SCOTLAND. 



With this ralh ftep began the misfortunes of Mary. 

 Henceforth her hfeisone continued fceiic of political folly, 

 and pcrfoiial imbecihty. Inftigated by hatred to all thofe 

 who manifelted an averlion to Darnlcy, (lie renounced 

 that prudent conduil which had hitherto enabled her to 

 maintaiN the dignity of her crown in the midll of con- 

 flitting faftions. Her Protertant counfellors were now dif- 

 mifled ; flie joined the league of Catholic princes ajjaind the 

 reformers ; and evinced her full determinatiMn to reilore the 

 Romifh religion in Scotland. The effeAs of this new fyllem 

 of policy foon became vifible. The tune of the prorogation 

 of parliament was fhortened ; and by a new proclamation, 

 the 1 2th of March was fixed for its meeting. Mary refolvcd, 

 without further delay, to proceed to the attainder of the 

 malcontent nobles, and at the fame time to take fome meaiures 

 towards the re-eftabli(hment of her favourite wordiip. The 

 ruin of Murray and his party feemed now inevitable, and 

 the danger of the reformed church imminent, when an event 

 unexpedledly happened which faved both. This was the 

 murder of Rizzio, the queen's favourite, by her luifband, 

 and feveral of the nobility, in her own prefence, which 

 roufed her indignation to tlie highefl pitch, and completely 

 alienated her affeftions from Darnley, who had already dif- 

 gulled her by his infolence and his licentioufuefs. Having 

 been confined, however, by the confpirators, (he was obliged 

 to did'cmble, in order to detach the king from their party, 

 a projedl in which (he completely fucceeded, and thus was 

 enabled to regain her liberty. Murray and the exiled nobles 

 were immediately received into favour ; and Morton, and the 

 rell of the murderers, were compelled to feek lafety in 

 England. 



The charm, which had at 'firll attached the queen to 

 Darnley, and held them in a happy union, was now entirely 

 dilFolved 5 and love no longer covering his follies and his rices 

 with its friendly veil, they appeared to Mary in their full 

 dimenfions and deformity. Though the king publilhed a 

 proclamation difclaiming all knowledge of the confpiracy 

 againft Rizzio, the queen was fully convinced that he was 

 not only acceffary to the contrivance, but to the commifTion 

 of that odious crime. That very power, which, with liberal 

 and unfufpicious fondnefs, (he had conferred upon him, he 

 had employed to infult her authority, to limit her preroga- 

 tive, and to endanger her perfon. Such an outrage it was 

 impoffiblc any woman could bear or forgive. Cold civilities, 

 fecret dillruit, frequent quarrels, fucceeded to chcir former 

 tranfports of affcition and confidence. 



About this time a new favourite grew into credit with the 

 queen, and foon gained an afcendancy over her heart, w hich 

 encouraged him to form defigns that proved fatal to himfelf 

 and to Mary. This was .lames Hepburn, earl of Bothwell, 

 the head of one of the molt ancient and powerful families in 

 the kingdom. When the confpirators againft Rizzio de- 

 tained her in cultody, he became the ciiief inftrument in re- 

 covering her liberty, and fervcd Iver with fo much fidelity and 

 fuccefs, as made tiie deeped impieiTion upon her mind. Her 

 gratitude loaded him with marks of her bounty ; (he raifcd 

 him to offices of dignity and truft; and tranfafted no matter 

 of importance without his advice. 



The hour of the queen's delivery now approached ; and 

 file was advifed, for the fake of pcrfedl fecurity, to take up 

 her refidence in the caitle of Edinburgh, where fne was ac- 

 cordingly delivered of her only fon, Jamer., whofe birtli 

 was happy for the whole ifland, and unfortunate only for her. 

 His accefhon to the throne of England, united the two 

 divided kingdoms in one mighty monarchy, and e(tabli(hed 

 the power of Great Britain on a firm foundation ; while 

 ftie, torn early from her foQ by the cruelty of htr fate, was 



never allowed to indulge thofe tender pafTioni, nor to tafte 

 thofe joys, which fill the heart of a mother. 



The queen, whan recovered, did not evince any change of 

 fentiment towards her hnfband. On the contrar)-, the breach 

 between them became every day wider, notwithftasding the 

 attempts of the French ambaffador to tffeft a reconciliation. 

 Her attachment moreover to Bothwell incrcafed, in propor- 

 tion as her love for Darnley declined. At length the latter 

 was murdered by the explollon of fome barrels of gun- 

 powder, placed under the houfe he had been inticed to 

 refide in at Edinburgh, and Bothwell was accufed of and 

 profecuted for the murder, but was acquitted on a trial by 

 his peers. Of his guilt, however, not the (lighted doubt 

 can be er.tertained ; and it is much to be feared that Mary 

 herfelf was acceflary to the crime. 



Bothwell now redoubled his afTiduities to fix the afTcftions 

 of the queen, and having fucceeded in that objecl to his utinofl 

 wifh, he carried her to the callle of Dunbar, where (he 

 remained a willing prifoner, till matters were finally arranged 

 for their nuptials, when ihc removed to Holyrood Houfe, and 

 was foon afterwards united to Botluvell, whom (he created 

 duke of Orkney. This Hep, the mod unjudiliable of all 

 her follies, was the prelude to her ruin. The nobles almo 11 

 immediately confederated againll her and Bothwell, wlm 

 was obliged to feek refuge in England, while (he herfelf fell 

 into the hands of her inccnfcd fubjects. By tiiem (he was 

 conducted firlt to Edinburgh, and (ubiequently to Lochleven 

 cadle. The confederate leaders adumcd the title of lords 

 of the fecret council, and arrogated to themfelves the whole 

 regal authority. Deliberations were held to fix the dediny 

 of the nation, and to determine refpedting the perfoa of the 

 queen. The relult was, that (he was compelled to refign 

 the crown in favour of her (on, who was inllantly pro- 

 claimed, and the earl of Murray was invelled with the dignity 

 of regent. 



Matters being thus arranged, the fird adt of the regent was 

 to call a parliament, in which all the meafures of the con- 

 federates were confirmed. But notwithilanding this, Mary 

 dill had many friends who were ready to fupport her caufe, 

 if (he could regain her liberty. Apprized of tiiefe favour- 

 able fentiments, (he uled every effort to effeit herefcape, and 

 at length fucceeded in her objedt, in a manner no lefa fur- 

 prifing to her friends, than unexpedted by her enemies. By 

 the influence of her charms, (lie captivated young Douglas, 

 the brotiier of the owner of the caitle, and prevailed upon 

 him to join in a plot for her liberation. Accordmgly, on the 

 appointed night, liaving llolen the keys from his brother's 

 room, he allowed Mary to pafs out, and then locking the 

 doors again, threw the keys into the lake. The queen en- 

 tered a boat prepared for her, and landed fafely on the fhore, 

 where Ihe was received by lord Seaton, fir James Hamilton, 

 and fome other of her friends, who had been apprized of 

 the plot. Iiidantly mounting on horfeback (he fled to 

 Hamilton, where (he was joined by a number of the nobility, 

 and in a few days found herfelf furrounded by a formidable 

 army. In this critical fituation, the genius and prudence of 

 the regent were eminently difplayed. While he amufcd 

 the queen for fome days by negociations, he employed him- 

 felf with the utmod indullry in drawing together his adhe- 

 rents from different parts of the kingdom. As foon as he 

 was in a condition to take the field, lie broke off" the nogo- 

 ciation, and determined to hazard a battle. Mary, whofe 

 intercll it was to delay the decifion of her i.ite, im])rudcntly 

 favoured his wi(hes. She attacked his army in an advan- 

 tageous pofition at Langfidc, and being completely defeated, 

 (kd to England, and throw herfelf upon the gencrofity of 

 queen Elizabeth, by whom (lie was detained a prifoner for 



the 



