Five Marys erst my boast and glory were, Each one in youthful beauty passing fair; Whilst these enhanced the splendour of my state To all the gods I seemed too fortunate, Till Venus, urged by Juno in her ire, Stole one away and marred my comely quire, Whereof the other four now grieve that they Must, like the Pleiads, shine with lessened ray. In the dialogue which follows, and in which five goddesses and five gods take part, Apollo chimes in with a prophecy which was only partially accomplished: Fear not, Diana, cast away thy care, And hear the tidings which I prescient bear; Juno decrees thy Marys shall be wed, And in all state to Hymen's altar led, But each to fill its lessened ranks again, Will add her offspring to thy beauteous train. In his summing up, which, as may be imagined, is not very favourable to the complainant, the Olympian judge also introduces a prettily turned compliment to the Marys: Five Marys erst were thine and each one meet With goddesses in beauty to compete; Each worthy of a god, if iron fate Allowed the gods to choose a mortal mate. The whole pageant closes with an epilogue spoken by the herald Talthybius, who also foretells further defections from Diana's maidens: Another marriage! Hear the joyful cry: Another Mary joined in nuptial tie! As was but natural, the Queen's favourite attendants possessed considerable influence with their royal lady, and the sequel will show, in the case of each of them, how eagerly their good offices were sought after by courtiers and ambassadors anxious for the success of their several suits and missions. In a letter which Randolph wrote to Cecil on the 24th of October, 1564, and which, as applying to the Marys collectively, may be quoted here, we are shown the haughty Lennox himself condescending to make pretty presents to the maids with a view to ingratiating himself with the mistress. "He presented also each of the Marys with such pretty things as he thought fittest for them, such good means he hath to win their hearts, and to make his way to further effect."[58] FOOTNOTES: for THE FOUR MARYS [50] Knox's _History of the Reformation_, pp. 373, 374. [51] Writing to Cecil on the 31st of December, 1563, Randolph reports: "The frenche potticarie and the woman he gotte with chylde were bothe hanged thys present Fridaye". [52] In Mr. Andrew Lang's book, _The Valet's Tragedy and other Studies_, pp. 291-311, there is an exhaustive discussion of the various points that arise in connection with the ballad of "The Queen's Marie". [53] Bishop Lesley's _History of Scotland_, p. 209. [54] _Brantôme_, t. v, p. 74. [55] Knox's _History of the Reformation_, book v, vol. ii, p. 495. [56] _Annals of Scotland_, p. 14. [57] _Diurnal of Occurrents_, p. 87. [58] _Calendar of State Papers, Eliz._, vol. ix. MARY FLEMING