; for with these hollow compliments
she had the further indiscretion to mingle the demand that Elizabeth
should publicly declare her next heir to the English throne; a proposal
which this high-spirited princess could never hear without rage. Neither
of the queens was a novice in the arts of dissimulation, and as often as
it suited the interest or caprice of the moment, each would lavish upon
the other, without scruple, every demonstration of amity, every pledge
of affection; but jealousy, suspicion, and hatred dwelt irremoveably in
the inmost recesses of their hearts. The protestant party in Scotland
was powerfully protected by Elizabeth, the catholic party in England was
secretly incited by Mary; and it became scarcely less the care and
occupation of each to disturb the administration of her rival than to
fix her own on a solid basis.

Mary had been attended on her return to Scotland by her three uncles,
the duke of Aumale, the grand prior and the marquis of Elbeuf, with a
numerous retinue of French nobility; and when after a short visit the
duke and the grand prior took their leave of her, they with their
company consisting of more than a hundred returned through England,
visiting in their way the court of Elizabeth. Brantome, who was of the
party, has given incidentally the following particulars of their
entertainment in the short memoir which he has devoted to the
celebration of Henry II. of France.

"Bref, c'estoit un roy tres accomply & fort aymable. J'ay ouy conter a
la reigne d'Angleterre qui est aujourd'huy, que c'estoit le roy & le
prince du monde qu'elle avoit plus desire de voir, pour le beau rapport
qu'on luy en avoit fait, & pour sa grande renommee qui en voloit par
tout. Monsieur le connestable qui vit aujourd'huy s'en pourra bien
ressouvenir, ce fut lorsque retournant d'Escosse M. le grand prieur de
France, de la maison de Lorreine, & luy, la reigne leur donna un soir a
soupper, ou apres se fit un ballet de ses filles, qu'elle avoit ordonne
& dresse, representant les vierges de l'evangile, desquelles les unes
avoient leurs lampes allumees & les autres n'avoient ny huile ny feu &
en demandoient. Ces lampes estoient d'argent fort gentiment faites &
elabourees, & les dames etoient tres-belles & honnestes & bien apprises,
qui prirent nous autres Francois pour danser, mesme la reigne dansa, &
de fort bonne grace & belle majeste royale, car elle l'avoit & estoit
lors en sa grande beaute & belle grace. Rien ne