THE DOMESTIC LIFE OF MARY, WITH SOME ANECDOTES OF ELIZABETH.
The summer and autumn of the year 1563, were spent by Mary in making
various excursions through the country. She had not yet visited the west
and south-west of Scotland. Shortly after the rising of Parliament, she
set out for Glasgow, and from thence went on to Dumbarton and Loch-Lomond.
In the neighbourhood of its romantic scenery, she spent some days, and
then crossed over to Inverary, where she visited her natural sister, the
Countess of Argyle, to whom she was much attached. Upon leaving Inverary,
she passed over the Argyleshire hills, and came down upon the Clyde at
Dunoon. Following the course of the river, she next visited Toward Castle,
near the entrance of the Bay of Rothesay. Here she crossed the Frith of
Clyde, and landing in Ayrshire, spent several weeks in this Arcadian
district of Scotland. She then went into Galloway, and before her return
to Edinburgh, visited Dumfries, and other towns in the south. Her next
excursion was to Stirling, Callander, and Dumblane, in the neighbourhood
of which places she remained till late in the season. The earlier part of
1564, she spent at Perth, Falkland, and St Andrews; and in the autumn of
this year, she again went as far north as Inverness, and from thence into
Ross-shire. "The object of that distant journey," says Chalmers, "was not
then known, and cannot be completely ascertained." "She repassed through
the country of the Gordons, which had once been held out as so frightful.
She remained a night at Gartley, where there is still a ruined castle, and
the parish whereof belongs even now to the Duke of Gordon. She rode
forward to Aberdeen, without seeing Huntly's ghost, and went thence to
Dunnottar, where she remained a night, and thence, proceeding along the
coast road, to Dundee. She then crossed the Tay into Fife, and diverging
for a few days to St Andrews, she returned to Edinburgh about the 26th of
September, after an absence of two months."
As we are speedily to enter upon a new and more bustling, though not a
happier period, of Mary's life, we should wish to avail ourselves of the
present opportunity, to convey to the reader some notion of her domestic
habits and amusements, and how, when left to herself, she best liked to
fill up her time. The affability and gentleness of her manners, had
endeared her even more than her personal attractions, to all who
frequented her court. She had succeeded, by the firm moderation of her
measures, not only in giving a more than ordinary degree of popularity to
her government, but, by the polished amenity of her bearing, her powers of
conversation, and varied accomplishments, she had imparted to the court of
Holyrood a refinement and elegance we in vain look for under the reign of
any of her predecessors. There is a vast difference between an over-degree
of luxuriousness and a due attention to the graces. Under the influence of
the former, a nation becomes effeminate, and addicted to every species of
petty vice; under that of the latter, its characteristic virtues are
called only more efficiently into action. The tree is not the less
valuable divested of its rugged bark. It is to the example set by Mary,
that we are to attribute, in a great degree, that improvement in the
manners and feelings of Scotch society, which speedily placed this country
more upon a par with the rest of civilized Europe. Had the precepts of
John Knox been strictly followed, the blue bonnets of a rigid, unbending
Presbyterianism would probably to this day have decorated the heads of
two-thirds of the population. A scarcity which prevailed about the
commencement of the year 1564, drew from this stern Reformer the
assertion, that "the riotous feasting and excessive banqueting used in
city and country, wheresoever the profane Court repaired, provoked God to
strike the staff of bread, and to give his maledictions upon the fruits of
the earth." Mary judged differently of the effects produced by these
"profane banquetings,"--and so will the political economists of more
modern times.
It was only, after the performance of duties of a severer kind, that Mary
indulged in recreation. She sat some hours regularly every day with her
Privy Council; and, with her work-table beside her and her needle in her
hand, she heard and offered opinions upon the various affairs of State. To
the poor of every description, she was, like her mother, exceedingly
attentive; and she herself benevolently superintended the education of a
number of poor children. To direct and distribute her charities, two
ecclesiastics were appointed her _elcemosynars_; and they, under her
authority, obtained money from the Treasurer in all cases of necessity.
She gave an annual salary also to an advocate for the poor, who conducted
the causes of such as were unable to bear the expenses of a lawsuit; and
to secure proper attention for these causes, she not unfrequently took her
seat upon the bench when they came to be heard. Her studies were extensive
and regular. She was well versed in history, of which she read a great
deal. Every day after dinner she devoted an hour or two to the perusal of
some Latin classic, particularly Livy, under the superintendence of George
Buchanan. In reward for his services, she gave him the revenue of the
Abbey of Crossraguel in Ayrshire, worth about 500_l._ a year. This grant
was probably made at the request of the Earl of Murray, who was Buchanan's
patron, and to whom he always considered himself more indebted than to the
Queen. Buchanan, whose talents for controversial writing it was foreseen
might be useful, had also a pension of 100_l._ a year from Elizabeth. Mary
had a competent knowledge of astronomy and geography; and her library in
the Palace of Holyrood contained, among other things, two globes, which
were at that time considered curiosities in Scotland,--"the ane of the
heavin, and the uther of the earth." She had, besides, several maps, and a
few pictures, in particular portraits of her father, her mother, her
husband Francis II., and Montmorency. Being fond of all sorts of
exercises, she frequently received ambassadors and others, to whom she
gave audience, in the Palace gardens. She had two of these,--the southern
and the northern; and, not contented with their more limited range, she
often extended her walk through the King's Park, and sometimes even along
the brow of Salisbury Crags or Arthur Seat. She had gardens and parks
attached to all her principal residences throughout Scotland,--at
Linlithgow,--at Stirling,--at Falkland,--at Perth,--and at St Andrews. It
was in one of her gardens at Holyrood that she planted a sycamore she had
brought with her from France, and which, becoming in time a large and
valuable tree, was an object of curiosity and admiration even in our own
day. It was blown down only about ten years ago, and its wood was eagerly
sought after, to be made into trinkets and costly relics.
To her female followers and friends, Mary was ever attentive and kind. For
her four Maries, her companions from infancy, she retained her affection
during all the vicissitudes of her fortune. At the period of which we
write, she still enjoyed the society of all of them; but Mary Fleming
afterwards became the wife of Secretary Maitland, and Mary Livingstone of
Lord Semple. Mary Beaton and Mary Seaton remained unmarried. Madame de
Pinguillon, who had come with the Queen from France, and to whom she was
extremely partial, continued in her service for several years, her husband
being appointed Master of the Household. They both returned to their own
country when the troubles in Scotland began. There were many other ladies
belonging to the court, whose names possess no interest, because
unconnected with any of the events of history.
Mary's establishment was by no means expensive or extraordinary. She does
not appear to have had so great a variety of dresses as Elizabeth, yet she
was not ill provided either. Her common wearing gowns, as long as she
continued in mourning, which was till the day of her second marriage, were
made either of camlet, or damis, or serge of Florence, bordered with black
velvet. Her riding-habits were mostly of serge of Florence, stiffened in
the neck and body with buckram, and trimmed with lace and ribands. In the
matter of shoes and stockings, she seems to have been remarkably well
supplied. She had thirty-six pair of velvet shoes, laced with gold and
silver; she had ten pair of hose woven of gold, silver, and silk, and
three pair woven of worsted of Guernsey. Silk stockings were then a
rarity. The first pair worn in England were sent as a present from France
to Elizabeth. Six pair of gloves of worsted of Guernsey are also mentioned
in the catalogue, still existing, of Mary's wardrobe. She was fond of
tapestry, and had the walls of her chambers hung with the richest
specimens of it she could bring from France. She had not much plate; but
she had a profusion of rare and valuable jewels. Her cloth of gold, her
Turkey carpets, her beds and coverlids, her table-cloths, her crystal,
her chairs and foot-stools covered with velvet, and garnished with
fringes, were all celebrated in the gossiping chronicles of the day.
The Scottish Queen's amusements were varied, but not in general sedentary.
She was, however, a chess-player, and anxious to make herself a mistress
of that most intellectual of all games. Archery was one of her favourite
out-of-door pastimes, and she indulged in it frequently in her gardens at
Holyrood. She revived the ancient chivalric exercise of riding at the
ring, making her nobles contend against each other; and crowds frequently
collected on the sands at Leith to witness their trials of skill.
Tournaments Mary did not so much like, because they tempted the courageous
to what she thought unnecessary danger; and when obliged to be present at
them in France, it was remarked, that her superior delicacy of feeling
always marred her enjoyment, from the anticipation that they might end in
bloodshed. These sentiments were probably strengthened by the unfortunate
manner in which Henry II. met his death. The now almost obsolete, but then
fashionable and healthful amusement of hawking, was much esteemed by Mary.
Her attachment to it was hereditary, for both her father and grandfather
were passionately fond of it. James V. kept a master-falconer, who had
seven others under him. In 1562, hawks of an approved kind were brought
for Mary from Orkney; and in the same year, she sent a present of some of
them to Elizabeth. To riding and hunting, as has been already seen, Mary
had long been partial.
Within doors, Mary found an innocent gratification in dancing, masquings,
and music. She was herself, as has been seen, a most graceful dancer,
moving, according to Melville, "not so high, nor so disposedly," as
Elizabeth; by which we may understand that she danced, as they who have
been taught in France usually do, with greater ease and self-possession,
or, in other words, with less effort--less consciousness that she was
overcoming a difficulty in keeping time, and executing the steps and
evolutions of the dance. The masques and mummeries, which were
occasionally got up, were novelties in Scotland, and excited the anger of
the Reformers, though it is difficult to tell why. Randolph, describing a
feast at which he was present in 1564, mentions that, at the first course,
some one, representing Cupid, made his appearance, and sung, with a
chorus, some Italian verses; at the second, "a fair young maid" sung a few
Latin verses; and at the third, a figure dressed as Time concluded the
mummery, with some wholesome piece of morality. Upon other occasions,
several of which will be alluded to afterwards, masques were performed
upon a more extensive scale. These amusements were seldom or never allowed
to degenerate into dissipation, by being protracted to untimely hours.
Mary was always up before eight o'clock;--she supped at seven, and was
seldom out of bed after ten.[77]
The Queen's taste in music had been cultivated from her earliest years.
When almost an infant she had _minstrels_ attached to her establishment.
On her return to Scotland, she had a small band of about a dozen
musicians--vocal and instrumental--whom she kept always near her person.
Five of these were violars, or players on the viol;[78] three of them were
players on the lute; one or two of them were organists, but the organs in
the chapels at Stirling and Holyrood were the only ones which had been
saved from the fury of the Reformers; and the rest were singers, who also
acted as _chalmer-chields_, or valets-de-chambre. Mary could herself play
upon the lute and virginals, and loved to hear concerted music upon all
occasions. She even introduced into her religious worship a military band,
in aid of the organ, consisting of trumpet, drum, fife, bagpipe, and
tabor.
It was as one skilled in music that David Rizzio first recommended himself
to Mary. He came to Edinburgh towards the end of the year 1561, in the
train of the ambassador from Savoy. He was a Piedmontese by birth, and had
received a good education. His father was a respectable professional
musician in Turin, who, having a large family, had sent his two sons,
David and Joseph, to push their own way in Nice, at the court of the Duke
of Savoy. They were both noticed at that court, and were taken into the
service of the Duke of Moretto, the ambassador already mentioned. The
knowledge which David Rizzio possessed of music, says a French writer, was
the least of his talents: He had a polished and ready wit, a lively
imagination, full of pleasant fancies, soft and winning manners, abundance
of courage, and still more assurance. "He was," says Melville, "a merry
fallow, and a guid musician." He was, moreover, abundantly ugly, and past
the meridian of life, as attested by all cotemporary writers of any
authority. His brother, Joseph, is scarcely mentioned in history, though
it appears that he also attached himself to Mary's Court. At the time of
David's arrival, the Queen's three pages, or _sangsters_, who used to sing
trios for her, wanted a fourth as a bass. Rizzio was recommended, and he
received the appointment, together with a salary of 80_l._ Being not only
by far the most scientific musician in the Queen's household, but likewise
well acquainted both with French and Italian, Rizzio contrived to make
himself generally useful. In 1564 he was appointed Mary's French
secretary, and in this situation he continued till his death.[79]
An amusing peep into the interior of both the Scots and English Courts,
afforded by Sir James Melville, will form an appropriate conclusion to
this chapter. Sir James returned from the Continent to Scotland in May
1564. He found the Queen at St Johnstone; and she, aware of his fidelity,
requested him to give up thoughts of going back to France, where he had
been promised preferment. "She was so affable," says he, "so gracious and
discreet, that she won great estimation, and the hearts of many both in
England and Scotland, and mine among the rest; so that I thought her more
worthy to be served for little profit, than any other prince in Europe for
great commodity." But Mary had too proud a spirit to submit to be served
for nothing. She was by nature liberal almost to a fault. Out of her
French dowry she settled upon Melville a pension of a thousand marks, and
in addition, she begged him to accept of the heritage of the lands of
Auchtermuchty, near Falkland. These he refused, as he was unwilling that
she should dismember, on his account, her own personal property; but they
were subsequently given to some one less scrupulous. Sir James was soon
afterwards sent by Mary on an embassy to Elizabeth, principally for the
sake of expediting some matters connected with Mary's intended matrimonial
arrangements.
The morning after his arrival in London, he was admitted to an audience by
Elizabeth, whom he found pacing in an alley in her garden. The business
upon which he came being arranged satisfactorily, Melville was favourably
and familiarly treated by the English Queen. He remained at her Court
nearly a fortnight, and conversed with her Majesty every day, sometimes
thrice on the same day. Sir James, who was a shrewd observer, had thus an
opportunity of remarking the many weaknesses and vanities which
characterized Elizabeth. In allusion to her extreme love of power, he
ventured to say to her, when she informed him she never intended to marry,
"Madam, you need not tell me that; I know your stately stomach. You think,
if you were married, you would be but Queen of England; and now you are
King and Queen both; you may not suffer a commander." Elizabeth was
fortunately not offended at this freedom. She took Sir James, upon one
occasion, into her bedchamber, and opened a little case, in which were
several miniature pictures. The pretence was to show him a likeness of
Mary, but her real object was, that he should observe in her possession a
miniature of her favourite the Earl of Leicester, upon which she had
written with her own hand, "My Lord's picture." When Melville made this
discovery, Elizabeth affected a little amiable confusion. "I held the
candle," says Sir James, "and pressed to see my Lord's picture; albeit she
was loth to let me see it; at length, I by importunity obtained the sight
thereof, and asked the same to carry home with me unto the Queen; which
she refused, alleging she had but that one of his." At another time,
Elizabeth talked with Sir James of the different costumes of different
countries. She told him she had dresses of many sorts; and she appeared in
a new one every day during his continuance at Court. Sometimes she dressed
after the English, sometimes after the French, and sometimes after the
Italian fashion. She asked Sir James which he thought became her best. He
said the Italian, "whilk pleasit her weel; for she delighted to show her
golden coloured hair, wearing a kell and bonnet as they do in Italy. Her
hair was redder than yellow, and apparently of nature." Elizabeth herself
seems to have been quite contented with its hue, for she very complacently
asked Sir James, whether she or Mary had the finer hair? Sir James having
replied as politely as possible, she proceeded to inquire which he
considered the more beautiful? The ambassador quaintly answered, that the
beauty of either was not her worst fault. This evasion would not serve;
though Melville, for many sufficient reasons, was unwilling to say any
thing more definite. He told her that she was the fairest queen in
England, and Mary the fairest in Scotland. Still this was not enough. Sir
James ventured, therefore, one step farther. "They were baith," he said,
"the fairest ladies of their courts, and that the Queen of England was
whiter, but our Queen was very lusome." Elizabeth next asked which of them
was of highest stature? Sir James told her the Queen of Scots. "Then she
said the Queen was over heigh, and that herself was neither over heigh nor
over laigh. Then she askit what kind of exercises she used. I said, that
as I was dispatchit out of Scotland, the Queen was but new come back from
the Highland hunting; and that when she had leisure frae the affairs of
her country, she read upon guid buiks the histories of divers countries;
and sometimes would play upon the lute and virginals. She spearit gin she
played weel; I said, raisonably for a Queen."
This account of Mary's accomplishments piqued Elizabeth's vanity, and
determined her to give Melville some display of her own. Accordingly, next
day one of the Lords in waiting took him to a quiet gallery, where, as if
by chance, he might hear the Queen play upon the virginals. After
listening a little, Melville perceived well enough that he might take the
liberty of entering the chamber whence the music came. Elizabeth
coquettishly left off as soon as she saw him, and, coming forward, tapped
him with her hand, and affected to feel ashamed of being caught, declaring
that she never played before company, but only when alone to keep off
melancholy. Melville made her a flattering speech, protesting that the
music he had heard was of so exquisite a kind, that it had irresistibly
drawn him into the room. Elizabeth, who does not seem to have thought as
people are usually supposed to do in polite society, that "comparisons are
odious," could not rest satisfied, without putting, as usual, the
question, whether Mary or she played best? Melville gave the English Queen
the palm. Being now in good humour, she resolved that Sir James should
have a specimen of her learning, which it is well known degenerated too
much into pedantry. She praised his French, asking if he could also speak
Italian, which, she said, she herself spoke reasonably well. She spoke to
him also in Dutch; but Sir James says it was not good. Afterwards, she
insisted upon his seeing her dance; and when her performance was over, she
put the old question, whether she or Mary danced best. Melville
answered,--"The Queen dancit not so high and disposedly as she did."
Melville returned to Scotland, "convinced in his judgment," as he says,
"that in Elizabeth's conduct there was neither plain-dealing nor upright
meaning, but great dissimulation, emulation, and fear that Mary's princely
qualities should too soon chase her out, and displace her from the
kingdom."
Sir James, by way of contrast, concludes this subject with the following
interesting account of Mary's well-won popularity, prudence, modesty, and
good sense. "The Queen's Majesty, as I have said, after her returning out
of France to Scotland, behaved herself so princely, so honourably and
discreetly, that her reputation spread in all countries; and she was
determined, and also inclined to continue in that kind of comeliness even
to the end of her life, desiring to hold none in her company, but such as
were of the best quality and conversation, abhorring all vices and vicious
persons, whether they were men or women; and she requested me to assist
her in giving her my good counsel how she might use the meetest means to
advance her honest intention; and in case she, being yet young, might
forget herself in any unseemly gesture or behaviour, that I would warn her
thereof with my admonition, to forbear and reform the same. Which
commission I refused altogether; saying, that her virtuous actions, her
natural judgment, and the great experience she had learned in the company
of so many notable princes in the Court of France, had instructed her so
well, and made her so able, as to be an example to all her subjects and
servants. But she would not have it so, but said she knew that she had
committed divers errors upon no evil meaning, for lack of the admonition
of loving friends, because that the most part of courtiers commonly
flatter princes, to win their favour, and will not tell them the verity,
fearing to tine their favour; and therefore she adjured me and commanded
me to accept that charge, which I said was a ruinous commission, willing
her to lay that burden upon her brother, my Lord of Murray, and the
Secretary Lethington; but she said that she would not take it in so good a
part of them as of me. I said, I feared it would cause me, with time, to
tine her favour; but she said it appeared I had an evil opinion of her
constancy and discretion, which opinion, she doubted not, but I would
alter, after that I had essayed the occupation of that friendly and
familiar charge. In the meantime, she made me familiar with all her most
urgent affairs; but chiefly in her dealing with any foreign nation. She
showed unto me all her letters, and them that she received from other
princes; and willed me to write unto such princes as I had acquaintance
of, and to some of their counsellors; wherein I forgot not to set out her
virtues, and would show her again their answers, and such occurrences as
passed at the time between countries, to her great contentment. For she
was of a quick spirit, and anxious to know and to get intelligence of the
state of other countries; and would be sometimes sad when she was
solitary, and glad of the company of them that had travelled in foreign
parts."[80]
This testimony in Mary's favour, from a cotemporary author of so much
respectability, is worth volumes of ordinary panegyrick.