1566.] THE DARNLEY MARRIAGE. 391 empty scabbard at his side, she asked him where his dagger was. He said he did not know. 1 It will be known hereafter/ she said ; 'it shall be dear blood to some of you if David's be 'spilt. Poor David ! ' she cried, ' good and faithful servant ! may God have mercy on your soul/ Fainting between illness and excitement, Ruthven with a half apology sank into a chair and called for wine. 1 Is this your sickness ? ' she said bitterly. ' If I die of my child and the commonwealth come to ruin, there are those who will revenge me on the Lord Ruthven. Running over the proud list of friends with which she had fooled her fancy, she threatened him with Philip and Charles and Maximilian and her uncles and the Pope.
- Those are over- great persons/ Ruth veil answered,
' to meddle with so poor a man as me. No harm is meant you. If aught has been done to-night which you mislike, your husband and none of us is the cause/ The courage and strength with which the Queen had hitherto borne up began to give way.
- What what have I done to be thus handled ? ' she
sobbed. ' Ask your husband/ said the Earl. ' No/ she said, ' I will ask you. I will set my crown before the Lords of the Articles, and if they find I have offended, let them give it where they please/
