"The victor of Cerizoles, the conqueror of the Marquis del Vasto in Piedmont. And who else is to lead the troops that succour me?"
"M. le Comte de Martigues, say some; M. d'Essé d'Epainvilliers, say others."
"A brave soldier is d'Essé. According to the astrologer of Francis I., Mars was the shining lord of his nativity. Thus it was his destiny to lead the armies of France."
"Ah, madam," said the young countess, "is not this heathenish, like the preaching of the Lollards?"
"Of course; yet it was believed at the court of the Most Christian King. And what say they of our lord regent in France?"
"That he is true to French and Scottish interests, and hostile to the English alliance."
"That I well believe; but truer to his own interests than either."
"But they suspect him of wishing to secure the entire power of the kingdom, so that ere long Scotland may be governed by Hamiltons and nothing but Hamiltons; for already they hold the archbishopric of St. Andrew's and other sees; they govern half the royal castles, and hold priories and abbeys innumerable."
"That I know too well," said Mary, curling her proud red lip.
"And that, while printing the Bible in the Scottish tongue, and thus defying the bishops and disseminating heresy in Scotland, at Rome he seeks a cardinal's hat for his brother John, the archbishop of St. Andrew's."