advertisement. Things now grow towards a conclusion. First, in matters of religion many things are determined for the policy of the Church, and order taken for establishing of religion universally, something more vehement than I, for my opinion, at another time would have allowed." But the "vehemence" might be useful if it brought the two nations more closely together, and prevented the Congregation from being over-confident. "The king's death is commonly taken for a great benefit of God's providence, yet durst I never greatly rejoice at it. The security thereof hath lulled us asleep. The fear of strangers is for the present taken away." The nation, he added, was turning to Mary, and the Lord James was to be sent to grope her mind." Though "zealous in religion, and one of the precise Protestants," the Queen's brother was the most likely ambassador to gain her confidence. The object of the legation was to ascertain "whether she can be content to repose her whole confidence upon her subjects or not." "Though I fear many simple men shall be carried away with vain hope, and brought abed with fair words, yet if my Lord James can fully persuade her to trust her own subjects, I will enter in some courage." In a later letter

1

1 Maitland to Cecil, 6th February 1561.

he describes the views of the various factions,he himself obviously inclining to the moderate party, which held that Mary should be invited to return, "provided that she neither bring with her force, neither yet counsel of strangers." Many were anxious, now that the Arran marriage had fallen through, that the old league with France should be renewed,-the amity of England, to which they were joined by "a dry marshe," not being assured. For his own part, he was confident that, unless Mary could be reconciled to Elizabeth, the intelligence between the two nations could not long continue. is as yet calm," he adds, "and shall be, I doubt not, so long as men can be content to be bridled with reason.

"All

I have discussed in a previous chapter the import of the letters written by Maitland during the anxious weeks that preceded Mary's return. In them, it will be remembered, the necessity for a good understanding between the Queens was urgently enforced. The letters that follow are in the same strain. Maitland, as we have seen, was sent to London directly on Mary's arrival to plead for friendly dealing from Elizabeth, but Elizabeth was too angry to listen to argument.2

1 Maitland to Cecil, 26th | 2 Lord Herries says that February 1561. Maitland without any author

There was only one road to amity, she said, the ratification of the treaty of Edinburgh. "Ratify the treaty; why do you delay to ratify the treaty?" Maitland adroitly avoided a categorical reply: he had no instructions; there had been no time to summon the Estates; the Queen was busy. But there can be little doubt that he was even then convinced that, until the clause relating to the succession was modified, Mary's consent ought not to be given. Elizabeth required an absolute renunciation of the Scottish right of succession; the treaty imported as much,-" in all times coming," even in the event of Elizabeth dying without issue, Mary was to refrain from pressing her claim; and to such renunciation neither Maitland nor Moray was prepared to agree. Maitland, however, was still urgent for a friendly understanding, how urgent may be gathered from the letters that he wrote on his return to the northern capital. The "tender amity" of the cousins would lead to "a godly accord between the realms. "If by the means of us two," he told Cecil, "such a communication

ity introduced the subject of the succession with the view of prejudicing Elizabeth against Mary (Memoirs, p. 59). The highly dramatic dialogue between Elizabeth and Mait

land reported by Buchanan, and reproduced by Spottiswoode, was constructed by Buchanan in obedience to what

were

then regarded as the canons of historical art.

may be procured, we shall be esteemed happy instruments for our countries. I know how unwilling you be to enter in matters of so great consequence, yet when you shall consider what surety, quietness, and commodity this motion importeth to the Queen our Sovereign and your native country, I suppose you will be bold to utter frankly your opinion in it. God hath by times offered many means of a godly conjunction. By what providence it hath chanced that none hath taken effect as yet I cannot tell. This hath most likelihood to come to pass, is grounded upon equity, and is such as neither party can thereby think himself aggrieved. Surely if this shall be overthrown, as others have been heretofore, it may be judged that God is not pleased with us, and wills that one of us shall ever be a plague to the other. Let us do our duty," he concludes," and commit the success to God." 1

The urgency of Maitland contrasts strikingly with Cecil's coldness. The one is eagerly pressing forward; the other is warily holding back. Maitland never wearies in his determination to bring the Queens together; he records every flattering speech that Mary makes; he beseeches Elizabeth to write often and with her own hand. "I see her Majesty in nothing doth like more

1 Maitland to Cecil, 25th October 1561.

than often to visit and be visited by letters of such as she does love." If Cecil will not be frank, if he will continue to speak in “parables,” Maitland will address himself directly to his mistress. But he cannot believe that the English Secretary is hostile. "Weary not by your credit to continue the amity begun. You never did anything more worthy of yourself, nor more worthy of praise in the sight of God and men.”1 For his own part, he admits that there is nothing on earth that he desires more than their friendship. "I trust your Lordship believeth that with all my heart I do wish those two Princesses to be joined in tender friendship, and indeed it is the earthly thing I most earnestly call to God for." On the same day he wrote to Cecil again urging him to use his friendly offices with Elizabeth. "Persuade her Majesty to take occasion sometimes to write with her own hand. Be the letters never so short, or of small moment, yet will her Highness much esteem them coming from that place. We be here in a corner of the world, separated as it were from the society of men, and so do not every day hear what others are doing abroad in the world."3

The correspondence during the next year

1 Maitland

December 1561.

to Cecil, 7th December 1561.

3 Maitland to Cecil, 26th 2 Maitland to Dudley, 26th December 1561.