298 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 44. of war, and some of those who knew Elizabeth best did not believe that war was coming ; * but Mary Stuart knew too well her own intentions to escape misgivings that the Queen of England might be as resolute as her- self. When Randolph presented the letter with the message which accompanied it, she burst into tears ; Lennox was silent with dismay; Darnley alone, too foolish to comprehend the danger, remained careless and defiant, 2 and said shortly ' he had no mind to return.' Mary Stuart as soon as she could collect herself said she trusted that her good sister did not mean what she had written. Randolph replied that she most certainly did mean it ; and speaking plainly, as his habit was, he add- ed ' that if they refused to return and her Grace com- forted them in so doing, the Queen his mistress had both power and will to be revenged on them, being her sub- jects/ From the Court Randolph went to Argyle and Murray, who had ascertained meanwhile that there was no time to lose ; the Bishop of Dunblane had been sent 1 Paul de Foix to Catherine de Medici, June 18: TEULET, vol. ii. 2 A sad and singular horoscope had already been cast for Darnley. 4 His behaviour,' Randolph wrote to Cecil, ' is such that he is come in open contempt of all men that were his chief friends. What shall become of him I know not ; but it is greatly to be feared he can have no long life amongst this people. The Queen, being of better understanding, seek- eth to frame and fashion him to the nature of her subjects ; but no per- suasion can alter that which custom hath made in him. He is counted proud, disdainful, and suspicious, which kind of men this soil of any other can least bear.' Randolph to Cecil, July 2: Cotton. MSS. CALIG. B. 10. Printed in KEITH.
