ty spirit, constant and
even vehement in her purpose, yet polite, and gentle, and affable in her
demeanor; she seemed to partake only so much of the male virtues as
to render her estimable, without relinquishing those soft graces which
compose the proper ornament of her sex. In order to form a just idea
of her character, we must set aside one part of her conduct, while she
abandoned herself to the guidance of a profligate man; and must consider
these faults, whether we admit them to be imprudences or crimes, as the
result of an inexplicable, though not uncommon inconstancy in the human
mind of the frailty of our nature, of the violence of passion, and of
the influence which situations, and sometimes momentary incidents, have
on persons whose principles are not thoroughly confirmed by experience
and reflection. Enraged by the ungrateful conduct of her husband,
seduced by the treacherous counsels of one in whom she reposed
confidence, transported by the violence of her own temper, which never
lay sufficiently under the guidance of discretion; she was betrayed into
actions which may with some difficulty be accounted for, but which admit
of no apology, nor even of alleviation. An enumeration of her qualities
might carry the appearance of a panegyric; an account of her conduct
must, in some parts, wear the aspect of severe satire and invective.

* Jebb, p. 307, 492.

Her numerous misfortunes, the solitude of her long and tedious
captivity, and the persecutions to which she had been exposed on account
of her religion, had wrought her up to a degree of bigotry during her
later years; and such were the prevalent spirit and principles of the
age, that it is the less wonder, if her zeal, her resentment, and
her interest uniting, induced her to give consent to a design which
conspirators, actuated only by the first of these motives, had formed
against the life of Elizabeth.

When the queen was informed of Mary's execution, she affected the utmost
surprise and indignation. Her countenance changed; her speech faltered
and failed her; for a long time, her sorrow was so deep that she could
not express it, but stood fixed, like a statue, in silence and mute
astonishment. After her grief was able to find vent, it burst out in
loud wailings and lamentations; she put herself in deep mourning for
this deplorable event; and she was seen perpetually bathed in tears,
and surrounded only by her maids and women. None of her ministers or