Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/278

 362 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 65. in favour of Montgomery. A second time he was brought into the town. The streets were thronged with scowling faces. The artisans and apprentices turned out with their bats, and as taunts and gibes began to fly, the escort was frightened and made their way to the Tol- booth, intending to shelter their precious charge there. But the burgesses had carried off the keys ; the gates could not be opened ; and as they halted and hesitated the crowd set upon them. The Grassmarket was an arsenal of missiles ; eggs, cabbage- stalks, fish, stones, street filth, anything that came to hand, flew like hail over the heads of the guard in the face of the miserable Bishop ; and amidst howls of ' False thief/ ' Mansworn thief,' he was hustled back along the street and out of the gates. At the news of this outbreak Lennox lost the little courage that remained to him. Three-quarters of the nobility were on his side, but the nobility were no more the Scotch nation. He wrote to Mendoza to say, that unless help came quickly he must leave the realm. The King's conversion was no longer to be thought of. He dared not for his life introduce a priest into his presence ; and he and Seton prepared to fly, taking James with them. 1 Mary Stuart, whose spirit rose with danger, and knew not what fear meant, was in despair at her cham- pion's poltroonery. She sent him orders to remain at his post at least till she could hear again from Philip. Guise was ready. Ten thousand disbanded soldiers 1 Mendoza to Philip, July, 1 582 : MSS. Simancas,