than abandon her cause, or
yield the superiority to her enemies. Eloquent, insinuating, affable,
she had already convinced all those who approached her, of the innocence
of her past conduct; and as she declared her fixed purpose to require
aid of her friends all over Europe, and even to have recourse to
infidels and barbarians, rather than fail of vengeance against her
persecutors, it was easy to foresee the danger to which her charms, her
spirit, her address, if allowed to operate with their full force, would
expose them.[**] The court of England, therefore, who, under pretence
of guarding her, had already in effect detained her prisoner, were
determined to watch her with still greater vigilance. As Carlisle,
by its situation on the borders, afforded her great opportunities
of contriving her escape, they removed her to Bolton, a seat of Lord
Scrope's in Yorkshire; and the issue of the controversy between her
and the Scottish nation was regarded as a subject more momentous
to Elizabeth's security and interests than it had hitherto been
apprehended.

* Anderson, vol. iv. p. 11, 12, 13, 109, 110.

** Anderson, vol. iv. p. 54, 71, 72, 74, 78, 92.

The Commissioners appointed by the English court for the examination of
this great cause, were the duke of Norfolk, the earl of Sussex, and Sir
Ralph Sadler; and York was named as the place of conference. Lesley,
bishop of Ross, the lords Herreis, Levingstone, and Boyde, with three
persons more, appeared as commissioners from the queen of Scots. The
earl of Murray, regent, the earl of Morton, the bishop of Orkney, Lord
Lindesey, and the abbot of Dunfermling were appointed commissioners from
the king and kingdom of Scotland. Secretary Lidington, George Buchanan,
the famous poet and historian, with some others, were named as their
assistants.

It was a great circumstance in Elizabeth's glory, that she was thus
chosen umpire between the factions of a neighboring kingdom, which
had during many centuries entertained the most violent jealousy and
animosity against England; and her felicity was equally rare, in having
the fortunes and fame of so dangerous a rival, who had long given
her the greatest inquietude, now entirely at her disposal. Some
circumstances of her late conduct had discovered a bias towards the side
of Mary: her prevailing interests led her to favor the enemies of that
princess: the professions of impartiality which she had made were open
and frequent; a