ne able to support her government. Her brother, Lord James, whom she
soon after created earl of Murray, obtained the chief authority; and
after him Lidington, secretary of state, a man of great sagacity, had a
principal share in her confidence. By the vigor of these men's measures,
she endeavored to establish order and justice in a country divided by
public factions and private feuds; and that fierce, intractable people,
unacquainted with laws and obedience, seemed, for a time, to submit
peaceably to her gentle and prudent administration.

But there was one circumstance which blasted all these promising
appearances, and bereaved Mary of that general favor which her agreeable
manners and judicious deportment gave her just reason to expect. She
was still a Papist, and though she published, soon after her arrival, a
proclamation enjoining every one to submit to the established religion,
the preachers and their adherents could neither be reconciled to a
person polluted with so great an abomination, nor lay aside their
jealousies of her future conduct. It was with great difficulty she could
obtain permission for saying mass in her own chapel; and had not the
people apprehended, that if she had here met with a refusal, she would
instantly have returned to France, the zealots never would have granted
her even that small indulgence. The cry was, "Shall we suffer that idol
to be again erected within the realm?" It was asserted in the pulpit,
that one mass was more terrible than ten thousand armed men landed
to invade the kingdom:[*] Lord Lindesey, and the gentlemen of Fife,
exclaimed, "that the idolater should die the death;" such was their
expression. One that carried tapers for the ceremony of that worship was
attacked and insulted in the court of the palace. And if Lord James and
some popular leaders had not interposed, the most dangerous uproar was
justly apprehended from the ungoverned fury of the multitude.[**]

* Knox, p. 287.

** Knox, p. 284, 285, 287. Spotswood, p. 179.

The usual prayers in the churches were to this purpose: that God would
turn the queen's heart, which was obstinate against him and his truth;
or if his holy will be otherwise, that he would strengthen the hearts
and hands of the elect, stoutly to oppose the rage of all tyrants.[*]
Nay, it was openly called in question, whether that princess, being an
idolatress, was entitled to any authority, even in civil matters.[**]

The helpless queen