the connexion, which not only destroyed the good understanding between him
and the queen, but converted him into an open and undisguised enemy. His
irritation on this occasion was further increased by Mary's imprudently evincing,
in several instances, a disposition to favour some of his most inveterate enemies;
and amongst these, the notorious earl of Both well, who had some time before
conspired against his life. In this frame of mind, Murray not only obstinately
refused his consent to the proposed marriage of Mary to Uarnley, but ultimately
had recourse to arms to oppose it. In this attempt, however, to establish himself by force, he was unsuccessful. After raising an army, and being pursued from place to place by Mary in person, at the head of a superior force, hte fled
into England, together with a number of his followers and adherents, and remained there for several months. During his expatriation, however, a total
change of affairs took place at the court of Holyrood. The vain and weak
Darnley, wrought upon by the friends of Murray, became jealous, not of the
virtue, but of the power of the queen, and impatiently sought for uncontrolled
authority. In this spirit he was prevailed upon, by the enemies of his consort,
to league himself with Murray and the banished lords who were with him.
The first step of the conspirators was the murder of Rizzio, the queen's secretary; the next, the recall, on their own responsibility, sanctioned by Darnley, of the expatriated nobleman, who arrived in Edinburgh on the 9th of March, 1566, twenty-four hours after the assassination of the unforttmate Italian.
Although Murray's return had taken place without the queen's consent, she was yet very soon, not only reconciled to that event, but was induced to receive him again apparently into entire favour. Whatever sincerity, however, there was in this seeming reconciliation on the part of the queen, there appears to be good reason for believing that there was but little of that feeling on the side of Murray; for, from this period he may be distinctly traced, notwithstanding of occasional instances of apparent attachment to the interests of the queen, as the prime mover, sometimes secretly, and sometimes openly, of a faction opposed to. the government of Mary; and whose object evidently was to overthrow her power, and to establish their own in its stead. To this end, indeed, the aim of Murray and his confederates would seem to have been long steadily directed; and the unguarded and imprudent, if not criminal, conduct of the queen, enabled them speedily to attain their object. The murder of Darnley, and the subsequent marriage of Mary to Bothwell, had the twofold effect of adding to the number of her enemies, and of increasing the hostility of those who already entertained unfriendly sentiments towards her. The result was, that she was finally dethroned, and confined a prisoner in Lochleven castle, and the earl of Murray was appointed regent of Scotland. With this dignity he was invested on the 22nd. of August, 1567; but whatever objection maybe urged against his conduct previous and relative to his elevation, or the line of policy he pursued when seeking the attainment of this object of his ambition, there can be none urged against the system of government he adopted and acted upon, when placed in power. He procured the enactment of many wise and salutary laws, dispensed justice with a fearless and equal hand, kept down the turbulent and factious, restored internal tranquillity and personal safety to the people; and, in every public act of his authority, discovered a sincere desire for the welfare of his country. Still the regent was yet more feared and respected, than loved. He had many and powerful enemies; while the queen, though a captive, had still many and powerful friends. These, having succeeded in effecting her liberation from Lochleven, mustered in arms, and took the field in great force, with the view of restoring her to her throne. With his usual presence of mind, fortitude, and energy, the regent calmly, but promptly, prepared
