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believed herself going； free and rid of care； to take at Elizabeth's
court the place due to her rank and her misfortunes： thus she
persisted； in spite of all that could be said。 In our time； we have
seen the same infatuation seize another royal fugitive； who like Mary
Stuart confided himself to the generosity of his enemy England： like
Mary Stuart； he was cruelly punished for his confidence； and found in
the deadly climate of St。 Helena the scaffold of Fotheringay。
Mary Stuart set out on her journey； then； with her little following。
Arrived at the shore of Solway Firth； she found there the Warden of
the English Marches： he was a gentleman named Lowther； who received
the queen with the greatest respect； but who gave her to understand
that he could not permit more than three of her women to accompany
her。 Mary Seyton immediately claimed her privilege： the queen held
out to her her hand。
〃Alas！ mignonne；〃 said she； 〃but it might well be another's turn： you
have already suffered enough for me and with me。〃
But Mary； unable to reply； clung to her hand； making a sign with her
head that nothing in the world should part her from her mistress。
Then all who had accompanied the queen renewed their entreaties that
she should not persist in this fatal resolve； and when she was
already a third of the way along the plank placed for her to enter
the skiff； the Prior of Dundrennan； who had offered Mary Stuart such
dangerous and touching hospitality； entered the water up to his
knees； to try to detain her； but all was useless： the queen had made
up her mind。
At that； moment Lowther approached her。 〃Madam；〃 said he； 〃accept
anew my regrets that I cannot offer a warm welcome in England to all
who would wish to follow you there； but our queen has given us
positive orders； and we must carry them out。 May I be permitted to
remind your Majesty that the tide serves？ 〃
〃Positive orders！〃 cried the prior。 〃Do you hear； madam？ Oh！ you
are lost if you quit this shore！ Back； while there is yet time！ Back；
madam； in Heaven's name！ To me； sir knights； to me！〃 he cried；
turning to Lord Herries and the other lords who had accompanied Mary
Stuart； 〃do not allow your queen to abandon you； were it needful to
struggle with her and the English at the same time。 Hold her back；
my lords； in Heaven's name！ withhold her！〃
〃What means this violence； sir priest？〃 said the Warden of the
Marches。 〃I came here at your queen's express command； she is free
to return to you； and there is no need to have recourse to force for
that〃。 Then； addressing the queen
〃Madam；〃 said he； 〃do you consent to follow me into England in full
liberty of choice？ Answer； I entreat you； for my honour demands that
the whole world should be aware that you have followed me freely。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Mary Stuart； 〃I ask your pardon； in the name of this
worthy servant of God and his queen； for what he may have said of
offence to you。 Freely I leave Scotland and place myself in your
hands； trusting that I shall be free either to remain in England with
my royal sister； or to return to France to my worthy relatives〃。
Then； turning to the priest； 〃Your blessing； father； and God protect
you！〃
〃Alas！ alas！〃 murmured the abbot； obeying the queen； 〃it is not we
who are in need of God's protection； but rather you； my daughter。
May the blessing of a poor priest turn aside from you the misfortunes
I foresee！ Go； and may it be with you as the Lord has ordained in
His wisdom and in His mercy！〃
Then the queen gave her hand to the sheriff； who conducted her to the
skiff； followed by Mary Seyton and two other women only。 The sails
were immediately unfurled； and the little vessel began to recede from
the shores of Galloway； to make her way towards those of Cumberland。
So long as it could be seen； they who had accompanied the queen
lingered on the beach； waving her signs of adieu； which； standing on
the deck of the shallop which was bearing her； away； she returned
with her handkerchief。 Finally； the boat disappeared； and all burst
into lamentations or into sobbing。 They were right； for the good
Prior of Dundrennan's presentiments were only too true； and they had
seen Mary Stuart for the last time。
CHAPTER VIII
On landing on the shores of England； the Queen of Scotland found
messengers from Elizabeth empowered to express to her all the regret
their mistress felt in being unable to admit her to her presence； or
to give her the affectionate welcome she bore her in her heart。 But
it was essential； they added； that first of all the queen should
clear herself of the death of Darnley； whose family； being subjects
of the Queen of England； had a right to her protection and justice。
Mary Stuart was so blinded that she did not see the trap； and
immediately offered to prove her innocence to the satisfaction of her
sister Elizabeth； but scarcely had she in her hands Mary Stuart's
letter； than from arbitress she became judge； and； naming
commissioners to hear the parties； summoned Murray to appear and
accuse his sister。 Murray； who knew Elizabeth's secret intentions
with regard to her rival； did not hesitate a moment。 He came to
England； bringing the casket containing the three letters we have
quoted； some verses and some other papers which proved that the queen
had not only been Bothwell's mistress during the lifetime of Darnley；
but had also been aware of the assassination of her husband。 On
their side； Lord Herries and the Bishop of Ross； the queen's
advocates； maintained that these letters had been forged； that the
handwriting was counterfeited； and demanded； in verification； experts
whom they could not obtain； so that this great controversy； remained
pending for future ages； and to this hour nothing is yet
affirmatively settled in this matter either by scholars or
historians。
After a five months' inquiry； the Queen of England made known to the
parties； that not having； in these proceedings； been able to discover
anything to the dishonour of accuser or accused； everything would
remain in statu quo till one or the other could bring forward fresh
proofs。
As a result of this strange decision； Elizabeth should have sent back
the regent to Scotland； and have left Mary Stuart free to go where
she would。 But； instead of that； she had her prisoner removed from
Bolton Castle to Carlisle Castle； from whose terrace； to crown her
with grief； poor Mary Stuart saw the blue mountains of her own
Scotland。
However； among the judges named by Elizabeth to examine into Mary
Stuart's conduct was Thomas Howard； Duke of Norfolk。 Be it that he
was convinced of Mary's innocence； be it that he was urged by the
ambitious project which since served as a ground for his prosecution；
and which was nothing else than to wed Mary Stuart； to affiance his
daughter to the young king； and to become regent of Scotland； he
resolved to extricate her fr