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queen made a sign that she had no need of it； and gazed at the door
with apparent calm。 Lord Ruthven appeared； it was the first time
that she had seen the son since Rizzio had been assassinated by the
father。
Lord Ruthven was both a warrior and a statesman； and at this moment
his dress savoured of the two professions： it consisted of a close
coat of embroidered buff leather； elegant enough to be worn as a
court undress； and on which； if need were； one could buckle a
cuirass； for battle： like his father； he was pale； like his father；
he was to die young； and； even more than his father； his countenance
wore that ill…omened melancholy by which fortune…tellers recognise
those who are to die a violent death。
Lord Ruthven united in himself the polished dignity of a courtier and
the inflexible character of a minister； but quite resolved as he was
to obtain from Mary Stuart； even if it were by violence； what he had
come to demand in the regent's name； he none the less made her； on
entering； a cold but respectful greeting； to which the queen
responded with a courtesy； then the steward drew up to the empty arm…
chair a heavy table on which had been prepared everything necessary
for writing； and at a sign from the two lords he went out； leaving
the queen and her companion alone with the three ambassadors。 Then
the queen； seeing that this table and this arm…chair were put ready
for her； sat down； and after a moment； herself breaking this silence
more gloomy than any word could have been
〃My lords；〃 said she； 〃you see that I wait： can it be that this
message which you have to communicate to me is so terrible that two
soldiers as renowned as Lord Lindsay and Lord Ruthven hesitate at the
moment of transmitting it？〃
〃Madam；〃 answered Ruthven； 〃I am not of a family； as you know； which
ever hesitates to perform a duty； painful as it may be； besides； we
hope that your captivity has prepared you to hear what we have to
tell you on the part of the Secret Council。〃
〃The Secret Council！〃 said the queen。 〃Instituted by me； by what
right does it act without me？ No matter； I am waiting for this
message： I suppose it is a petition to implore my mercy for the men
who have dared to reach to a power that I hold only from God。〃
〃Madam；〃 replied Ruthven； who appeared to have undertaken the painful
role of spokesman； while Lindsay； mute and impatient； fidgeted with
the hilt of his long sword； 〃it is distressing to me to have to
undeceive you on this point： it is not your mercy that I come to ask；
it is； on the contrary； the pardon of the Secret Council that I come
to offer you。〃
〃To me； my lord； to me！〃 cried Mary： 〃subjects offer pardon to their
queen！ Oh！ it is such a new and wonderful thing； that my amazement
outweighs my indignation； and that I beg you to continue； instead of
stopping you there； as perhaps I ought to do。〃
〃And I obey you so much the more willingly； madam；〃 went on Ruthven
imperturbably； 〃that this pardon is only granted on certain
conditions； stated in these documents； destined to re…establish the
tranquillity of the State； so cruelly compromised by the errors that
they are going to repair。〃
〃And shall I be permitted； my lord； to read these documents； or must
I； allured by my confidence in those who present them to me； sign
them with my eyes shut？〃
〃No； madam；〃 Ruthven returned； 〃the Secret Council desire； on the
contrary； that you acquaint yourself with them； for you must sign
them freely。〃
〃Read me these documents； my lord； for such a reading is； I think；
included in the strange duties you have accepted。〃
Lord Ruthven took one of the two papers that he had in his hand； and
read with the impassiveness of his usual voice the following：
〃Summoned from my tenderest youth to the government of the kingdom
and to the crown of Scotland； I have carefully attended to the
administration； but I have experienced so much fatigue and trouble
that I no longer find my mind free enough nor my strength great
enough to support the burden of affairs of State： accordingly； and as
Divine favour has granted us a son whom we desire to see during our
lifetime bear the crown which he has acquired by right of birth； we
have resolved to abdicate； and we abdicate in his favour； by these
presents； freely and voluntarily； all our rights to the crown and to
the government of Scotland； desiring that he may immediately ascend
the throne； as if he were called to it by our natural death； and not
as the effect of our own will； and that our present abdication may
have a more complete and solemn effect； and that no one should put
forward the claim of ignorance； we give full powers to our trusty and
faithful cousins； the lords Lindsay of Byres and William Ruthven； to
appear in our name before the nobility； the clergy； and the burgesses
of Scotland； of whom they will convoke an assembly at Stirling； and
to there renounce； publicly and solemnly； on our part； all our claims
to the crown and to the government of Scotland。
〃Signed freely and as the testimony of one of our last royal wishes；
in our castle of Lochleven； the ___ June 1567〃。 （The date was left
blank。）
There was a moment's silence after this reading； then
〃Did you hear； madam？〃 asked Ruthven。
〃Yes；〃 replied Mary Stuart；〃 yes； I have heard rebellious words
that I have not understood； and I thought that my ears； that one has
tried to accustom for some time to a strange language； still deceived
me； and that I have thought for your honour； my lord William Ruthven；
and my lord Lindsay of Byres。〃
〃Madam；〃 answered Lindsay； out of patience at having kept silence so
long； 〃our honour has nothing to do with the opinion of a woman who
has so ill known how to watch over her own。〃
〃My lord！〃 said Melville； risking a word。
〃Let him speak； Robert；〃 returned the queen。 〃We have in our
conscience armour as well tempered as that with which Lord Lindsay is
so prudently covered； although； to the shame of justice； we no longer
have a sword。 Continue； my lord；〃 the queen went on； turning to Lord
Ruthven ： 〃is this all that my subjects require of me？ A date and a
signature？ Ah！ doubtless it is too little； and this second paper；
which you have kept in order to proceed by degrees； probably contains
some demand more difficult to grant than that of yielding to a child
scarcely a year old a crown which belongs to me by birthright； and to
abandon my sceptre to take a distaff。〃
〃This other paper；〃 replied Ruthven； without letting himself be
intimidated by the tone of bitter irony adopted by the queen； 〃is the
deed by which your Grace confirms the decision of the Secret Council
which has named your beloved brother； the Earl of Murray； regent of
the kingdom。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Mary。 〃The Secret Council thinks it needs my
confirmation to an act of such slight importance？ And my beloved
brother； to bear it without remorse； needs that