Stuart dynasty

156 THE STUART DYNASTY.
Randolph, and Darnley 's mother, Lady Lennox, all
suspected this secret acquiescence, but Sir Nicholas
Throckmorton sets the matter at rest when writing
to Cecil from Scotland as follows : —
" I shall be sorry if any one coming out of England
should be able to give this Queen (Mary) intelligence
that her proceedings with Lord Darnley are not so
ill taken there by her Majesty and her Council, as in
all my negotiations I pretended, for that would hinder
the purpose the Queen (Elizabeth) would be at." *
The Scottish Queen's combined ability and popu-
larity were such, however, at this crisis, that following
close on Murray's heels in his retreat with his ill-
organised levies, Mary drove her rebellious brother
into well-deserved exile in England, where he
scarcely met with the open encouragement that
Elizabeth's secret support had led hirn to hope for.
This rebellion was known as the "Runabout Raid,"
so active in retreat were Mary's foes before her
vigorous and energetic advance. Anyhow, at home
and in her capital more especially, Mary Stuart stood
triumphant. All might have continued well with
the monarchy at Holyrood, if only Darnley had
filled his exalted position with adequate dignity, and
shielded the royal lady whose affections he had so
deeply engaged, as a husband and King Consort
should have done at all hazards. Instead of this
marital care which she naturally craved for, Mary
found herself allied to a dissipated, frivolous, vain
boy, with more than average scholarship, but at
* Throckmorton to Cecil, May 21, 15C5.