"Aye, but will the Queen?" wondered Morton.

"She will. I have her word for it."

It took them the whole of that day to consider the terms of the
articles that would satisfy them. Towards evening the document
was ready, and Morton and Ruthven representing all, accompanied by
Murray, and introduced by Darnley, came to the chamber to which Her
Majesty was confined by the guard they had set upon her.

She sat as if in state awaiting them, very lovely and very tearful,
knowing that woman's greatest strength is in her weakness, that
tears would serve her best by presenting her as if broken to their
will.

In outward submission they knelt before her to make the pretence
of suing for the pardon which they extorted by force of arms and
duress. When each in his turn had made the brief pleading oration
he had prepared, she dried her eyes and controlled herself by
obvious effort.

"My lords," she said, in a voice that quivered and broke on every
other word, "when have ye ever found me blood-thirsty, or greedy
of your lands or goods that you must use me so, and take such means
with me? Ye have set my authority at naught, and wrought sedition
in this realm. Yet I forgive you all, that by this clemency I may
move you to a better love and loyalty. I desire that all that is
passed may be buried in oblivion, so that you swear to me that in
the future you will stand my friends and serve me faithfully, who
am but a weak woman, and sorely need stout men to be my friends."