[86] Mary's conduct upon this occasion may be compared with that of Elizabeth to her favourite Essex; but the Scottish Queen's motives were of a far purer and better kind. "When Essex," says Walpole, "acted a fit of sickness, not a day passed without the Queen's sending after to see him; and she once went so far as to sit long by him, and order his broths and things." "It may be observed," remarks Chalmers, "that Mary was engaged (or rather secretly resolved) to marry Darnley, but Elizabeth only flirted with Essex." [87] Keith, p. 270, and Chalmers, vol. ii. p. 214, et seq. [88] Castelnau in Keith, p. 277. [89] Keith, p. 275. [90] Keith, Appendix, p. 97. [91] Keith, p. 280. [92] Keith, p. 290. [93] Of Chatelherault, Argyle, Murray, Morton, and Glencairn, all of whom were summoned to the Convention, only Morton came. Keith, p. 287. [94] Keith, p. 291, et seq.--Chalmers, vol. i. p. 139, et seq.; vol. ii. p. 141.--Tytler, vol. i. p. 374, et seq. Melville's account of this conspiracy is, that Murray and the other Lords "had made a mynt to tak the Lord Darnley, in the Queen's company, at the Raid of Baith, and to have sent him in England as they allegit. I wot not what was in their minds, but it was ane evil-favoured enterprise whereintil the Queen was in danger, either of kepping (imprisonment) or heart-breaking; and as they had failed in their foolish enterprise, they took on plainly their arms of rebellion." Melville, p. 135. There is some reason to believe, that Knox was implicated in this conspiracy; for, in the continuation of his History, written by his amanuensis, Richard Bannatyne, under the authority of the General Assembly, it appears that a Mr Hamilton, minister of St Andrews, had openly accused him of a share in it; and though Knox noticed the accusation, it does not appear that he ever satisfactorily refuted it.--Goodall, vol. i. p. 207. [95] Keith, p. 293--Spottiswoode, p. 190. [96] Keith, p. 294, _et seq._ [97] Keith, p. 297. [98] Buchanan says, foolishly enough, that the predictions of "wizardly women" contributed much to hasten this marriage. They prophesied, it seems, that if it was consummated before the end of July, it would be happy for both; if not, it would be the source of much misery. It is a pity that these predictions were not true. [99] Randolph in Robertson, Appendix, No. XI.--Keith, p. 307. Miss Benger, vol. ii. p. 214. [100] Keith, p. 303 and 304. This was a day or two before Darnley's marriage. [101] Keith, Appendix No. VII. p. 99, et seq. [102] M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. ii. p. 106; and Tytler's Enquiry, vol. i. p. 362 and 367. [103] Knox, p. 389. [104] Keith, Appendix, p. 264. [105] Robertson, Appendix to Vol. i. Nos. XII. and XIII. [106] Keith, Appendix, p. 114. [107] Keith, p. 316, and Chalmers, vol. i. p. 155. [108] Chalmers, vol. i. p. 156. [109] Chalmers, vol. i. p. 157, and Keith, p. 319. [110] Keith, p. 319.--Melville, p. 135. [111] Blackwood in Jebb, vol. ii. p. 204.