Accession of Elizabeth--Sir William Cecil--The Coronation--Opening of Parliament--Ecclesiastical Legislation--Consecration of Parker--Elizabeth and Philip--Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis--Affairs in Scotland--The First Covenant--Attitude of Mary of Guise--Riot at Perth--Outbreak of Hostilities--The Lords of the Congregation apply to England--Elizabeth hesitates--Siege of Leith--Treaty of Edinburgh--Return of Mary to Scotland--Murray's Influence over her--Beginning of the Religious Wars in France--Elizabeth sends Help to the Huguenots--Peace of Amboise--English Disaster at Havre--Peace with France--The Earl of Leicester--Project of his Marriage with Mary--Lord Darnley--Murder of Rizzio--Birth of Mary's Son--Murder of Darnley--Mary and Bothwell--Carberry Hill--Mary in Lochleven--Abdicates in favour of her Infant Son--Mary's Escape from Lochleven--Defeated at Langside--Her Escape into England 246 CHAPTER XIII. REIGN OF ELIZABETH (_continued_). Elizabeth Determines to Imprison Mary--The Conference at York--It is Moved to London--The Casket Letters--Mary is sent Southwards--Remonstrances of the European Sovereigns--Affairs in the Netherlands--Alva is sent Thither--Elizabeth Aids the Insurgents--Proposed Marriage between Mary and Norfolk--The Plot is Discovered--Rising in the North--Its Suppression--Death of the Regent Murray--Its Consequences in Scotland--Religious Persecutions--Execution of Norfolk--Massacre of St. Bartholomew--Siege of Edinburgh Castle--War in France--Splendid Defence of La Rochelle--Death of Charles IX.--Religious War in the Netherlands--Rule of Don John--The Anjou Marriage--Deaths of Anjou and of William the Silent 274 CHAPTER XIV. REIGN OF ELIZABETH (_continued_). Affairs of Ireland: Shane O'Neil's Rebellion--Plantation of Ulster--Spanish Descent on Ireland--Desmond's Rebellion--Religious Conformity--Campian and Parsons--The Anabaptists--Affairs of Scotland--Death of Morton--Success of the Catholics in Scotland--The Raid of Ruthven--Elizabeth's Position--Throgmorton's Plot--Association to Protect Elizabeth--Mary removed to Tutbury--Support of the Protestant Cause on the Continent--Leicester in the Netherlands--Babington's Plot--Trial of Mary--Her Condemnation--Hesitation of Elizabeth--Execution of Mary 295 CHAPTER XV. REIGN OF ELIZABETH (_concluded_).