Chapter I: Preface

The history of the life of every individual who has, for any reason, attracted extensively the attention of mankind, has been written in a great variety of ways by a multitude of authors, and persons sometimes wonder why we should have so many different accounts of the same thing. The reason is, that each one of these accounts is intended for a different set of readers, who read with ideas and purposes widely dissimilar from each other. Among the twenty millions of people in the United States, there are perhaps two millions, between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five, who wish to become acquainted, in general, with the leading events in the history of the Old World, and of ancient times, but who, coming upon the stage in this land and at this period, have ideas and conceptions so widely different from those of other nations and of other times, that a mere republication of existing accounts is not what they require. The story must be told expressly for them. The things that are to be explained, the points that are to be brought out, the comparative degree of prominence to be given to the various particulars, will all be different, on account of the difference in the situation, the ideas, and the objects of these new readers, compared with those of the various other classes of readers which former authors have had in view. It is for this reason, and with this view, that the present series of historical narratives is presented to the public. The author, having had some opportunity to become acquainted with the position, the ideas, and the intellectual wants of those whom he addresses, presents the result of his labors to them, with the hope that it may be found successful in accomplishing its design.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. MARY'S CHILDHOOD 13

II. HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE 37

III. THE GREAT WEDDING 56

IV. MISFORTUNES 76

V. RETURN TO SCOTLAND 99

VI. MARY AND LORD DARNLEY 124

VII. RIZZIO 147

VIII. BOTHWELL 168

IX. THE FALL OF BOTHWELL 198

X. LOCH LEVEN CASTLE 218

XI. THE LONG CAPTIVITY 244

XII. THE END 260

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

DUMBARTON CASTLE, ON THE CLYDE _Frontispiece._

MAP OF THE CENTRAL PART OF SCOTLAND.

PLAN OF THE PALACE OF LINLITHGOW 22

VIEW OF THE PALACE OF LINLITHGOW 25

PORTRAIT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH 91

MARY'S EMBARKATION AT CALAIS 105

VIEW OF THE PALACE OF HOLYROOD HOUSE 114

VIEW OF WEMYS CASTLE 137

PLAN OF HOLYROOD HOUSE 160

PRINCE JAMES'S CRADLE 174

VIEW OF EDINBURGH 179

PLAN OF THE HOUSE AT THE KIRK O' FIELD 182

VIEW OF DUNBAR CASTLE 193

PLAN OF LOCH LEVEN CASTLE 221

VIEW OF LOCH LEVEN CASTLE 236

RUINS OF LOCH LEVEN CASTLE 241

VIEW OF FOTHERINGAY 271

MARY'S TOMB IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY 285

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS