Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/509

 1566.] THE MURDER OF DARN LEY. 489 October, twenty-five miles over the moors to see him. The Earl's state proved to be more painful than danger- ous, and after remaining two hours at his bed-side she returned the same day to Jedburgh. She had not been well : ' thought and displeasure/ which, as she herself told Maitland, l ' had their root in the King/ had already affected both her health and spirits. The long ride, the night air, and ' the great distress of her mind for the Earl/ proved too much for her ; and though she sat her horse till her journey 's end, she fainted when she was lifted from the saddle, and remained two hours unconscious. Delirium followed with violent fever, and in this condition she continued for a week. She was frequently insensible ; food refused to remain upon her stomach ; yet for the first few days there seemed to be ( no tokens of death ; ' she slept tolerably, and on Tues- day and Wednesday the 2 2nd and 23rd she was thought to be improving. An express had been sent to Glasgow for Darnley, but he did not appear. On Friday the 25th there was a relapse ; shiver ings came on, the body grew rigid, the eyes were closed, the mouth set and motionless ; she lost consciousness so entirely that she was supposed to be dying or dead ; and in expectation of an immediate end a menacing order to keep the peace was sent out by Murray, Maitland, Huntly, and the other Lords who were in attendance on her. The physician, ' Master Naw/ however, 'aperfyt man of his craft/ ' would not give the matter over/ He 1 Maitland to the Archbishop of Glasgow : Printed in KEITH.