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holding a court of justice at Jedburgh； it was announced to her that
Bothwell； in trying to seize a malefactor called John Elliot of Park；
had been badly wounded in the hand； the queen； who was about to
attend the council； immediately postponed the sitting till next day；
and； having ordered a horse to be saddled； she set out for Hermitage
Castle； where Bothwell was living； and covered the distance at a
stretch； although it was twenty miles； and she had to go across
woods； marshes； and rivers； then； having remained some hours tete…d…
tete with him； she set out again with the same sped for Jedburgh； to
which she returned in the night。
Although this proceeding had made a great deal of talk； which was
inflamed still more by the queen's enemies； who chiefly belonged to
the Reformed religion； Darnley did not hear of it till nearly two
months afterwardsthat is to say； when Bothwell； completely
recovered； returned with the queen to Edinburgh。
Then Darnley thought that he ought not to put up any longer with such
humiliations。 But as； since his treason to his accomplices； he had
not found in all Scotland a noble who would have drawn the sword for
him； he resolved to go and seek the Earl of Lennox； his father；
hoping that through his influence he could rally the malcontents； of
whom there were a great number since Bothwell had been in favour。
Unfortunately； Darnley； indiscreet and imprudent as usual； confided
this plan to some of his officers； who warned Bothwell of their
master's intention。 Bothwell did not seem to oppose the journey in
any way； but Darnley was scarcely a mile from Edinburgh when he felt
violent pains none the less； he continued his road； and arrived very
ill at Glasgow。 He immediately sent for a celebrated doctor； called
James Abrenets； who found his body covered with pimples； and declared
without any hesitation that he had been poisoned。 However； others；
among them Walter Scott； state that this illness was nothing else
than smallpox。
Whatever it may have been； the queen； in the presence of the danger
her husband ran； appeared to forget her resentment； and at the risk
of what might prove troublesome to herself； she went to Darnley；
after sending her doctor in advance。 It is true that if one is to
believe in the following letters； dated from Glasgow； which Mary is
accused of having written to Bothwell； she knew the illness with
which he was attacked too well to fear infection。 As these letters
are little known； and seem to us very singular we transcribe them
here； later we shall tell how they fell into the power of the
Confederate lords； and from their hands passed into Elizabeth's； who；
quite delighted； cried on receiving them； 〃God's death； then I hold
her life and honour in my hands！〃
FIRST LETTER
〃When I set out from the place where I had left my heart； judge in
what a condition I was； poor body without a soul： besides； during the
whole of dinner I have not spoken to anyone； and no one has dared to
approach me； for it was easy to see that there was something amiss。
When I arrived within a league of the town； the Earl of Lennox sent
me one of his gentlemen to make me his compliments； and to excuse
himself for not having come in person； he has caused me to be
informed； moreover； that he did not dare to present himself before me
after the reprimand that I gave Cunningham。 This gentleman begged
me； as if of his own accord； to examine his master's conduct； to
ascertain if my suspicions were well founded。 I have replied to him
that fear was an incurable disease； that the Earl of Lennox would not
be so agitated if his conscience reproached him with nothing； and
that if some hasty words had escaped me； they were but just reprisals
for the letter he had written me。
〃None of the inhabitants visited me； which makes me think they are
all in his interests； besides； they speak of him very favourably； as
well as of his son。 The king sent for Joachim yesterday； and asked
him why I did not lodge with him； adding that my presence would soon
cure him； and asked me also with what object I had come： if it were
to be reconciled with him； if you were here； if I had taken Paris and
Gilbert as secretaries； and if I were still resolved to dismiss
Joseph？ I do not know who has given him such accurate information。
There is nothing； down to the marriage of Sebastian； with which he
has not made himself acquainted。 I have asked him the meaning of one
of his letters； in which he complains of the cruelty of certain
people。 He replied that he wasstricken； but that my presence caused
him so much joy that he thought he should die of it。 He reproached
me several times for being dreamy； I left him to go to supper； he
begged me to return： I went back。 Then he told me the story of his
illness； and that he wished to make a will leaving me everything；
adding that I was a little the cause of his trouble； and that he
attributed it to my coldness。 'You ask me；' added he； 'who are the
people of whom I complain： it is of you； cruel one； of you； whom I
have never been able to appease by my tears and my repentance。 I
know that I have offended you； but not on the matter that you
reproach me with： I have also offended some of your subjects； but
that you have forgiven me。 I am young； and you say that I always
relapse into my faults； but cannot a young man like me； destitute of
experience； gain it also； break his promises； repent directly； and in
time improve？ If you will forgive me yet once more； I will promise
to offend you never again。 All the favour I ask of you is that we
should live together like husband and wife； to have but one bed and
one board： if you are inflexible； I shall never rise again from here。
I entreat you； tell me your decision： God alone knows what I suffer；
and that because I occupy myself with you only； because I love and
adore only you。 If I have offended you sometimes； you must bear the
reproach； for when someone offends me； if it were granted me to
complain to you； I should not confide my griefs to others； but when
we are on bad terms； I am obliged to keep them to myself； and that
maddens me。'
〃He then urged me strongly to stay with him and lodge in his house；
but I excused myself； and replied that he ought to be purged； and
that he could not be； conveniently； at Glasgow； then he told me that
he knew I had brought a letter for him； but that he would have
preferred to make the journey with me。 He believed； I think； that I
meant to send him to some prison： I replied that I should take him to
Craigmiller； that he would find doctors there； that I should remain
near him； and that we should be within reach of seeing my son。 He
has answered that he will go where I wish to take him； provided that
I grant him what he has asked。 He does not； however； wish to be seen
by anyone。
〃He has told me more than a hundred pretty things that I cannot
repeat to you； and at which you yourself w