of council for his warrant, which he offered to produce. And the said sir Nicholas was so angry that he had been made an instrument to . deceive the said banished lords, that he advised them to sue humbly for pardon at their own queen's hand, and to engage never again to offend her for satisfaction of any prince alive. And because, as they were then stated, they had no interest, he penned for them a persuasive letter, and sent to her majesty.' On this occasion Throgmorton showed himself a warm friend to Mary's succession in England; and advised clemency to the banished lords as one mean to secure it. Mary, highly esteeming him and convinced by his reasons, wisely resolved to follow his counsels.

Elizabeth never willingly remitted anything or that rigor against the puritans which she loved to believe it politic to exercise; but they were fortunate enough to find an almost avowed patron in Leicester, and secret favorers in several of her ministers and councillors; and. during the persecutions of the catholics which followed the marriage

212

NEGOTIATIONS AS TO THE MARRIAGE OF ELIZABETH.

of Mary queen of Scots, she found it impossible to press upon them with so heavy a hand.

Archbishop Parker, who was proceeding with much self-satisfaction and success in the task of silencing, by the pains of suspension and deprivation, all scruples of conscience among the clergy respecting habits and ceremonies, was now mortified to find his zeal restrained by the interference of the queen herself, while the exulting puritans studied to improve to the utmost the temporary connivance of the ruling powers.

CHAP. XV. 1565 AND 1566.

Renewal of the archduke's proposals.-Disappointment of Leicester.Anecdote concerning him.-Disgrace of the earl of Arundel.Situation of the duke of Norfolk.-Leicester his secret enemy.— Notice of the earl of Sussex.-Proclamation respecting fencing schools.-Marriage of lady Mary Grey.-Sir H. Sidney deputy of Ireland.-Queen's letter to him.-Prince of Scotland born.—Melvil sent with the news to Elizabeth.-His account of his reception.Motion in the house of commons for naming a successor.-Discord between the house and the queen on this ground. She refuses a subsidy-dissolves parliament and visits Oxford.-The particulars of her reception.

WHETHER or not it was with a view of impeding the marriage of the queen of Scots that Elizabeth had originally encouraged the renewal of the proposals of the archduke to herself, certain it is that the treaty was still carried on, and even with increased earnestness, long after this motive had ceased to operate.

It was subsequently to Mary's announcement of her approaching nuptials with Darnley, that Elizabeth had replied to the instances of the imperial ambassador, that she desired to keep herself free till she had finally decided on the answer to be given to the king of France, who had also offered her his hand.* After breaking off this negotiation with Charles IX., she declared to the same ambassador, that she would never engage to marry a person whom she had not seen ;—an answer which seemed to hint to the archduke that a visit would be well received. It was accordingly reported with confidence, that this prince would soon commence his journey to England; and Cecil himself ventured to write to a friend, that if he would accede to the national religion, and if his person proved acceptable to her majesty,

It is on the authority of Strype's Annals that this offer of Charles IX. to Elizabeth is recorded. Hume, Camden, Rapin, are all silent respecting it; but as it seems that Catherine de' Medici was at the time desirous of the appearance of a closer connexion with Elizabeth, it is not improbable that she might throw out some hint of this nature without any real wish of bringing about an union in all respects so unsuitable.

'except God should please to continue his displeasure against us, we should see some success.' But he thought that the archduke would never explain himself on religion to any one except the queen; and not to her until he should see hopes of speeding.

The splendid dream of Leicester's ambition was dissipated for ever by these negotiations; and a diminution of the queen's partiality towards him, distinctly visible to the observant eyes of her courtiers, either preceded or accompanied their progress. The enemies of Leicester;—a large and formidable party, comprehending almost all the highest names among the nobility and the greater part of the ministers, openly and zealously espoused the interest of the archduke. Leicester at first with equal warmth and equal openness opposed his pretensions; but he was soon admonished by the frowns of his royal mistress, that if he would preserve or recover his influence, he must now be content to take a humbler tone; and disguise a disappointment which there was arrogance in avowing.

The disposition of Elizabeth partook so much more of the haughty than the tender, that the slightest appearances of presumption would always provoke her to take a pleasure in mortifying the most distinguished of her favorites; and it might be no improbable guess, that the encouragement given by her to the addresses of the archduke was prompted almost solely by the desire of humbling the pride of Leicester; and showing him that his ascendancy over her was not so complete or so secure as he imagined.

A circumstance is related which we may conjecture to have occurred about this time, and which sets in a strong light this part of the character of Elizabeth. 'Bowyer, a gentleman of the Black Rod, being charged by her express command to look precisely into all admissions into the privy-chamber, one day stayed a very gay captain, and a follower of my lord of Leicester's, from entrance; for that he was neither well known, nor a sworn servant to the queen: at which repulse the gentleman, bearing high on my lord's favor, told him, he might perchance procure him a discharge. Leicester coming into the contestation, said publicly (which was none of his wont), that he was a knave, and should not continue long in his office; and so, turning about to go in to the queen, Bowyer, who was a bold gentleman and well beloved, stepped before him and fell at her majesty's feet, related the story, and humbly craves her grace's pleasure; and whether my lord of Leicester was king, or her majesty queen? Whereunto she replied, with her wonted oath, 'God's death, my lord, I have wished you well; but my favor is not so locked up for you, that others shall not partake thereof; for I have many servants, to whom I have, and will at my pleasure, bequeath my favor, and likewise resume the same: and if you think to rule here, I will take a course to see you forthcoming. I will have here but one mistress and

214 DISGRACE OF ARUNDEL-RIVALRY OF LEICESTER AND NORFOLK.

no master; and look that no ill happen to him, lest it be required at your hands.' Which words so quelled my lord of Leicester, that his feigned humility was long after one of his best virtues.' [Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia.]

It might be some consolation to Leicester, under his own mortifications, to behold his ancient rival the earl of Arundel subjected to far severer ones. This nobleman had resigned in disgust his office of lord-chamberlain; subsequently, the queen, on some ground of displeasure now unknown, had commanded him to confine himself to his own house; and at the end of several months passed under this kind of restraint, she still denied him for a further term the consolation and privilege of approaching her royal presence. Disgraces so public and so lasting determined him to throw up the desperate game on which he had hazarded so deep a stake: he obtained leave to travel, and hastened to conceal or forget in foreign lands the bitterness of his disappointment and the embarrassment of his circumstances.

It is probable that from this time Elizabeth found no more serious suitors amongst her courtiers; though they flattered her by continuing, almost to the end of her life, to address her in the language of love, or rather of gallantry. With all her coquetry, her head was clear, her passions were cool; and men began to perceive that there was little chance of prevailing with her to gratify her heart or her fancy at the expense of that independence on which her lofty temper led her to set so high a value. Some were still uncharitable, unjust enough to believe, that Leicester was, or had been, a fortunate lover; but few now expected to see him her husband, and none found encouragement sufficient to renew the experiment in which he had failed. Notwithstanding her short and capricious fits of pride and anger, it was manifest that Leicester still exercised over her mind an influence superior on the whole to that of any other person; and the high distinction with which she continued to treat him, both in public and private, alarmed the jealousy and provoked the hostility of all who thought themselves entitled by rank, by relationship, or by merit, to a larger share of her favor, or a more intimate participation in her councils.

One nobleman there was who had peculiar pretensions to supersede Leicester in his popular appellation of 'Heart of the Court,' and on whom he had already fixed in secret the watchful eye of a rival. This was Thomas duke of Norfolk. Inheriting through several channels the blood of the Plantagenets; nearly related to the queen by her maternal ancestry; and connected by descent or alliance with the whole body of the ancient nobility; endeared also to the people by many shining qualities, and still more by his profession of zeal for the reformed religion; his grace stood first amongst the peers of England, not in degree alone and in wealth, but in power, in influence, and in public estimation.