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decided to lodge him in the abbey of the Kirk of Field。 The king
made some objections when he knew of this arrangement； however； as he
had no power to oppose it； he contented himself with complaining of
the solitude of the dwelling assigned him； but the queen made answer
that she could not receive him at that moment； either at Holyrood or
at Stirling； for fear； if his illness were infectious； lest he might
give it to his son： Darnley was then obliged to make the best of the
abode allotted him。
It was an isolated abbey； and little calculated by its position to
dissipate the fears that the king entertained； for it was situated
between two ruined churches and two cemeteries： the only house； which
was distant about a shot from a cross…bow； belonged to the Hamiltons；
and as they were Darnley's mortal enemies the neighbourhood was none
the more reassuring： further； towards the north； rose some wretched
huts； called the 〃Thieves' cross…roads〃。 In going round his new
residence； Darnley noticed that three holes； each large enough for a
man to get through； had been made in the walls； he asked that these
holes； through which ill…meaning persons could get in； should be
stopped up： it was promised that masons should be sent； but nothing
was done； and the holes remained open。
The day after his arrival at Kirk of Field； the king saw a light in
that house near his which lie believed deserted； next day he asked
Alexander Durham whence it came； and he heard that the Archbishop of
St。 Andrew's had left his palace in Edinburgh and had housed there
since the preceding evening； one didn't know why： this news still
further increased the king's uneasiness； the Archbishop of St。
Andrew's was one of his most declared enemies。
The king； little by little abandoned by all his servants lived on the
first floor of an isolated pavilion； having about him only this same
Alexander Durham； whom we have mentioned already； and who was his
valet。 Darnley； who had quite a special friendship for him； and who
besides； as we have said； feared some attack on his life at every
moment； had made him move his bed into his own apartment； so that
both were sleeping in the same room。
On the night of the 8th February； Darnley awoke Durham： he thought he
heard footsteps in the apartment beneath him。 Durham rose； took a
sword in one hand； a taper in the other； and went down to the ground
floor； but although Darnley was quite certain he had not been
deceived； Durham came up again a moment after； saying he had seen no
one。
The morning of the next day passed without bringing anything fresh。
The queen was marrying one of her servants named Sebastian： he was an
Auvergnat whom she had brought with her from France； and whom she
liked very much。 However； as the king sent word that he had not seen
her for two days； she left the wedding towards six o'clock in the
evening； and came to pay him a visit； accompanied by the Countess of
Argyll and the Countess of Huntly。 While she was there； Durham； in
preparing his bed； set fire to his palliasse； which was burned as
well as a part of the mattress； so that； having thrown them out of
the window all in flames； for fear lest the fire should reach the
rest of the furniture； he found himself without a bed； and asked
permission to return to the town to sleep； but Darnley； who
remembered his terror the night before； and who was surprised at the
promptness that had made Durham throw all his bedding out of the
window； begged him not to go away； offering him one of his
mattresses； or even to take him into his own bed。 However； in spite
of this offer； Durham insisted； saying that he felt unwell； and that
he should like to see a doctor the same evening。 So the queen
interceded for Durham； and promised Darnley to send him another valet
to spend the night with him： Darnley was then obliged to yield； and；
making Mary repeat that she would send him someone； he gave Durham
leave for that evening。 At that moment Paris； of whom the queen
speaks in her letters； came in： he was a young Frenchman who had been
in Scotland for some years； and who； after having served with
Bothwell and Seyton； was at present with the queen。 Seeing him； she
got up； and as Darnley still wished to keep her
〃Indeed； my lord； it is impossible；〃 said she； 〃to come and see you。
I have left this poor Sebastian's wedding； and I must return to it；
for I promised to came masked to his ball。〃
The king dared not insist； he only reminded her of the promise that
she had made to send him a servant： Mary renewed it yet once again；
and went away with her attendants。 As for Durham； he had set out the
moment he received permission。
It was nine o'clock in the evening。 Darnley； left alone； carefully
shut the doors within； and retired to rest； though in readiness to
rise to let in the servant who should come to spend the night with
him。 Scarcely was he in bed than the same noise that he had heard
the night before recommenced； this time Darnley listened with all the
attention fear gives； and soon he had no longer any doubt but that
several men were walking about beneath him。 It was useless to call；
it was dangerous to go out； to wait was the only course that remained
to the king。 He made sure again that the doors were well fastened；
put his sword under his pillow； extinguished his lamp for fear the
light might betray him； and awaited in silence for his servant's
arrival； but the hours passed away； and the servant did not come。
At one o'clock in the morning； Bothwell； after having talked some
while with the queen； in the presence of the captain of the guard；
returned home to change his dress； after some minutes； he came out
wrapped up in the large cloak of a German hussar； went through the
guard…house； and had the castle gate opened。 Once outside； he took
his way with all speed to Kirk of Field； which he entered by the
opening in the wall： scarcely had he made a step in the garden than
he met James Balfour； governor of the castle。
〃Well；〃 he said to him； 〃how far have we got？
〃Everything is ready；〃 replied Balfour； 〃and we were waiting for you
to set fire to the fuse〃。 〃That is well；〃 Bothwell answered〃but
first I want to make sure that he is in his room。〃
At these words； Bothwell opened the pavilion door with a false key；
and； having groped his way up the stairs； he went to listen at
Darnley's door。 Darnley； hearing no further noise； had ended by
going to sleep； but he slept with a jerky breathing which pointed to
his agitation。 Little mattered it to Bothwell what kind of sleep it
was； provided that he was really in his room。 He went down again in
silence； then； as he had come up； and taking a lantern from one of
the conspirators； he went himself into the lower room to see if
everything was in order： this room was full of barrels of powder； and
a fuse ready prepared wanted but a spark to set the whole on fire。
Bothwell withdrew； the