Stuart dynasty

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CHAPTER VII.
MARY QUEEtf OF SCOTS. HER RErGN.
1560-1567.
This reign has been taken out of its historical
context, its leading events recounted, commented on,
and disputed over, until every one knows the main
features of the story. It is strange, however, to
reflect that the one piece of modern history which
attracts mankind generally by its personal romance
and by the sensational interest which it excites in
the inquirer's heart, should remain so obscure in
spite of the elucidatory, efforts made by three genera-
tions of antiquaries, and the diligent researches of
many contemporary scientific writers.
The reign itself proved a sad and irreparable
failure; and, indeed, with a knowledge of the cir-
cumstances, little else could have been anticipated
for the female successor of James V. in view of that
experience which Mary of Lorraine had gathered
when exercising the Regency of Scotland which closed
with the Treaty of Edinburgh in the summer of 1560.
A few short months after England and its Queen
had registered their triumph over the houses of Valois
and Stuart, by the capture of Leith, King Francis IT.
died, and left his widow with no position in France
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