14 Philo M. Buck, Jr. 



the changes which Elizabeth inaugurated. The question of his 

 loyalty was raised in 1569 when he was appointed to suppress 

 the Northern Rebellion (see later), but he was amply vindicated 

 by commissioners who were sent out by Elizabeth to spy on him. 



Guyon in his quest to destroy Acrasia is accompanied by a 

 Palmer who symbolizes the temperance that is to distinguish the 

 deeds of this hero. By Acrasia I understand the Queen of Scots 

 and her strange power (so clearly shown in Hume's Love Affairs 

 of Mary, Queen of Scots) over the hearts and minds of nearly 

 all the men who came under her influence. Of all the men who 

 came near her, there were only two who were not affected by her 

 feminine appeal. The}^ were Sir Amyas Paulet and the Earl of 

 Sussex. The Palmer seems to be the old Scotch reformer, John 

 Knox, who, irritated by her feminine charms, broke out into most 

 intemperate temperance in his Monstrous Regiment of Women. 

 We will recollect that, according to Spenser's own preface to the 

 poem, on the second day of the feast which the Faerie Oueene 

 held in her court, a Palmer came bearing a babe with red hands 

 and asking for revenge against Acrasia who had caused the 

 tragedy. John Knox made a similar appeal to England against 

 the government of Mary and had oflr'ered the young prince, James, 

 son of the murdered Darnley, to the English Queen as a ward. 



In the story of the poem, Guyon and the Palmer come upon the 

 dying Amavia, the dead Mortdant, and the poor orphan child 

 dyed with the sign of the horrible murder. It seems clear. 

 Scotland, in the person of Knox, asks England to free the 

 country of the woman who could allow Darnley, her husband, 

 whom she has inveigled into a marriage, to be murdered in order 

 that she might enjoy the love of the Earl of Bothwell. 



We will recollect that the child was made over, not to the 

 Faerie Queene, but to Temperance, Medina, who was to bring 

 it up, and teach it who had caused the ruin of its parents. Young 

 James was taken away from his mother shortly after his birth, 

 and given into the hands of the Lords of the Congregation, to be 

 brought up and taught to rule. 



In Canto ii Guyon and the Palmer carrying the child repair to 

 the Castle of the Three Sisters, Perissa (Excess), Medina (Tem- 



172 



