h the safety of her dominions;[**] and she still
continued her preparations. She concluded a treaty of mutual defence
with the congregation, which was to last during the marriage of the
queen of Scots with Francis, and a year after; and she promised never to
desist till the French had entirely evacuated Scotland.[***] And having
thus taken all proper measures for success, and received from the Scots
six hostages for the performance of articles, she ordered her fleet and
army to begin their operations.

* Forbes, vol. i. p. 454, 460.

** Spotswood, p. 146.

*** Knox, p. 217. Haynes's State Papers, vol. i. p. 153.
Rymer, tom. xv. p. 569.

{1560.} The appearance of Elizabeth's fleet in the frith disconcerted
the French army, who were at that time ravaging the county of Fife;
and obliged them to make a circuit by Stirling, in order to reach Leith,
where they prepared themselves for defence. The English army, reenforced
by five thousand Scots,[*] sat down before the place; and after two
skirmishes, in the former of which the English had the advantage, in the
latter the French, they began to batter the town; and, though repulsed
with considerable loss in a rash and ill-conducted assault, they reduced
the garrison to great difficulties. Their distress was augmented by two
events; the dispersion by a storm of D'Elbeuf's fleet, which carried a
considerable army on board,[**] and the death of the queen, regent, who
expired about this time in the Castle of Edinburgh; a woman endowed with
all the capacity which shone forth in her family, but possessed of much
more virtue and moderation than appeared in the conduct of the other
branches of it. The French, who found it impossible to subsist for want
of provisions, and who saw that the English were continually reenforced
by fresh numbers, were obliged to capitulate; and the bishop of Valence
and Count Randan, plenipotentiaries from France, signed a treaty at
Edinburgh with Cecil and Dr. Wotton, whom Elizabeth had sent thither for
that purpose. It was there stipulated, that the French should instantly
evacuate Scotland; that the king and queen of France and Scotland should
thenceforth abstain from bearing the arms of England, or assuming the
title of that kingdom; that further satisfaction for the injury
already done in that particular should be granted Elizabeth; and that
commissioners should meet to settle this point, or, if they could not
agree, that the king