from this dilemma.

On February the 9th 1567, lord Darnley, then called king of Scots,
perished by a violent and mysterious death. Bothwell, the queen's new
favorite, was universally accused of the murder; and the open discord
which had subsisted, even before the assassination of Rizzio, between
the royal pair, gave strong ground of suspicion that Mary herself was a
participator in the crime.

Elizabeth behaved on this tragical occurrence with the utmost decorum
and moderation; she expressed no opinion hostile to the fame of the
queen of Scots, and took no immediate measures of a public nature
respecting it. It can scarcely be doubted however, that, in common with
all Europe, she secretly believed in the guilt of Mary; and even though
at the bottom of her heart she may have desired rather to see her
condemned than acquitted in the general verdict, such a feeling ought
not, under all the circumstances, to be imputed to her as indicative of
any extraordinary malignity of disposition. To announce to the countess
of Lenox, still her prisoner, the frightful catastrophe which had closed
the history of her rash misguided son, was the first step taken by
Elizabeth: it was a proper, and even an indispensable one; but the
respectful and considerate manner of the communication, contrasted with
former harsh treatment, might be designed to intimate to the house of
Lenox that it should now find in her a protectress, and perhaps an
avenger.

We possess a letter addressed by Cecil to sir Henry Norris ambassador in
France, in which are found some particulars on this subject, oddly
prefaced by a commission on which it is amusing to a modern reader to
contemplate a prime minister at such a time, and with so much gravity,
engaged. But the division of labor in public offices seems to have been
in this age very imperfect: Elizabeth employed her secretary of state to
procure her a mantua-maker; James I. occupied his in transcribing
sonnets of his own composition.

* * * * *

"Sir William Cecil to sir Henry Norris. February 20th 1566-7.

"...The queen's majesty would fain have a taylor that had skill to make
her apparel both after the French and Italian manner; and she thinketh
that you might use some means to obtain some one such there as serveth
that queen, without mentioning any manner of request in the queen's
majesty's name. First, to cause my lady your wife to use some such means
to get one as there