lish, on the other hand, bereaved of this valuable
fortress, murmured loudly against the improvidence of the queen and her
council; who, after engaging in a fruitless war for the sake of foreign
interests, had thus exposed the nation to so severe a disgrace. A
treasury exhausted by expenses, and burdened with debts; a people
divided and dejected; a sovereign negligent of her people's welfare;
were circumstances which, notwithstanding the fair offers and promises
of Philip, gave them small hopes of recovering Calais. And as the Scots,
instigated by French counsels, began to move on the borders, they were
now necessitated rather to look to their defence at home, than to think
of foreign conquests.

* Thuan. lib. xx. cap. 2.

After the peace which, in consequence of King Edward's treaty with
Henry, took place between Scotland and England, the queen dowager, on
pretence of visiting her daughter and her relations, made a journey to
France; and she carried along with her the earls of Huntley, Sutherland,
Marischal, and many of the principal nobility. Her secret design was,
to take measures for engaging the earl of Arran to resign to her the
government of the kingdom; and as her brothers, the duke of Guise, the
cardinal of Lorraine, and the duke of Aumale, had uncontrolled influence
in the court of France, she easily persuaded Henry, and by his authority
the Scottish nobles, to enter into her measures. Having also gained
Carnegy of Kinnaird, Panter, bishop of Ross, and Gavin Hamilton,
commendator of Kilwinning, three creatures of the governor's, she
persuaded him, by their means, to consent to this resignation;[*] and
when every thing was thus prepared for her purpose, she took a journey
to Scotland, and passed through England in her way thither. Edward
received her with great respect and civility; though he could not
forbear attempting to renew the old treaty for his marriage with
her daughter; a marriage, he said, so happily calculated for the
tranquillity, interest, and security of both kingdoms, and the only
means of insuring a durable peace between them. For his part, he added,
he never could entertain a cordial amity for any other husband whom she
should choose; nor was it easy for him to forgive a man who, at the same
time that he disappointed so natural an alliance, had bereaved him of
a bride to whom his affections, from his earliest infancy, had been
entirely engaged. The queen dowager eluded these applications