the revolt of subjects
against their Queen, her anxiety that "by this example none of her own
be encouraged," only grew with the disregard of her protests and
threats. In spite of Cecil she refused to recognize Murray's government,
renewed her demands for the Queen's release, and encouraged the
Hamiltons in their designs of freeing her. She was in fact stirred by
more fears than her dread of Calvinism and of Calvinistic liberty.
Philip's triumph in the Netherlands and the presence of his army across
the sea was filling the Catholics of the northern counties with new
hopes, and scaring Elizabeth from any joint action with the Scotch
Calvinists which might call the Spanish forces over sea. She even
stooped to guard against any possible projects of Philip by fresh
negotiations for a marriage with one of the Austrian archdukes. But the
negotiations proved as fruitless as before, while Scotland moved boldly
forward in its new career. A Parliament which assembled at the opening
of 1568 confirmed the deposition of the Queen, and made Catholic worship
punishable with the pain of death. The triumph of Calvinistic bigotry
only hastened the outbreak which had long been preparing, and at the
beginning of May an escape of Mary from her prison was a signal for
civil war. Five days later six thousand men gathered round her at
Hamilton, and Argyle joined the Catholic lords who rallied to her
banner. The news found different welcomes at the English court.
Elizabeth at once offered to arbitrate between Mary and her subjects.
Cecil, on the other hand, pressed Murray to strike quick and hard. But
the regent needed little pressing. Surprised as he was, Murray was
quickly in arms; and cutting off Mary's force as it moved on Dumbarton,
he brought it to battle at Langside on the Clyde on the thirteenth of
May, and broke it in a panic-stricken rout. Mary herself, after a
fruitless effort to reach Dumbarton, fled southwards to find a refuge in
Galloway. A ride of ninety miles brought her to the Solway, but she
found her friends wavering in her support and ready to purchase pardon
from Murray by surrendering her into the regent's hands. From that
moment she abandoned all hope from Scotland. She believed that Elizabeth
would in the interests of monarchy restore her to the throne; and
changing her designs with the rapidity of genius, she pushed in a light
boat across the Solway, and was safe before the evening fell in the
castle of Carlisle.

[Si