Queen of ,Scots
The Love Affairs of Mary Queen of Scots. By Martin Hume. New, Edition. (Nash and Grayson. 12s. 6d. net.)
THE title of Mr. Hume's book might lead us to, believe; that it was composed of historical gossip, It is actually a serious and valuable study of the reasons for Mary's downfall. She was born in an age of great queens and the most 'conscienceless political scheming. ' She was almost as well equipped as Elizabeth in the art of cool-headed dissimulation. Indeed, there were several occasions on which Mary had manoeuvred herself into the more powerful position, and it was touch-and-go whether Elizabeth should be ruined and the throne of England should fall to Mary, or Elizabeth should hold out long enough to turn the tables on her " sister queen." There was a .flaw in Mary's nature, however. There was one thing lacking to her equipment ; and this failing doomed her to disaster.
Up to a point Mary could play the game of the marriageable young monarch very well. She and Elizabeth were both adroit in keeping Europe on tiptoe. They could give secret encouragement to half a dozen great suitors at the same time. They could plot and counterplot to ensure to themselves the expectant support of France and Spain at the same time. The delays were irritating, of course ; and, of course, everyone knew that their words were quite untrustworthy. But the stakes were so great ; and it was impossible for. either country to apply forcible measures to encourage the two queens in making up their minds. So definite a practice would have flung them straight into the arms of the rival empire. They both trod delicately, and wisely. and unscrupulously. As far as mere Machiavellian strategy went, they were equals. But Mary was amorous,. Qpvipusly, you cannot succes.sfullY last out in such a battle Of 'Wits if there is a risk of susceptibility and overwhelming pasifon. 'Elithbeth was safe'. She could keep a -hand upon her inclinations. Though she was not averse from dalliance and certain amount of impropriety, there was never any danger That she would foiget the issues in which she was engaged, or -would commit herself beyond the rigid Mints of political wisdom. But, alas 1 for the pour, passionate, red-headed Queen of Scots 'I. First of all she must fall in love -with a conceited, simpering, weak-willed boy, Lord Darnley,. and distinguish him from amongst the crowd of suitors` for the fervour of her passion. To fall in love With him might have passed ; but to marry him for sueh a reas^n
a blaspligmy against the statecraft of marriageable queens.
d then, when she had retrieved her blunder by very careful keen-witted machinations, she grows sick of the miserable wig man. - He is murdered, not without suspicions of her mplicity. Next shp must marry one of his murderers, thwell, the most hated man in Scotland—and again for better reason than the extremity of her passion..
Those were two pieces of news which must have made irabeth gay when she heard them. Mary delivered herself cr to her enemies by those marriages. And, though she Light very bravely to regain her position, though her courage ver failed and her intelligence worked at its finest and t, she had dug her own grave and nothing could keep her t of it. Elizabeth won by her superior coldness. She uld play suitors off against each other till the end of time *flout abandoning her proud title of The Virgin Queen.
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