按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was repeated。 But this time； Chatelard； discovered in a cupboard；
when the queen was already in bed； was placed under arrest。
The moment was badly chosen： such a scandal； just when the queen was
about to re…marry； was fatal to Mary； let alone to Chatelard。 Murray
took the affair in hand； and； thinking that a public trial could
alone save his sister's reputation； he urged the prosecution with
such vigour； that Chatelard； convicted of the crime of lese…majeste；
was condemned to death。 Mary entreated her brother that Chatelard
might be sent back to France； but Murray made her see what terrible
consequences such a use of her right of pardon might have； so that
Mary was obliged to let justice take its course： Chatelard was led to
execution。 Arrived on the scaffold； which was set up before the
queen's palace； Chatelard； who had declined the services of a priest；
had Ronsard's Ode on Death read； and when the reading； which he
followed with evident pleasure； was ended； he turnedtowards the
queen's windows； and； having cried out for the last time； 〃Adieu；
loveliest and most cruel of princesses！〃 he stretched out his neck to
the executioner； without displaying any repentance or uttering any
complaint。 This death made all the more impression upon Mary； that
she did not dare to show her sympathy openly。
Meanwhile there was a rumour that the queen of Scotland was
consenting to a new marriage； and several suitors came forward；
sprung from the principal reigning families of Europe： first； the
Archduke Charles； third son of the Emperor of Germany； then the Duke
of Anjou； who afterwards became Henry III。 But to wed a foreign
prince was to give up her claims to the English crown。 So Mary
refused； and； making a merit of this to Elizabeth； she cast her eyes
on a relation of the latter's； Henry Stuart； Lord Darnley； son of the
Earl of Lennox。 Elizabeth； who had nothing plausible to urge against
this marriage； since the Queen of Scotland not only chose an
Englishman for husband； but was marrying into her own family； allowed
the Earl of Lennox and his son to go to the Scotch court； reserving
it to herself； if matters appeared to take a serious turn； to recall
them botha command which they would be constrained to obey； since
all their property was in England。
Darnley was eighteen years of age： he was handsome； well…made；
elegant； he talked in that attractive manner of the young nobles of
the French and English courts that Mary no longer heard since her
exile in Scotland； she let herself be deceived by these appearances；
and did not see that under this brilliant exterior Darnley hid utter
insignificance； dubious courage； and a fickle and churlish character。
It is true that he came to her under the auspices of a man whose
influence was as striking as the risen fortune which gave him the
opportunity to exert it。 We refer to David Rizzio。
David Rizzio； who played such a great part in the life of Mary
Stuart； whose strange favour for him has given her enemies； probably
without any cause； such cruel weapons against her； was the son of a
Turin musician burdened with a numerous family； who； recognising in
him a pronounced musical taste； had him instructed in the first
principles of the art。 At the age of fifteen he had left his
father's house and had gone on foot to Nice； where the Duke of Savoy
held his court； there he entered the service of the Duke of Moreto；
and this lord having been appointed； some years afterwards； to the
Scottish embassy； Rizzio followed him to Scotland。 As this young man
had a very fine voice； and accompanied on the viol and fiddle songs
of which both the airs and the words were of his own composition； the
ambassador spoke of him to Mary； who wished to see him。 Rizzio； full
of confidence in himself； and seeing in the queen's desire a road to
success； hastened to obey her command； sang before her； and pleased
her。 She begged him then of Moreto； making no more of it than if she
had asked of him a thoroughbred dog or a well…trained falcon。 Moreta
presented him to her； delighted at finding such an opportunity to pay
his court； but scarcely was Rizzio in her service than Mary
discovered that music was the least of his gifts； that he possessed；
besides that； education if not profound at least varied； a supple
mind； a lively imagination； gentle ways； and at the same time much
boldness and presumption。 He reminded her of those Italian artists
whom she had seen at the French court； and spoke to her the tongue of
Marot and Ronsard； whose most beautiful poems he knew by heart： this
was more than enough to please Mary Stuart。 In a short time he
became her favourite； and meanwhile the place of secretary for the
French despatches falling vacant； Rizzio was provided for with it。
Darnley； who wished to succeed at all costs； enlisted Rizzio in his
interests； unconscious that he had no need of this support； and as；
on her side； Mary； who had fallen in love with him at first sight；
fearing some new intrigue of Elizabeth's； hastened on this union so
far as the proprieties permitted； the affair moved forward with
wonderful rapidity； and in the midst of public rejoicing； with the
approbation of the nobility； except for a small minority； with Murray
at its head； the marriage was solemnised under the happiest auspices；
29th July 1565。 Two days before； Darnley and his father； the Earl of
Lennox； had received a command to return to London； and as they had
not obeyed it； a week after the celebration of the marriage they
learned that the Countess of Lennox； the only one of the family
remaining in Elizabeth's power； had been arrested and taken to the
Tower。 Thus Elizabeth； in spite of her dissimulation； yielding to
that first impulse of violence that she always had such trouble to
overcome； publicly displayed her resentment。
However； Elizabeth was not the woman to be satisfied with useless
vengeance： she soon released the countess； and turned her eyes
towards Murray； the most discontented of the nobles in opposition；
who by this marriage was losing all his personal influence。 It was
thus easy for Elizabeth to put arms in his hand。 In fact； when he
had failed in his first attempt to seize Darnley； he called to his
aid the Duke of Chatellerault； Glencairn； Argyll； and Rothes； and
collecting what partisans they could； they openly rebelled against
the queen。 This was the first ostensible act of that hatred which
was afterwards so fatal to Mary。
The queen； on her side； appealed to her nobles； who in response
hastened to rally to her； so that in a month's time she found herself
at the head of the finest army that ever a king of Scotland had
raised。 Darnley assumed the command of this magnificent assembly；
mounted on a superb horse； arrayed in gilded armour； and accompanied
by the queen； who； in a riding habit； with pistols at her saddle…bow；
wished to make the campaign with him； that she might not quit his
side