by the regent: the
refusal of the queen of Scots' commissioners to make any reply was
related: and on the whole, Elizabeth told them, that as she had from
the first thought it improper that Mary, after such horrid crimes were
imputed to her, should be admitted to her presence, before she had in
some measure justified herself from the charge, so now, when her guilt
was confirmed by so many evidences, and all answer refused, she must,
for her part, persevere more steadily in that resolution.[**] Elizabeth
next called in the queen of Scots' commissioners; and after observing,
that she deemed it much more decent for their mistress to continue
the conferences, than to require the liberty of justifying herself in
person, she told them, that Mary might either send her reply by a person
whom she trusted, or deliver it herself to some English nobleman, whom
Elizabeth should appoint to wait upon her: but as to her resolution of
making no reply at all, she must regard it as the strongest confession
of guilt, nor could they ever be deemed her friends who advised her to
that method of proceeding.[***] These topics she enforced still more
strongly in a letter which she wrote to Mary herself.[****]

* See note L, at the end of the volume.

** Anderson, vol. iv. part ii. p. 170, etc. Goodall, vol.
ii. p. 254.

*** Anderson, vol. iv. part ii. p. 179, etc. Goodall, vol.
ii p. 268.

**** Anderson, vol. iv part ii. p. 183. Goodall, vol. ii. p.
269.

The queen of Scots had no other subterfuge from these pressing
remonstrances, than still to demand a personal interview with Elizabeth:
a concession which, she was sensible, would never be granted;[*] because
Elizabeth knew that this expedient could decide nothing; because it
brought matters to extremity, which that princess desired to avoid;
and because it had been refused from the beginning, even before the
commencement of the conferences. In order to keep herself better in
countenance, Mary thought of another device. Though the conferences were
broken off, she ordered her commissioners to accuse the earl of
Murray and his associates as the murderers of the king:[**] but this
accusation, coming so late, being extorted merely by a complaint of
Murray's, and being unsupported by any proof, could only be regarded
as an angry recrimination upon her enemy.[***] [13] She also desired
to have copies of the papers given in by the regent; but as she
still pers