Stuart dynasty

142 THE STUART DYNASTY.
in Mr. Skelton's ' MaitTand of Lethington,' vol. i.
pp. 234, 235.
At this crisis the Regent, Mary of Lorraine., forced
to take offensive measures which she deplored, for-
tified Leith and garrisoned that town with the few
French soldiers who alone supported her cause. For
had not the wily Maitland of Lethington, supreme in
council, followed Chatellerault — unstable it may he,
but by family position head of the Scotch nobility —
into the camp of Knox and the Congregation ?
Elizabeth, the Queen of England, but lately in-
stalled on her father's throne, after some deliberation
hearkened to the prayer of the Protestant Lords for
assistance, and ships of war and men-at-arms besieged
the devoted town of Leith, whicb, in spite of an
ever memorable defence,* was starved into submis-
sion, not, however, before the Queen-regent sank to
her rest in the Castle of Edinburgh on June 10,
1560, the victim of bodily weariness and mental
disappointment.
The evil odour wherein the house of Cruise has
been justly held for lighting the torch of religious
persecution in France, and endeavouring to waft its
flames over Europe, long obscured the mild virtues
of Mary, widow of James V., but it is certain that
the Regency was conducted during her sway with a
desire to minimise bloodshed and persecution so long
* The English government had undertaken a tougher task than they
bargained for. " We think you do well to comfort Winter (the admiral
stationed in the Forth) and such as serve there, for they have a sore and
painful time." Privy Council to the Duke of Norfolk. — ' Hatfield
Calendar,' part i. p. 189.