310 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 44. wherefore to return I intend not ; I find myself very well where I am, and so I purpose to keep me ; and this shall be for your answer.' ' You have much forgotten your duty, sir, in such despiteful words/ Randolph answered ; ' it is neither discreetly spoken of you nor otherwise to be answered by me than that I trust to see the wreck and overthrow of as many as are of the same mind.' So saying, the stout servant of Elizabeth turned on his heel ' without reverence or farewell.' 1 Elizabeth's attitude and Randolph's language were as menacing as possible. But experience had taught Mary Stuart that between the threats and the actions of the Queen of England there was always a period of irresolu- tion ; and that with prompt celerity she might crush the disaffection of Scotland while her more dangerous enemy was making up her mind. She filled Edinburgh with the retainers of Lennox and Huntly ; she summoned Murray to appear and prove his accusations against Darnley under pain of being declared a traitor ; she sent a message through de Silva to Philip that her subjects had risen in insurrection against her with the support of the Queen of England to force her to change her religion ; 2 and interpreting the promise of three months' delay, which she had made to Throgmorton as meaning a delay into the third month, she resolved to close one element of the controversy and place the marriage itself beyond debate. On the evening of the 28th of July Edinburgh 1 Randolph to Cecil, July 21 : Cotton. MSS. CALIG. B. 10. J De Silva to Philip, July 28 : M8. Simancas.
