and natural reason; and were the Queen's marriage tried by any of these
standards, it would appear infamous and dishonorable, and would so be
esteemed by the whole world. The council were so overawed by this heroic
behavior in a private clergyman, that they dismissed him without further
censure or punishment.[*]

* Spotswood, p. 203. Anderson, vol. ii. p. 280.

But though this transaction might have recalled Bothwell and the queen
of Scots from their infatuation, and might have instructed them in the
dispositions of the people, as well as in their own inability to oppose
them, they were still resolute to rush forward to their own manifest
destruction. The marriage was solemnized by the bishop of Orkney, a
Protestant, who was afterwards deposed by the church for this scandalous
compliance. Few of the nobility appeared at the ceremony: they had most
of them, either from shame or fear, retired to their own houses. The
French ambassador, Le Croc, an aged gentleman of honor and character,
could not be prevailed on, though a dependent of the house of Guise, to
countenance the marriage by his presence.[*] Elizabeth remonstrated, by
friendly letters and messages, against the marriage.[**] The court of
France made like opposition; but Mary, though on all other occasions she
was extremely obsequious to the advice of her relations in that country,
was here determined to pay no regard to their opinion.

The news of these transactions, being carried to foreign countries,
filled Europe with amazement, and threw infamy, not only on the
principal actors in them, but also on the whole nation, who seemed, by
their submission and silence, and even by their declared approbation,
to give their sanction to these scandalous practices.[***] The Scots who
resided abroad met with such reproaches, that they durst nowhere appear
in public; and they earnestly exhorted their countrymen at home to
free them from the public odium, by bringing to condign punishment the
authors of such atrocious crimes. This intelligence, with a little more
leisure for reflection, roused men from their lethargy; and the rumors
which, from the very beginning,[****] had been spread against Mary, as
if she had concurred in the king's murder, seemed now, by the subsequent
transactions, to have received a strong confirmation and authority.

* Spotswood, p. 203. Melvil, p. 82.

** Keith, p. 392.

*** Digges, p. 14.

**** Melvil, p. 82. Keith, p