The Regent, far from having foreseen and hardened her heart to carry out an organised persecution and "cut the throats" of all Protestants in Scotland, was, in fact, intending to go to France, being in the earlier stages of her fatal malady.

This appears from a letter of Sir Henry Percy, from Norham Castle, to Cecil and Parry (April 12, 1559) {95b} Percy says that the news in his latest letters (now lost) was erroneous.

The Regent, in fact, "is not as yet departed." She is very ill, and her life is despaired of.

She is at Stirling, where the nobles had assembled to discuss religious matters.

Only her French advisers were on the side of the Regent.