The news of the defeat of the troops of the Queen of Scotland was true. She had assembled about eight thousand men, who had flocked to her from divers parts, and for greater security she wished to shut herself up in Dumbarton, which is a very strong castle, but she could not get there without crossing the Clyde, over which there is but one bridge near Glasgow, and that was already occupied by the enemy. It was therefore determined to cross the river where it flows into the sea, a number of boats being sent to the spot for that purpose. The Regent, aware of this, went in pursuit with four thousand men; whereupon the Queen appointed as her Lieutenant-General the Earl of Argyle, who had just joined her, and who is her brother-in-law through his wife, Queen Mary's natural sister, and he with six thousand men gave Murray battle.
MARY SEEKS ENGLISH PROTECTION
The contest lasted for three-quarters of an hour, when the Queen's troops were worsted, but only one hundred and fifty of her followers were killed, for the Regent exerted himself extremely to prevent his troops shedding blood. The prisoners exceeded three hundred, including many noblemen, amongst whom, moreover, is that Lord Seton who was the chief instrument and leader in effecting the Queen's escape. Finding herself defeated, the Queen set out for England, accompanied by a son of the Duke of Châtelherault, by Lord Fleming, by the Earl of Maxwell, and some twenty-five other attendants, and she travelled a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles without any rest. She stopped at a place called Workington, which is four miles within the English border. She did not discover herself, but was recognised by a Scotsman, who informed the warden of the castle, and the latter went immediately to receive her, with great marks of respect, and posted guards on all sides to prevent pursuit by the enemy.
SECTION VI
THE CONFERENCES AT YORK AND WESTMINSTER
CONTENTS
| [1.] | The Conference at York. | ||
| (a) | Letter of Murray to Queen Elizabeth. | ||
| (b) | Mary's Instructions to her Commissioners. | ||
| (c) | The formal complaints and replies. | ||
| (d) | The account of the private interview, with the "abstract of matters" there shown. | ||
| (e) | Sussex's opinion of the evidence. | ||
| [2.] | The Conference at Westminster. | ||
| (a) | Mary's Instructions. | ||
| (b) | Murray's "Eik" or additional charge. | ||
| (c) | The answer of Mary's Commissioners to the "Eik." | ||
| (d) | Elizabeth's reply to (a). | ||
| (e) | The Privy Council and suggestions for a compromise. | ||
| (f) | Proofs produced at Westminster—the account of the production. | ||
| (g) | Mary's own answer to the "Eik," and her request to see the originals, with Elizabeth's reply. | ||
| (h) | Mary's request for copies, with Elizabeth's reply. | ||
| (i) | Dissolution of the Conference by Elizabeth. |
MARY IN ENGLAND