Page:Life and history of Mary, Queen of Scots.pdf/6

10 of Edinburgh, each doing his best upon a three-stringed fiddle, placed below her window all night by way of welcome—a noisy serenade, which deprived her of sleep, after her fatigue.

Unfortunately for the happiness of Mary’s future life, she had been educated in the strictest doctrines of the Catholic religion: the progress of the Reformation, therefore, added to the turbulent state of parties in Scotland at the time, filled her mind with anxious forebodings. She, however, behaved with great prudence, and, by her affability' and condescension to all, soon made herself extremely popular.

Mary had been left a widow without children; and she was sole heir not only to the Scottish throne, but also to that of England, after the death of Queen Elizabeth. Her subjects were therefore very desirous that she should marry a second husband, a purpose which she herself encouraged and entertained. Several noblemen at home were proposed, and her hand was also solicited by foreign princes. Her view's, however, were drawn towards Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, eldest son of the Earl of Lennox. Young Darnley was remarkably tall and handsome, and perfect in all external and shewy accomplishments, but, unhappily, destitute of prudence or steadiness of character, and very loose and immoral in his habits. He was, moreover, no favourite with Queen Elizabeth of England, who began at this