of death, a thousand sins, which we have trod as worms beneath our feet, rise up against us as flaming serpents. Most injuriously do they accuse me of aiding Darnley's death; yet, blessed Lady! I afforded too open occasion for the suspicion?I espoused Bothwell.'
'Think not of that now, madam,' said Melville, 'think rather of the immediate mode of saving yourself and son. Comply with the present unreasonable demands, and trust that better times will shortly arrive.'
'Madam,' said Roland Graeme, 'if it pleases you that I should do so, I will presently swim through the lake, if they refuse me other conveyance to the shore; I will go to the courts successively of England, France, and Spain, and will show you have subscribed these vile instruments from no stronger impulse than the fear of death, and I will do battle against them that say otherwise.'
The Queen turned her round, and with one of those sweet smiles which, during the era of life's romance, overpay every risk, held her hand towards Roland, but without 'speaking a word. He kneeled reverently, and kissed it, and Melville again resumed his plea.
'Madam,' he said, 'time presses, and you must not let those boats, which I see they are even now preparing, put forth on the lake. Here are enough of witnesses?your ladies?this bold youth?myself, when it can serve your cause effectually, for I would not hastily stand committed in this matter?but even without me here is evidence enough to show, that you have yielded to the demands of the Council through force and fear, but from no sincere and unconstrained assent. Their boats are already manned for their return?oh! permit your old servant to recall them.'
'Melville,' said the Queen, 'thou art an ancient courtier?when didst thou ever know a Sovereign Prince recall to his presence subjects who had parted from him on such terms as those on which these envoys of the Council left us, and who yet were recalled without submission or apology??Let it cost me both life and crown, I will not again command them to my presence.'
'Alas! madam, that empty form should make a barrier! If I rightly understand, you are not unwilling to listen to real and advantageous counsel?but your scruple is saved?I hear them returning to ask your final resolution. Oh! take the advice of the noble Seyton, and you may once more command those who now usurp a triumph over you. But hush! I hear them in the vestibule.'
As he concluded speaking, George Douglas opened the door of the apartment, and marshalled in the two noble envoys.
'We come, madam,' said the Lord Ruthven, 'to request your answer to the proposal of the Council.'
'Your final answer,' said Lord Lindesay; 'for with a refusal you must couple the certainty that you have precipitated your fate, and renounced the last opportunity of making peace with God, and ensuring your longer abode in the world.'
'My lords,' said Mary, with inexpressible grace and dignity, 'the evils we cannot resist we must submit to?I will subscribe these parchments with such liberty of choice as my condition permits me. Were I on yonder shore, with a fleet jennet and ten good and loyal knights around me, I would subscribe my sentence of eternal condemnation as soon as the resignation of my throne. But here, in the Castle of Lochleven, with deep water around me?and you, my lords, beside me,?I have no freedom of choice.?Give me the pen, Melville, and bear witness to what I do, and why I do it.'
'It is our hope your Grace will not suppose yourself compelled by any apprehensions from us,' said the Lord Ruthven, 'to execute what must be your own voluntary deed.'
The Queen had already stooped towards the table, and placed the parchment before her, with the pen between her fingers, ready for the important act of signature. But when Lord Ruthven had done speaking, she looked up, stopped short, and threw down the pen. 'If,' she said, 'I am expected to declare I give away my crown of free will, or otherwise than because I am compelled to renounce it by the threat of worse evils to myself and my subjects, I will not put my name to such an untruth?not to gain full possession of England, France, and Scotland!?all once my own, in possession, or by right.'
'Beware, madam,' said Lindesay, and, snatching hold of the Queen's arm with his own gauntleted hand, he pressed it, in the rudeness of his passion, more closely, perhaps, than he was himself aware of,?'beware how you contend with those who are the stronger, and have the mastery of your fate!'
He held his grasp on her arm, bending his eyes on her with a stern and intimidating look, till both Ruthven and Melville cried shame; and Douglas, who had hitherto remained in a state of apparent apathy, had made a stride from the door, as if to interfere. The rude Baron then quitted his hold, disguising the confusion which he really felt at having indulged his passion to such extent, under a sullen and contemptuous smile.
The Queen immediately began, with an expression of pain, to bare the arm which he had grasped, by drawing up the sleeve of her gown, and it appeared that his gripe had left the purple marks of his iron fingers upon her flesh?'My lord,' she said, 'as a knight and gentleman, you might have spared my frail arm so severe a proof that you have the greater strength on your side, and are resolved to use it?But I thank you for it?it is the most decisive token of the terms on which this day's business is to rest.?I draw you to witness, both lords and ladies,' she said, 'showing the marks of the grasp on her arm, 'that I subscribe these instruments in obedience to the sign manual of my Lord of Lindesay, which you may see imprinted on mine arm.'[27]
Lindesay would have spoken, but was restrained by his colleague Ruthven, who said to him, 'Peace, my lord. Let the Lady Mary of Scotland ascribe her signature to what she will, it is our business to procure it, and carry it to the Council. Should there be debate hereafter on the manner in which it was adhibited, there will be time enough for it.'
Lindesay was silent accordingly, only muttering within his beard, 'I meant not to hurt her; but I think women's flesh be as tender as new-fallen snow.'
The Queen meanwhile subscribed the rolls of parchment with a hasty indifference, as if they had been matters of slight consequence, or of mere formality. When she had performed this painful task, she arose, and, having curtsied to the lords, was about to withdraw to her chamber. Ruthven and Sir Robert Melville made, the first a formal reverence, the second an obeisance, in which his desire to acknowledge his sympathy was obviously checked by the fear of appearing in the eyes of his colleagues too partial to his former mistress. But Lindesay stood motionless, even when they were preparing to withdraw. At length, as if moved by a sudden impulse, he walked round the table which had hitherto been betwixt them and the Queen, kneeled on one knee, took her hand, kissed it, let it fall, and arose?'Lady,' he said, 'thou art a noble creature, even though thou hast abused God's choicest gifts. I pay that devotion to thy manliness of spirit, which I would not have paid to the power thou hast long undeservedly wielded?I kneel to Mary Stewart, not to the Queen.'
'The Queen and Mary Stewart pity thee alike, Lindesay,' said Mary? 'alike thee pity, and they forgive thee. An honoured soldier hadst thou been by a king's side?leagued with rebels, what art thou but a good blade in the hands of a ruffian??Farewell, my Lord Ruthven, the smoother but the deeper traitor.?Farewell, Melville?Mayest thou find masters that can understand state policy better, and have the means to reward it more richly, than Mary
