original
manuscript, written hurriedly as if from dictation, as though in the
leisure of his later days the Reformer had thought it well to enrich the
story with so lifelike and well-remembered a scene. Nothing could be
more animated than the introduction of the different personages of this
grave tribunal. The long argument with Lethington which might have been
carried on indefinitely till now, the hasty interruption of the Queen,
not disposed to be troubled with metaphysics, to bring it back to the
practical question, the quibble of Ruthven of which Knox makes use, but
only in passing, are all as real as though we had been present at the
council. The Queen, with feminine persistence holding to her question,
is the only one of the assembly who has any heart to the inquiry. The
heat of a woman and a monarch personally offended is in all she says, as
well as a keen practical power of keeping to her point. It is she who
refers to the _corpus delicti_, carrying the question out of mere vague
discussion distinctly to the act complained of. Knox had said in his
letter that the prosecution of the men who had interrupted the service
at Holyrood was the opening of a door "to execute cruelty upon a greater
multitude." "So," said the Queen, "what say ye to that?" She received in
full front the tremendous charge which followed:--

"While many doubit what the said John should answer he said to the
Queen, 'Is it lawful for me, Madam, to answer for myself? Or shall I
be dampned before I be heard?'

'Say what ye can,' said she, 'for I think ye have enough ado.'

'I will first then desire this of your Grace, Madam, and of this
maist honourable audience, whether if your Grace knows not, that the
obstinate Papists are deadly enemies to all such as profess the
evangel of Jesus Christ, and that they most earnestly desire the
extermination of them and of the true doctrine that is taught in
this realm?'

The Queen held her peace; but all the lords with common voice said,
'God forbid that either the lives of the faithful or yet the staying
of the doctrine stood in the power of the Papists; for just
experience tells us what cruelty lies in their hearts.'"

This sudden turn of opinion, coming from her council itself, and which
already constituted a startling verdict against her, Mary seems to have
sustained with the splendid courage and self-control which she displayed
on great occasi