378 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 44 would maintain his right to the crown of Scotland after her death.' Religion should be ' maintained and estab- lished as it was on the arrival of their sovereign lady in the realm.' ' They would spare neither life, lands, goods, nor possessions in setting forward all things to the advancement of the said noble prince, and would intercede with the Queen of England for favour to be shown both to himself and to his mother.' Darnley promised in return that the banished noble- men ' should have free remission of all their faults ' as soon as the possession of the crown matrimonial enabled him to pardon them, and till he obtained it he under- took to prevent their impeachment. The lords might return at once to Scotland in full possession of i their lands, titles, and goods.' If they ' were meddled with* he would stand by them to the uttermost, and religion should be established as they desired. 1 Copies of these articles were carried by swift messen- gers to Newcastle. Eizzio's name was not mentioned ; there was nothing in them to show that more was in- tended than a forcible revolution on the meeting of Par- liament ; and such as they were, they were promptly signed by Murray and his friends. Argyle subscribed, Maitland subscribed, Ruthven subscribed ; Morton hesi- tated, but at the crisis of his uncertainty Mary Stuart innocently carried out her threat of depriving him of the chancellorship, and he added his name in a paroxysm of anger. It need not be supposed that the further 1 Bond subscribed Marcb 6, 1566 : Scotch MSS. Rolls House,
