4 i6 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 45 self to fly into the Highlands. One of the three gentle- men was executed ; but the Queen while she used his information repaid his baseness with deserved scorn. The bond which he had signed was under her eyes ; and the stories which he had told against her were brought forward by the lords in their own justification. While distrust and fear and suspicion divided home from home and friend from friend > the contempt and hate of all alike was centred on the unhappy caitiff wjio had betrayed both parties^ in_turnj and Darnley, who was so lately dreaming of himself as sovereign of England n.nd Scot- land, was left towander alone about the country as if the curse of Cain was clinging to him. 1 Meanwhile Elizabeth was reaping a 'harvest of inconveniences from her exaggerated demon- strations of friendliness. The Queen of Scots taking her at her word demanded that Morton and Ruthven should be either surrendered into her hands, or at least should not be permitted to remain in England. Elizabeth would have consented if she had dared, but Argyle and Murray identified their cause with that of their friends. Murray was so anxious that they should do well that 'he wished himself banished for them to have them as they were/ Though they had generously begged him to run no risks in their interest, he had told his sister ' that they had incurred their present danger only on his May. 1 'He is neither accompanied nor looked upon by any nobleman ; attended by certain of bis own serv- ants and six or eight of his guard, he is at liberty to do or go what or where he will.' Eandolph to Cecil, April 25 : Scotch MSS. Rolls House.
