ed, by all men, chiefly by Morton and Argyll. Lethington
was in hiding; but he was indispensable, and in September was reconciled
to Mary.

On June 19, in Edinburgh Castle, she bore her child, later James VI.; on
her recovery Darnley was insolent, and was the more detested, while
Bothwell was high in favour. In October most of the Lords signed, with
Murray, a band for setting Darnley aside--_not_ for his murder. He is
said to have denounced Mary to Spain, France, and Rome for neglecting
Catholic interests. In mid-October Mary was seriously ill at Jedburgh,
where Bothwell, wounded in an encounter with a Border reiver, was
welcomed, while Darnley, coldly received, went to his father's house on
the Forth. On her recovery Mary resided in the last days of November at
Craigmillar Castle, near Edinburgh. Here Murray, Argyll, Bothwell,
Huntly, and Lethington held counsel with her as to Darnley. Lethington
said that "a way would be found," a way that Parliament would approve,
while Murray would "look through his fingers." Lennox believed that the
plan was to arrest Darnley on some charge, and slay him if he resisted.

At Stirling (December 17), when the young prince was baptised with
Catholic rites, Darnley did not appear; he sulked in his own rooms. A
week later, the exiles guilty of Riccio's murder were recalled, among
them Morton; and Darnley, finding all his enemies about to be united,
went to Glasgow, where he fell ill of smallpox. Mary offered a visit
(she had had the malady as a child), and was rudely rebuffed (January 1-
13, 1567), but she was with him by January 21. From Glasgow, at this
time, was written the long and fatal letter to Bothwell, which places
Mary's guilt in luring Darnley to his death beyond doubt, if we accept
the letters as authentic. {129}

Darnley was carried in a litter to the lonely house of Kirk o' Field, on
the south wall of Edinburgh. Here Mary attended him in his sickness. On
Sunday morning, February 9, Murray left Edinburgh for Fife. In the night
of Sunday 9-Monday 10, the house where Darnley lay was blown up by
gunpowder, and he, with an attendant, was found dead in the garden: how
he was slain is not known.

That Bothwell, in accordance with a band signed by himself, Huntly,
Argyll, and Lethington, and aided by some Border ruffians, laid and
exploded the powder is certain. Morton was apprised by Lethington and
Bothwell of the plot, but refused to join it without Mary's writt