Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/530

 ;io REIGN" OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 45. one that depends on me ; yet you may command me in all things. About Lady Reres, he said, I pray God she may serve you to your honour. He suspects the thing you know, and of his life ; but as to the last, when I speak two or three kind words he is happy and out of doubt. Burn this letter, for it is dangerous and nothing well said in it.' Then following the ebb and flow of her emotions to that strange point where the criminal passion of a woman becomes almost virtue in its utter self-abandon- ment, she appealed to Bothwell not to despise her for the treachery to which for his sake she was con- descending. ' Have no evil opinion of me for this/ she con- cluded ; ' you yourself are the cause of it ; for my own private revenge I would not do it to him. Seeing, then, that to obey you, my dear love, I spare neither honour, conscience, hazard, nor greatness, take it I pray you in good part. Look not at that woman whose false tears should not be so much regarded as the true and faithful labour which I am bearing to deserve her place ; to ob- tain which against my nature I betray those that may hinder me. God forgive me, and God give you, my only love, the happiness and prosperity which your humble and faithful friend desires for you. She hopes soon to be another thing to you. It is late. I could write to you for ever ; yet now I will kiss your hand and end/ 1 Mary Stuart to Bothwell : ANDERSON'S Collection.