Mary, evasively tempted by hints, later withdrawn, of her recognition as
Elizabeth's successor, was, till the end of March 1565, encouraged by
Randolph, the English ambassador at her Court, to remain in hope of
wedding Leicester.

Randolph himself was not in the secret of the English intrigue, which was
to slip Darnley at Mary. He came (February 1565): Cecil and Leicester
had "used earnest means" to ensure his coming. On March 17 Mary was
informed that she would never be recognised as Elizabeth's successor till
events should occur which never could occur. On receiving this news Mary
wept; she also was indignant at the long and humiliating series of
Elizabeth's treacheries. Her patience broke down; she turned to Darnley,
thereby, as the English intriguers designed, breaking up the concord of
her nobles. To marry Darnley involved the feud of the Hamiltons, and the
return of Murray (whom Darnley had offended), of Chatelherault, Argyll,
and many other nobles to the party of Knox and the preachers. Leicester
would have been welcome to Knox; Darnley was a Catholic, if anything, and
a weak passionate young fool. Mary, in the clash of interests, was a
lost woman, as Randolph truly said, with sincere pity. Her long
endurance, her attempts to "run the English course," were wasted.

David Riccio, who came to Scotland as a musician in 1561, was now high in
her and in Darnley's favour. Murray was accused of a conspiracy to seize
Darnley and Lennox; the godly began to organise an armed force (June
1565); Mary summoned from exile Bothwell, a man of the sword. On July
29th she married Darnley, and on August 6th Murray, who had refused to
appear to answer the charges of treason brought against him, though a
safe-conduct was offered, was outlawed and proclaimed a rebel, while
Huntly's son, Lord George, was to be restored to his estates. Thus
everything seemed to indicate that Mary had been exasperated into