VII. Mary of Scotland. Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt; Yet even that, which mischief meant most harm, THE character of no woman, whose name figures in the past, has excited more discussion than that of Mary Queen of Scots. From her day to this, countless volumes have been published, in bitter accusation or defence of her, or with a professed attempt at impartiality. All the long-entailed disputes of royal families, the unforgiving pride of three great nations, and the endless conflict of religious parties, have contributed to prolong the agitation of this question, whether she was guilty, or not, of the iniquities charged upon her. But the world has more generally taken a favorable view of her character, in proportion as prejudices have worn away, and the causes of controversy have been removed. To exculpate her now, it is enough to know that there is no positive evidence against her, that her enemies had every unworthy motive to misrepresent the facts, and that her whole spirit, to the last hour of her unfortunate life, was evidently that of a pure and noblehearted woman. Scotland, in common with Europe, was still emerging from the barbarism of the Middle Ages, when Mary acted her part in the scene of human affairs. She was born in the palace of Linlithgow, on the 7th of December, 1542, a remarkable year inasmuch as it was precisely a half century after the discovery of America, and just a quarter of a century after the first act of Luther's Reformation; it was also very nearly one hundred years subsequent to the invention of the art of printing with separate types. These three events smote the dead calm of man's intellect into increasing commotion, and set forward the world in a rapid tide of progress. At the period of Mary's birth, Scotland was in the fiercest struggle of that Protestantism which developed itself more sternly there than elsewhere; and it was likewise passing through the most sanguinary conflicts of the feudal barons and clans with each other, and with a centralizing royalty. In no other country were internal broils so severe and protracted. The advantage of mountain fastnesses, the small number of nobles, the lack of large towns, and the division of the nation into great kindreds or tribes, were a few of the causes of this state of things. Besides, the kingdom was a bone of contention between the English crown, which labored to unite the Scottish with its own, and the French, who adroitly played off the latter in their wars with the former. Into such a furious sea of changes was Mary thrown, nor is her nature the less beautiful for the contrast of so fair a flower with the dark billows on which it was helplessly tost. Her father was James V. of Scotland, and her mother was Mary of Lorraine, daughter to the Duke of Guise, of France; both were strong and cultivated in mind, and of energetic character. Commerce and agriculture had made little progress in this wild, northern country; the wealthy, in common with the poorest classes, were without education; Edinboro' was not, as now, the "Athens of the North ;" and traditionary songs and legends were almost the only literature of the people. King James was himself a poet, and encouraged learning and art in various ways directly, as well as indirectly by the ingress of foreigners, consequent on his alliance with France-then, as now, the centre of refinement. In personal beauty, valor and accomplishments, he was worthy of such a daughter as Mary. Tall and muscular in figure, fair-haired, of regular features, bright gray eyes, and sweet voice, his presence was both commanding and winning; and his death was brave and graceful, like his life. Repulsed by the English army, and suspecting treachery in his own officers, he was yet cheerful in his last hour; before he expired, he smiled upon the assembled noblemen, and gave them his hand to kiss. Mary was only seven days old when her father died, and neither of them ever saw the other. The nation was immediately distracted with troubles connected with the choice of a regent, to govern during her infancy. James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, of royal blood, was finally chosen. With him, Henry VIII. of England, a Protestant, negotiated a marriage between his son Edward and the infant Mary. The treaty was soon broken up by her mother and Cardinal Beaton, the leader of the Catholic party, who knew that, if fulfilled, it would destroy the influence of their church, and of the house of Guise, and tend to make Scotland an English province. The cardinal in this affair, made a tool of the Earl of Lennox, who, disappointed in his expected reward, the regent's office, instigated King Henry to send an avenging army, which, however, after plundering Edinburgh, retired home. The earl was obliged, by his part in this movement, to escape into England, where, in token of his services, Lady Margaret Douglas, niece of the king, was given him in marriage. To them was born Darnley, afterwards so conspicuous as the husband of our heroine, and the father of James the First of England. Thus, the failure of the Earl of Lennox led to indirect success, and gave him the proud distinction of being the ancestor of the first sovereign, and of many succeeding ones, after the union of the crowns of Scotland and England. Soon after these events, the English king and his enemies, Cardinal Beaton of Scotland, and Francis I. of France, were one after another numbered with the dead. But the rivalries of the three nations continued none the less. The English regent pursued the same policy of forcing the Scotch to comply with arbitrary demands, and defeated them in the battle of Pinkie, slaying eight thousand of their men. The Scotch applied for aid to Henry II. of France, and bartered their young queen, Mary, to his infant son, the Dauphin Francis, agreeing to send her to the French court to be |