Lives of the Queens of Scotland and English Princesses; Connected with the Regal Succession of Great Britain Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ...kept fair with the Queen-Regent, and remained outwardly attached to her service, in order to act more surely in favour of their confederates.1 Nothing, indeed, could be more disgusting than the treachery and dissimulation practised on all sides. In great excitejnent of spirit, Mary of Lorraine summoned the Duke of Chatelherault, and claimed his support as the next heir of the Crown. "I am but a woman," said she, u unacquainted with the nature of men in Scotland, and I believe they stand in no awe of me because I am but a woman; but I think it is your duty and your brother's to defend the Church, as far as ye may, seeing I had nothing to do therewith."2 This passionate appeal was unanswerable. The Duke, knowing how different had been this Princess's rule of action when left to her own better feelings, could not for shame leave her single-handed in the gap, where she had been forced by the ultra-Romanists, who had compelled her to act according to the statutes framed during his regency. Supported by him, the Earls of Atholl and Huntley, she had in the course of a few days an army at her command, with which she declared her intention of taking the field in person. Meantime the Congregation wrote letters to her, the nobles of Scotland, and M. d'Oysell, requesting liberty of worship according to the true Evangile. That to the Queen-Regent was very respectfully and persuasively written: it was laid on her cushion in the chapel-royal at Stirling, where she found it when she went to attend the service. "She looked upon it, and put it into the pocket of her gown"3 without comment. The letter of the Congregation to d'Oysell requested him to act as a mediator with the Queen-Regent for mitigating her displeasure; but in that...