II. HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE

1548-1556

Departure.–Stormy voyage.–Journey to Paris.–Release of prisoners.–Barabbas.–St. Germain.–Celebrations.–The convent.–Character of the nuns.–Interest in Mary.–Leaving the convent.–Amusements.–Visit of Mary’s mother.–Queen dowager.–Rouen.–A happy meeting.–Rejoicings.–A last farewell.–Visit to a mourner.–The queen dowager’s return.–The regency.–A page of honor.–Sir James Melville.–Mary’s character.–Her diligence.–Devices and mottoes.–Festivities.–Water parties.–Hunting.–An accident.–Restraint.–Queen Catharine.–Her character.–Embroidery.–Mary’s admiration of Queen Catharine.–The latter suspicious.–Unguarded remark.–Catharine’s mortification.–The dauphin.–Origin of the title.–Character of Francis.–Mary’s beauty.–Torch-light procession.–An angel.–Mary a Catholic.–Her conscientiousness and fidelity.

THE departure of Mary from Scotland, little as she was, was a great event both for Scotland and for France. In those days kings and queens were even of greater relative importance than they are now, and all Scotland was interested in the young queen’s going away from them, and all France in expecting her arrival. She sailed down the Clyde, and then passed along the seas and channels which lie between England and Ireland. These seas, though they look small upon the map, are really spacious and wide, and are often greatly agitated by winds and storms. This was the case at the time Mary made her voyage. The days and nights were tempestuous and wild, and the ships had difficulty in keeping in each other’s company. There was danger of being blown upon the coasts, or upon the rocks or islands which lie in the way. Mary was too young to give much heed to these dangers, but the lords and commissioners, and the great ladies who went to attend her, were heartily glad when the voyage was over. It ended safely at last, after several days of tossing upon the stormy billows, by their arrival upon the northern coast of France. They landed at a town called Brest.

The King of France had made great preparations for receiving the young queen immediately upon her landing. Carriages and horses had been provided to convey herself and the company of her attendants, by easy journeys, to Paris. They received her with great pomp and ceremony at every town which she passed through. One mark of respect which they showed her was very singular. The king ordered that every prison which she passed in her route should be thrown open, and the prison