The monastery; The abbot.

412 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
mind, airse from the active share he had borne in the slaughter of David
Rizzio; his father having presided at the perpetration of that abominable
crime, although so weak from long and wasting illness, that he could not
endure the weight of his armour, having arisen fiom a sick-bed to commit
a murder in the presence of his Sovereign. On that occasion his son also
had attended and taken an active part. It was little to be wondered at, that
the Queen, considering her condition when such a deed of horror was acted
in her presence, should retain an instinctive terror for the principal actors
in the murder. She returned, however, with grace the salutation of Lord
Ruthven, and extended her hand to George Douglas, who kneeled, and kissed
it with respect; the first mark of a subject's homage which Roland Grome
had seen any of them render to the captive Sovereign. She returned his
greeting in silence, and there was a brief pause, during which the steward
of the castle, a man of a sad brow and a severe eye, placed, under George
Douglas's directions, a table and writing materials; and the page, obedient
to his mistress's dumb signal, advanced a large chair to the side on which
the Queen stood, the table thus forming a sort of bar which divided the
Queen and her personal followers from her unwelcome visiters. The steward
then withdrew after a low reverence. When he had closed the door behind
him, the Queen broke silence-" With your favour, my lords, I will sit-my
walks are not indeed extensive enough at present to fatigue me greatly, yet
I find repose something more necessary than usual."
She sat down accordingly, and, shading her cheek with her beautiful
hand, looked keenly and impressively at each of the nobles in turn. Mary
Fleming applied her kerchief to her eyes, and Catherine Seyton and Roland
Grmme exchanged a glance, which showed that both were too deeply engrossed with sentiments of interest and commiseration for their royal mistress, to think of any thing which regarded themselves.
"I wait the purpose of your mission, my lords," said the Queen, after she
had been seated for about a minute without a word being spoken,-" I wait
your-message from those you call the Secret Council.-I trust it is a petition
of pardon, and a desire that I will resume my rightful throne, without using
with due severity my right of punishing those who have dispossessed me
of it."
" Madam," replied Ruthven, " it is painful for us to speak harsh truths
to a Princess who has long ruled us. But we come to offer, not to implore,
pardon. In a word, madam, we have to propose to you on the part of the
Secret Council, that you sign these deeds, which will contribute greatly to
the pacification of the State, the advancement of God's word, and the welfare of your own future life."
"Am I expected to take these fair words on trust, my lord? or may I
hear the contents of these reconciling papers, ere I am asked to sign them?"
"Unquestionably, madam; it is our purpose and wish, you should read
what you are required to sign," replied Ruthven.
"Required?" replied the Queen,.with some emphasis; "but the phrase
suits well the matter-read, my lord."
The Lord Ruthven proceeded to read a formal instrument, running in the
Queen's name, and setting forth that she had been called, at an early age,
to the administration of the crown and realm of Scotland, and had toiled
diligently therein, until she was in body and spirit so wearied out and disgusted, that she was unable any longer to endure the travail and pain of
State affairs; and that since God had blessed her with a fair and hopeful
son, she was desirous-to ensure to him, even while she yet lived, his succession to the crown, which was his by right of hereditary descent. " Wherefore," the instrument proceeded, "we, of the motherly affection we bear to
our said son, have renounced and demitted, and by these our letters of free
good-will, renounce and demit, the Crown, government, and guiding of the
realm of Scotland, in favour of our said son, that he may succeed to us as