Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/426

 412 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 55. was not entertaining a thought in Elizabeth's prejudice. 1 In signal contrast with all this treachery and con- spiracy, a remarkable exploit in Scotland threw sudden credit on the Regent's government, gave heart to the Protestants, and encouraged Elizabeth in her resolution to postpone, for a time at least, the further consideration of the Queen of Scots' restitution. The Castle of Dumbarton has been many times men- tioned in this history. The rock on which it stands forms the point of a peninsula at the confluence of the Leven and Clyde. It rises sheer from the water to a height of two hundred feet. The circumference at the base is less than half a mile, and the sides, if not en- tirely perpendicular, are so near it that there is but one spot where it can be ascended without ladders or ropes. The rock is united to the mainland only by a low strip of marsh and meadow, which at that time was flooded by high tides. In a cleft near the summit there is a spring of water ; and thus before the invention of shells the place was virtually impregnable except by famine. It had been held by Lord Fleming, in the name of Mary Stuart, from the beginning of the troubles in Scotland. It wa.s to Dumbarton that she was retreating when in- tercepted at Langside. Dumbarton was the open gate through which French or Spaniards could have entrance into Scotland. It was a sanctuary of disaffection ; a 1 ' Yen comme desubs que je ne desire rien mouvoir de ma part pour ne vous desplayre sans aultre respect jc vous jure.' Mary Stuart to Eli- zabeth, March 27 ; and compare Same to the Same, March 31 : LA- BANOFF, vol. Hi.