Edward VI., and thus forever unite the rival kingdoms. But the Guises
made no compromises with Protestants! Mary Guise, who was now Regent of
the realm, had no desire for a closer union with Protestant England,
and very much desired a nearer alliance with her own France. Mary
Stuart was betrothed to the Dauphin, son of Francis I., and was sent to
the French Court to be prepared by Catharine de Medici (the Italian
daughter-in-law of Francis I.) for her future exalted position.

[Sidenote: Mary Stuart Returns to England.]

In 1561, Mary returned to England. Her boy-husband had died after a
reign of two years. She was nineteen years old, had wonderful beauty,
rare intelligence, and power to charm like a siren. Her short life had
been spent in the most corrupt and profligate of Courts, under the
combined influence of Catharine de Medici, the worst woman in Europe,--
and her two uncles of the House of Guise, who were little better.
Political intrigues, plottings and crimes were in the very air she
breathed from infancy. But she was an ardent and devout Catholic, and
as such became the centre and the hope of what still remained of
Catholic England.

Elizabeth would have bartered half her possessions for the one
possession of beauty. That she was jealous of her fascinating rival
there is little doubt, but that she was exasperated at her pretensions
and at the audacious plottings against her life and throne is not
strange. In fact we wonder that, with her imperious temper, she so long
hesitated to strike the fatal blow.

Whether Mary committed the dark crimes attributed to her or not, we do
not know. But we do know, that after the murder of her wretched