It was about this time that Mary's husband, the King of France, died, and, after enduring various trials and troubles in France, Mary concluded to return to her own realm. She sent to Elizabeth to get a safe-conduct--a sort of permission allowing her to pass unmolested through the English seas. Elizabeth refused to grant it unless Mary would first ratify the treaty of Edinburgh. This Mary would not do, but undertook, rather, to get home without the permission. Elizabeth sent ships to intercept her; but Mary's little squadron, when they approached the shore, were hidden by a fog, and so she got safe to land. After this there was _quiet_ between Mary and Elizabeth for many years, but no peace. CHAPTER VIII. ELIZABETH'S LOVERS. 1560-1581 Claimants to the throne.--General character of Elizabeth's reign.--Elizabeth's suitors.--Their motives.--Philip of Spain proposes.--His strange conduct.--Elizabeth declines Philip's proposal.--Her reasons for so doing.--The English people wish Elizabeth to be married.--Petition of the Parliament.--Elizabeth's "gracious" reply.--Elizabeth attacked with the small-pox.--Alarm of the country.--The Earl of Leicester.--His character.--Services of Cecil.--Elizabeth's attachment to Leicester.--Leicester's wife.--Her mysterious death.--Leicester hated by the people.--Various rumors.--The torch-light conversation.--The servants quarrel.--Splendid style of living.--Public ceremonies.--Elizabeth recommends Leicester to Mary Queen of Scots.--Mary marries Darnley.--Elizabeth's visit to Kenilworth.--Leicester's marriage.--Elizabeth sends him to prison.--Prosperity of Elizabeth's reign.--The Duke of Anjou.--Catharine de Medici.--She proposes her son to Elizabeth.--Quarrels of the favorites.--The shot.--The people oppose the match.--The arrangements completed.--The match broken off.--The duke's rage.--The duke's departure.--The farewell. Elizabeth was now securely established upon her throne. It is true that Mary Queen of Scots had not renounced her pretensions, but there was no immediate prospect of her making any attempt to realize them, and very little hope for her that she would be successful, if she were to undertake it. There were other claimants, it is true, but their claims were more remote and doubtful than Mary's. These conflicting pretensions were likely to make the country some trouble after Elizabeth's death, but there was very slight probability that they would sensibly molest Elizabeth's possession of the throne during her life-time, though they caused her no little anxiety. The reign which Elizabeth thus commenced was one of the longest, most brilliant, and, in many respects, the most prosperous in the whole series presented to our view in the long succession of English sovereigns. Elizabeth continued a queen for forty-five years, during all which time she remained a single lady; and she died, at last, a venerable maiden, seventy years of age.