These Acts were rescinded later, and James had learned for life his hatred of the Presbyterians who had treacherously seized and insulted their king.
{144} In May 1583 Lennox died in Paris, leaving an heir.

On June 27 James made his escape, "a free king," to the castle of St Andrews: he proclaimed an amnesty and feigned reconciliation with his captor, the Earl of Gowrie, chief of the house so hateful to Mary--the Ruthvens.

At the same time James placed himself in friendly relations with his kinsfolk, the Guises, the terror of Protestants.

He had already been suspected, on account of Lennox, as inclined to Rome: in fact, he was always a Protestant, but baited on every side--by England, by the Kirk, by a faction of his nobles: he intrigued for allies in every direction.
The secret history of his intrigues has never been written.

We find the persecuted and astute lad either in communication with Rome, or represented by shady adventurers as employing them to establish such communications.