at Kirk of Field. Not only did Balfour deliver Edinburgh Castle into the
hands of the Confederates, but he also gave them a little silver coffer
of which the cipher, an "F" crowned, showed that it had belonged to
Francis II; and in fact it was a gift from her first husband, which the
queen had presented to Bothwell. Balfour stated that this coffer
contained precious papers, which in the present circumstances might be of
great use to Mary's enemies. The Confederate lords opened it, and found
inside the three genuine or spurious letters that we have quoted, the
marriage contract of Mary and Bothwell, and twelve poems in the queen's
handwriting. As Balfour had said, therein lay, for her enemies, a rich
and precious find, which was worth more than a victory; for a victory
would yield them only the queen's life, while Balfour's treachery yielded
them her honour.




CHAPTER IV

Meanwhile Bothwell had levied some troops, and thought himself in a
position to hold the country: accordingly, he set out with his army,
without even waiting for the Hamiltons, who were assembling their
vassals, and June 15th, 1567, the two opposed forces were face to face.
Mary, who desired to try to avoid bloodshed, immediately sent the French
ambassador to the Confederate lords to exhort them to lay aside their
arms; but they replied "that the queen deceived herself in taking them
for rebels; that they were marching not against her, but against
Bothwell." Then the king's friends did what they could to break off the
negotiations and give battle: it was already too late; the soldiers knew
that they were defending the cause of one man, and that they were going