with pimples, and declared without any hesitation that he had
been poisoned. However, others, among them Walter Scott, state that this
illness was nothing else than smallpox.

Whatever it may have been, the queen, in the presence of the danger her
husband ran, appeared to forget her resentment, and at the risk of what
might prove troublesome to herself, she went to Darnley, after sending
her doctor in advance. It is true that if one is to believe in the
following letters, dated from Glasgow, which Mary is accused of having
written to Bothwell, she knew the illness with which he was attacked too
well to fear infection. As these letters are little known, and seem to
us very singular we transcribe them here; later we shall tell how they
fell into the power of the Confederate lords, and from their hands passed
into Elizabeth's, who, quite delighted, cried on receiving them, "God's
death, then I hold her life and honour in my hands!"
FIRST LETTER

"When I set out from the place where I had left my heart, judge in what a
condition I was, poor body without a soul: besides, during the whole of
dinner I have not spoken to anyone, and no one has dared to approach me,
for it was easy to see that there was something amiss. When I arrived
within a league of the town, the Earl of Lennox sent me one of his
gentlemen to make me his compliments, and to excuse himself for not
having come in person; he has caused me to be informed, moreover, that he
did not dare to present himself before me after the reprimand that I gave
Cunningham. This gentleman begged me, as if of his own accord, to
examine his master's conduct, to ascertain if my suspicions were well
founded. I have replied to him that fear was an incurable disease, that
the Earl of Lennox would not be so agitated if his conscience reproached
him with nothing, and that if some hasty words had escaped me, they were
but just reprisals for the letter he had written me.

"None of the inhabitants visited me, which makes me think they are all in
his interests; besides, they speak of him very favourably, as well as of
his son. The king sent for Joachim yesterday, and asked him why I did
not lodge with him, adding that my presence would soon cure him, and
asked me also with what object I had come: if it were to be reconciled
with him; if you were here; if I had taken Paris and Gilbert as
secretaries, and if I were still resolved to dismiss Joseph? I do not
know who has given him su