There was one point, however, in the stipulations of this treaty which is of essential importance in this narrative, and that is, that it was agreed that Mary should relinquish all claims whatever to the English crown so long as Elizabeth lived. This, in fact, was the essential point in the whole transaction. Mary, it is true, was not present to agree to it; but the commissioners agreed to it in her name, and it was stipulated that Mary should solemnly ratify the treaty as soon as it could be sent to her.
But Mary would not ratify it--at least so far as this last article was concerned. She said that she had no intention of doing any thing to molest Elizabeth in her possession of the throne, but that as to herself, whatever rights might legally and justly belong to her, she could not consent to sign them away. The other articles of the treaty had, however, in the mean time, brought the war to a close, and both the French and English armies were withdrawn. Neither party had any inclination to renew the conflict; but yet, so far as the great question between Mary and Elizabeth was concerned, the difficulty was as far from being settled as ever. In fact, it was in a worse position than before; for, in addition to her other grounds of complaint against Mary, Elizabeth now charged her with dishonorably refusing to be bound by a compact which had been solemnly made in her name, by agents whom she had fully authorized to make it.
It was about this time that Mary's husband, the King of France, died, and, after enduring various trials and troubles in France, Mary concluded to return to her own realm. She sent to Elizabeth to get a safe-conduct--a sort of permission allowing her to pass unmolested through the English seas. Elizabeth refused to grant it unless Mary would first ratify the treaty of Edinburgh. This Mary would not do, but undertook, rather, to get home without the permission. Elizabeth sent ships to intercept her; but Mary's little squadron, when they approached the shore, were hidden by a fog, and so she got safe to land. After this there was _quiet_ between Mary and Elizabeth for many years, but no peace.
Claimants to the throne.--General character of Elizabeth's reign.--Elizabeth's suitors.--Their motives.--Philip of Spain proposes.--His strange conduct.--Elizabeth declines Philip's proposal.--Her reasons for so doing.--The English people wish Elizabeth to be married.--Petition of the Parliament.--Elizabeth's "gracious" reply.--Elizabeth attacked with the small-pox.--Alarm of the country.--The Earl of Leicester.--His character.--Services of Cecil.--Elizabeth's attachment to Leicester.--Leicester's wife.--Her mysterious death.--Leicester hated by the people.--Various rumors.--The torch-light conversation.--The servants quarrel.--Splendid style of living.--Public ceremonies.--Elizabeth recommends Leicester to Mary Queen of Scots.--Mary marries Darnley.--Elizabeth's visit to Kenilworth.--Leicester's marriage.--Elizabeth sends him to prison.--Prosperity of Elizabeth's reign.--The Duke of Anjou.--Catharine de Medici.--She proposes her son to Elizabeth.--Quarrels of the favorites.--The shot.--The people oppose the match.--The arrangements completed.--The match broken off.--The duke's rage.--The duke's departure.--The farewell.