things avail in other persons to raise hatred to bring punishment and to make examples to posterity But in this case let us bear much with her youth much with her Nobility much with the name of a Princess As for mine own part I am not one that thinks it alwaies good to use extream strictness of law no not in private mean and common persons But in a most heinous misdeed to dissolve all force of law and where is no measure of ill doing there to descend beneath all measure in punishing were the way to the undoing of all laws and the overthrow of all humane society But in this one horrible Act is such a hotchpotch of all abominable doings such an eagerness of all outragious cruelties such a forgetfulness of all natural affection as nothing more can be feigned or imagined I omit all former matters I will not curiously enquire upon Princes doings I will not weigh them by the common beam I will not restrain them to common degrees of duties If there be any thing that without great offence may be passed over I will gladly leave it unspoken of If there be any thing that may receive excuse either by respect of age or of woman-kind yea or of unadvisedness I will not urge it And to pass over all the rest two heinous offences there be that neither according to their greatness be fully expressed nor according to their outrage be sufficiently punished I mean the violating of Matrimony and of Royal Majesty For Matrimony as the Apostle saith doth truely contain a great mystery For as being observed it compriseth within it all inferiour kinds of duties so being broken it overthroweth them all Whoso hath misused his father seemeth to have cast out of his heart all natural reverence but for the husbands sake one shall leave both Father and Mother Of all other duties the degrees or like observances either are not at all in brute creatures or not so plain to be discerned but of matrimonial love there is almost no living creature that hath not some feeling This mystery therefore whoso not only violateth but also despiseth he doth not onely overthrow all the foundations of humane fellowship but as much as in him lyeth dissolveth and confoundeth all order of nature Whosoever I do not say hurteth the KING that is the true Image of God in earth but slayeth him with strange and unwonted sort of cruelty so as the untemperate and uncredible outragiousness is not contented with simple torment seemeth he not as much as in him lyeth to have a desire to pull God out of Heaven What refuge have they then left themselves to mercy that in satisfying their lust of unjust hatred have exceeded not onely all measure of cruelty but also all likelihood that it can be credible But they will say we ought to bear with and spare her Nobility Dignity and age Be it so if she have spared him in whom all these respects were greater or at least equal let the majesty of Royal name avail her How much it ought to avail to her preserving her self hath shewed the example May we commit our safety to her who a Sister hath butcherly slaughtered her Brother a Wife her Husband a Queen her King May we commit our safety to her whom never shame restrained from unchastity woman-kind from cruelty nor religion from impiety Shall we bear with her age sex and unadvisedness that without all just causes of hatred despised all these things in her Kinsman her King her Husband She that hath sought such execution of her wrongful wrath what shall we think she will do being provoked by reproaches to men not knit to her by kindred subject to her pleasure not matched with her in equal fellowship of life but yeilded to her governance and enthralled to her tormenting cruelty when rage for interrupting her pleasure and out-rage of nature strengthened with armour of licentious Power shall ragingly triumph upon the Goods and Bloud of poor Subjects What is then the fault wherof we are accused What cruelty have we shewed That a woman raging without measure and modesty and abusing to all her Subjects destruction the force of her Power that she had received for their safety we have kept under governance of her kinsmen and well-willing friends and whom by right we might for her heinous deeds have executed her we have touched with no other punishment but onely restrained her from doing more mischief For we deprived her not of Liberty but of unbridled licentiousness of evil doing Wherein we more fear among all good men the blame of too much lenity than among evil men the slander of cruelty These were the causes that moved the Queen to this matter Bothwel also had his reasons which not a little troubled his mind For when that same infamous acquital rather encreased than abated the suspition and the matter could not be alway kept close he fleeth to his last refuge to obtain of the Queen a pardon of all his offences But when by the law of the land in such Charters of pardon the greatest offence must be expreslly mentioned and the rest it sufficed to include in general words and expresly to confess the murder of the King seemed to stand neither with his honour nor with his safety he was driven of necessity either to invent or commit some other crime either more grievous or at the least as heinous under which the slaughter of the King might lurk in shadow of general words unexpressed They could devise none other but the same counterfeit ravishment of the Queen whereby both the Queen provided for enjoying her pleasure and Bothwel for his safety MEmorandum that in the Castle of Edenburgh there was left by the Earl Bothwel before his fleeing away and was sent for by one George Daglish his servant who was taken by the Earl Moreton one small gilt Coffer not fully a foot long being garnished in sundry places with the Roman letter F. under a Kings Crown wherein where certain Letters and writings well known and by oaths to be affirmed to have been written with the Queen of Scots own hand to the Earl Bothwel Beside those Writings there was also extant a Writing written in Roman hand in French to be avowed to be written by the said Queen of Scots her self being a promise of Marriage to the said Bothwel which writing being without date and though some words therein seem to the contrary yet is upon credible grounds supposed to have been made and written by her before the death of her Husband The tenor whereof thus beginneth Nous Marie par le grace de Dieu c. We Mary by the Grace of God c. There is also another writing in Scotish avowed to be wholly written by the Earl Huntley dated the fifth of April 1567. containing a form of Contract of Marriage betwixt the said Queen and Earl Bothwel subscribed Mary which is to be avowed to be the proper hand of the said
of England's Ambassadour to St. Andrews he should require Bothwel also to bear him Company who indeed freely promised so to do howbeit both he and the Queen the Deviser of that Dissimulation thought nothing less as the success shewed For so soon as the King was gone to Glascow and the rest towards St. Andrews she with her Bothwel got her to Drumen and from thence to Tylebarn In which Houses they so passed the time about eight days in every corner and in familiar haunting together as all saving themselves alone that had thrown away all shame were highly offended with their contempt and vile regard of publick Fame seeing them now not once to seek to cover their filthy Wickedness When about the beginning of Ianuary they were returned to Sterline she began to find fault with the House wherein her Son was nursed as incommodious because it stood in a cold and moist place dangerous for bringing the Child to a Rheum But it shall easily appear that this was done for other purpose forasmuch as all these Faults that she pretended were not in that House but were indeed in the other House to which the Child was removed being set in a low place being a very Marsh. The Child being scarcely above six Months old in the deep of a sharp Winter was conveyed to Edinburgh There because the first Attempt prevailed not and the force of the Poison was overcome by strength of Nature yet that at length she might bring forth that wherewith she had so long travailed she entreth into new Devices for the Murther of the King. Her self goeth to Glascow she pretendeth the Cause of her Journey to be to see the King alive whose Death she had continually gaped for the whole Month before But what was indeed the true Cause of that Journey each Man may plainly perceive by her Letters to Bothwel Being now out of Care of her Son whom she had in her own Ward bending her self to the Slaughter of her Husband to Glascow she goeth accompanied with the Hamiltons and other the King 's natural Enemies Bothwel as it was agreed on between them before provideth all things ready that were needful to accomplish that heinous Act First of all an House not commodious for a sick Man nor comely for a King for it was both torn and ruinous and had stood empty without any Dweller for divers Years before in a place of small Resort between the old fallen Walls of two Churches near a few Alms-houses for poor Beggars And that no commodious Means for committing that Mischief might be wanting there was a Postern-door in the Town-wall hard by the House whereby they easily might pass away into the Fields In chusing of the place she would needs have it thought that they had respect to the wholsomness thereof And to avoid Suspicion that this was a feigned Pretence her self the two Nights next before the Day of the Murther lay there in a lower Room under the King's Chamber And as she did curiously put off the Shews of Suspicion from her self so the Execution of the Slaughter she was content to have committed to others About three Days before the King was slain she practised to set her Brother Robert and him at deadly Enmity making account that it should be Gain to her which soever of them both had perished For Matter to ground their Dissention she made Rehearsal of the Speech that the King had had with her concerning her Brother And when they both so grew in Talk as the one seemed to charge the other with the Lye at last they were in a manner come from Words to Blows But while they were both laying their Hands on their Weapons the Queen feigning as though she had been marvellously afraid of that which she so earnestly desired calleth the Earl of Murray her other Brother to the parting to this intent that she might either presently bring him in danger to be slain himself or in time to come to bear the Blame of such Mischief as then might have happened When this Way the Success fell not out as she desired she devised a new Way to transferr the Suspicion from her self While the Earl of Murray did willingly keep himself from the Court and had reasonable Excuse for his Absence for that his Wife being near her Time was besides that always very sick at the same time there was an Ambassador come from the Duke of Savoy This the Queen took for a convenient Colour to send for her Brother But the true Cause of her sending for him was that she had a desire to throw the Suspicion of the King's Murther upon him and upon the Earl Moreton and therewithal also at once to procure the Destruction of those two being Men acceptable to the Peril and likewise Adversaries to her Practice who intended to set up a Tyrannical Government But God's good Clemency that had oft before delivered the Earl of Murray from many Treasons of his Enemies did then also manifestly succour him for upon the Sunday which was the 9th Day of February when he was going to Church to hear a Sermon a Letter was brought him that his Wife was delivered before her Time and in very small hope of Life When he being dismayed at this suddain News desired leave of the Queen to depart she answered That if the Cause were so it were a superfluous Journey for him to go to her being not able to do her any Good in her Sickness But he being still the more importunate she prayed him That he would yet tarry but that one Night and take his Journey the next Day to his Wife But the Mercy of God now as at many other times did deliver that innocent Gentleman from the present Peril and also took away the Occasion of Slander against him for the time to come Howbeit for all this though there were no Cause of Suspicion yet he escaped not free from Slander for Huntley and Bothwel though they could not justly charge him yet laboured by infamous Libels which they spread abroad to distain him with the most foul Spot of that shameful Act. And whereas the Murther was committed after Mid-Night they had before Day light caused by special fore-appointed Messengers Rumours to be spread in England that the Earls of Murray and Moreton were Actors of that Slaughter But that Rumour so soon as the Light of the Truth once brake forth suddainly vanished away as other Falshoods are commonly wont to do When all things were ready prepared for performing this cruel Fact and yet all Occasions cut off to divert the Blame thereof the Partners of the Conspiracy fearing lest long Delay should either bring some Impement to their Purpose or disclose their Counsels determined to dispatch it in all haste The Queen therefore for Manners sake after Supper goeth up to the King's Lodging There being determined to shew him all the Tokens of reconciled Good Will she spent certain Hours in his Company with Countenance and
seek to make an end of my Tale I have omitted and many things for haste I have but lightly touched and nothing have I according to the heinousness of the Offence fully expressed An Oration with a Declaration of the Evidence against MARY the Scottish Queen wherein is by necessary Arguments plainly proved That she was guilty and privy of the said Murder SEeing these things are by Writings and Witnesses so probable and stick so fast imprinted in the knowledge of all the People that such as would have them most hidden cannot deny them What place is here left for cunning or what need can be of diligence to prove or reprove a thing so plain and evident For all things are so clear so manifest and so mutually knit together each part to strengthen other that there is named of foreign Probations and all things so fully witnessed that there is no necessity of other Arguments For if any will ask me as in other matters is used to be asked the Causes of so foul a fact I might also likewise ask of him sith the Time the Place the Deed and the Author is sufficiently known to what purpose is it to stand upon searching the Causes or to enquire by what Means it was atchieved Again when there be extent so many Causes of Hatred and so many Tokens thereof which do offer themselves to knowledge as may well be able to bring even things uncertain to be believed surely so far-fetch'd an explication of the Act committed may right well seem superfluous Nevertheless forasmuch as so great is the Impudence of the vile Offenders in denying and so confident the Boldness of impudent Persons in lying let us assay to see with what Weapons Truth is able to defend Innocency against those wicked Monsters If then they demand the cause of so heinous a Deed I answer It was unappeasable Hatred I demand of them again If they can deny that such Hatred was or that the same Hatred was so great as without Blood could not be satisfied If they deny that such Hatred was then let them answer me Why she a young Woman Rich Noble and finally a Queen thrust away from her in a manner the young Gentleman into exile he being beautiful near of her kin of the Blood Royal and that which is greatest entirely loving her in the deep of sharp Winter into places neither fruitful of things necessary nor replenished with Inhabitants and commonly perillous being haunted with Thieves Why sent she him away into desart and craggy Mountains without provision into open perils and in a manner without any Company What could she more have done if she had most deadly hated him and covenanted to have him dispatched But I trow she feared no such thing but that voidness of Fear I construe to be a note of most obstinate Hatred especially sith she both knew the places and was not ignorant of the dangers That Husband therefore to whom she was but lately married against the Liking of her Subjects against the Will of their Friends on both sides without whom she could not endure whom she scarcely durst suffer out of her sight him I say she thrusteth forth to uncertain death and most certain perils Will ye ask of me the Causes of the change of her Affection What if I say I knew them not It sufficeth for my purpose to prove that she hated him What if I ask again why she so extreamly loved the young Man whom she never saw before why she so hastily married him and so unmeasurable honoured him Such are the natures of some Women especially such as cannot brook the Greatness of their own good Fortune They have vehement Affections both ways they love with excess and hate without measure and to what side soever they bend they are not governed by advised Reason but carried by violent Motion I could out of the Monuments of Antiquity rehearse innumerable Examples but of her self I had rather believe her self Call to mind that part of her Letters to Bothwel wherein she maketh her self Medea that is a Woman that neither in love nor hatred can keep any mean. I could also alledge other Causes of her hatred although indeed not reasonable Causes yet such as are able to shove forward and to push headlong an outrageous Heart which is not able to govern it self But herein I will forbear And if her self will suffer me howsover she hath deserved of her Subjects yet so much as the common Cause will permit I will spare her Honour yea I will spare it more than the Cause will allow me Therefore I omit her other Causes of Hatred and return to this that she hated and not meanly hated him Will you see also another Proof of her Hatred The tender Wife forsooth so loving and fond of him when she could not do him the Duty of a Wife offereth to do him the Service of a Bawd She made choice of her own Brother's Wife to put to him in her place What shall we think to be the Cause of this so suddain Change She that of late gapingly sought for every small Breath of Suspicion against her Husband and where true Causes were not to be found she invented such as were manifestly false And this she curiously did not when she loved him but when she had begun to hate him And while she was fishing for Occasions to be divorced from him even she I say of her own accord offereth him a Lover declareth her own Contentation therewith and promiseth her Furtherance What can we imagine to be the Cause hereof Was it to please her Husband No for she hated him And although she loved him yet such manner of doing in a Woman is uncredible Was it that he knowing himself likewise guilty of Adultery on his part might the more willingly bear with a Partner in use of his Wife No for he bare with all per-force against his Will. Was it to find Cause of Divorce and so to drive him to leave his Bed empty for Bothwel Yea that was it indeed that she sought for but yet not that alone for in this Woman you must imagine no single Mischief She hated the Earl Murray's Wife even with such Hatred as all unhonest Persons hate the honest The differences of their two Fames much vexed her and therewithal also she coveted to set the good Lady's Husband and the King together by the Ears and so rid her self of two Troubles at once Thus you see how many and how great things she practised to dispatch with one Labour Her Paramour's Enemy the Bridler of her Licentiousness and her own hated Husband she hopeth to rid all at once while by such sundry sorts of wicked Doings she maketh haste to her most wicked Wedding To what end tended that fearful hasty Calling for the Earl Murray at Mid-night Could she not tarry till Day-light What was the Occasion of so suddain Fear The good Woman God wot careful for the Concord of the Nobility dearly loving
endeavoureth to divert all Suspicions from her she goeth to her Husband she kisseth him she giveth him a Ring for Pledge of her Love she talketh with him more lovingly than she was wont to do and promiseth more largely she feigneth that she had great Care of his Health and yet her companying whither Adulterer she surceaseth not They that more nearly noted these things prognosticated no good thing to come For how much the greater Tokens that the Queen shewed of reconciled Affection so much the more Cruelty did every Man in his Heart fore conceive of all her Intentions For else whence cometh that sudden Change so great Care for him whom she had poisoned the Month before whom even lately she not only wished dead but desired to see him die whose Death she set her Brother yea both her Brethren to procure and she like a Master of Mischief thrust forth the King to fight and her self in the mean time prepared for his Burial Not past a few Months before she her self was desirous to die because she loathed to see the King alive Whence cometh now this sudden Care of his Health I looked she should say she was reconciled to him Were you reconciled to your Husband whom you sent away into that Desart that Camp of Furies as the Poet calleth it For whom among Brothel houses of Harlots among Beggars Cottages among Thieves lurking-holes you prepared a House so open to pass through that you left therein more Entries than Men to shut them you that allured and assembled Russians to his Slaughter and Thieves to his Spoil You that drove away his Servants that should have defended his Life You that thrust him out naked alone unarmed among Thieves in danger to be slain When in all this miserable State of your Husband your Adulterer in the mean time dwelt in your Palace daily haunted your Chamber Day and Night all Doors were open for him whilst your poor Husband debarred all Company of the Nobility his Servants forbidden to come at him or sent away from him was forsaken and thrust away into a solitary Desart for a mocking Stock and I would to God it had been for a mocking Stock only Of his other Servants I enquire not I do not curiously question why they went away why they then especially forsook the King when he chiefly needed their Help and Service when he was newly recovered When he began to go abroad and had no other Company Of Alexander Durain I cannot keep Silence whom you had for his Keeper and your Spy. What was there for him to espy Was there any thing for him to bring News of to an honest Matron loving to her Husband faithful in Wedlock and fearful of a Partner of his Love Feared she lest he a young Gentleman beautiful and a King should cast wanton Eyes upon some other Woman in her Absence No God wot for that was it that she most desired for she her self had practised to allure him thereto before she her self had offered him the Occasions and of her self shewed him the means This was it that most grieved her while she was seeking Causes of Divorce that she could not find in him so much as any slender Suspicion of Adultery Why then were Spies set about him to watch him Was it not that none of the Nobility none of his Servants nor any Stranger at all should come at him that no Man should speak with him that might disclose the Treason and forewarn him of his Danger This same very Alexander how carefully she saveth when she goeth about to kill her Husband How late she sendeth him away when the rest were gone even at the very Point of her Husband's Death when she had now no more need of Espials For the day before the Murder was committed there was none of the Ministers that were privy to her secret Councils left behind but only Alexander He when he saw that Night no less doleful than shameful to approach prepareth as himself thought a fine subtil Excuse to be absent so as rather Chance might seem to have driven him out than he himself willing to have forsaken his Master He putteth Fire in his own Bed straw and when the Flame spread further he made an out-cry and threw his Bedding half singed out of the King's Chamber But the next day when that Excuse served not so handsomly as he desired for that in the Queen's hearing the King very sweetly entreated him not to leave him alone that Night and also desired him to lie with himself as he had often used to do for the King entirely loved him above all the rest Alexander in Perplexity wanting what to answer added to his first Excuse Fear of Sickness and pretended that for commodious taking of Physick for his Health he would lie in the Town When this would not yet serve him the Queen added her Authority and told the King That he did not well to keep the young Man with him against the Order of his Health and therewithal she turned to Alexander and bade him go where was best for him And forthwith as soon as the Word was spoken he went his Way I will not here precisely trace out all the Footings of these wicked doings neither will I curiously enquire whether that former Day 's Fire were happened by Casualty or kindled by Fraud Neither will I ask why he that had so often been received to lie in the King 's own Bed doth now this only Night especially refuse it Let us suppose that Sickness was the Cause thereof This only one thing I ask what kind of Sickness it was that came upon him at that very instant and before Morning left him again without any Physicians help and whereof neither before nor since nor at that present there ever appeared any Token But I trust though he hold his Peace ye all sufficiently understand it In the Man guilty in Conscience of the mischievous Intention Fear of Death overcame Regard of Duty Had it not been that Alexander before time a Spy and Tale-bearer now a Forsaker and Betrayer of his Master was joined to her in Privity of all these wicked doings would not the Queen so cruel in all the rest have found in her Heart to bestow that one Sacrifice upon her Husbands Funerals While these things were in doing the Night was far past and my Lady Rerese a lusty valiant Souldieress before Sign given cometh forth into the Field out of Array abroad she goeth getteth her to Horse-back and though she were somewhat afraid as one that foreknew the Storm to come yet she sate still upon her Horse tarrying for the Queen but yet a good pretty way from the House In the mean time Paris cometh Then the Communication brake and they rose to depart For by and by upon sight of him came to her Remembrance that heinous Offence that without great Propitiations could not be purged forsooth that the Queen had not danced at the Wedding-feast of Sebastion the
of if I would pledge them And after Supper he said to me when I was leaning upon him warming me at the fire you have fair going to see such folk yet you cannot be so welcome unto them as you left some body this day in sadness that will never be merry while he see you again I asked of him who that was with that he thrust my body and said that some of his folks had seen you in saschery you may ghess at the rest I wrought this day while it was two hours upon this bracelet for to put the key of it within the lock thereof which is coupled underneath with two cordwins I have had so little time that it is evil made but I shall make one fairer in the mean time Take heed that none that is here see it for all the world will know it because for hast it was made in their presence I am now passing to my intended purpose You make me dissemble so far that I have horrour thereat and you cause me to do almost the office of a Traitour Remember how if it were not to obey you I had rather be dead ere I did it my heart bleeds at it So that he will not come with me except upon condition that I will promise to him that I shall be at Bed and Board with him as before and that I shall leave him not after and doing this upon my word he will do all things that I please and come with me but he prayed me to remain with him while another morning He spake very bravely at the beginning as this Bearer will shew you upon the purpose of the English-men and of his departing but in the end he returned again to his humility He shewed amongst other purposes that he knew well enough that my Brother had shewed me that thing which he had spoken in Scriveling of the which he denies the one half and above all that ever he came in his Chamber For to make him trust me it behoved me to feign in some things with him therefore when he requested me to promise unto him that when he was whole we should have both one Bed I said to him feigningly and making me believe his premises that if he changed not purposes betwixt this and that time I would be content therewith but in the mean time I bad him take heed that he let no body know thereof because to speak amongst our selves the Lords could not be offended nor will evil therefore But they would fear in respect of the boasting he made of them that if ever we agreed together he should make them know the little account they took of him and that he counselled me not to purchase some of them by him they for this cause would be in jealousie if attains without their knowledge I should break the play set up in the contrary in their presence He said very joyfully And think you they will esteem you the more for that But I am very glad that you speak to me of the Lords for I believe at this time you desire that we should live together in quietness for if it were otherways greater inconvenience might come to us both than we are aware of but now I will do whatever you will do and will love all that you love and desire you to make them love in like manner for since they seek not my life I love them all equally Upon this point the Bearer will shew you many small things Because I have over-much to write and it is late I give trust unto him upon your word So that he will go upon my word to all places Alas I never deceived any body But I remit me altogether to your will. Send me Advertisement what I shall do and whatsoever thing shall come thereof I shall obey you Advise too with your self if you can find any more secret invention by medicine for he should take medicine and the bath at Cragmillar He may not come forth of the house this long time So that by all that I can learn he is in great suspition and yet notwithstanding he gives credit to my word but yet not so far as that he will shew any thing to me But nevertheless I shall draw it out of him if you will that I avow all unto him But I will never rejoyce to defame any body that trusts in me yet notwithstanding you may command me in all things Have no evil opinion of me for that cause by reason you are the occasion of it your self because for mine own particular revenge I would not do it to him He gives me some checks of that which I feared yea even in the quick he says thus far that his faults were publish'd but there is that commits faults that believe they will never be spoken of and yet they will speak of great and small As towards the Lady Reres he said I pray God that she may serve you for your Honour And said it is thought and he believes it to be true that I have not the Power of my self over my self and that because of the refuse I made of his offers So that for certainty he suspects of the thing you know and of his life But as to the last how soon that I spake two or three good words unto him he rejoyces and is out of doubt I saw him not this evening to end your bracelet to the which I can get no locks it is ready for them and yet I fear it will bring some evil and may be seen if you chance to be hurt Advertise me if you will have it and if you will have more silver and when I shall return and how far I may speak He inrages when he hears of Lethington or of you or of my Brother Of your Brother he speaks nothing he speaks of the Earl of Argyle I am in fear when I hear him speak for he assures himself that he has not one evil opinion of him He speaks nothing of them that is ought neither good or evil but flies that point His Father keeps his Chamber I have not seen him All the Hamiltons are here that accompanies me very honorably All the Friends of the other conveys me when I go to see him He desires me to come and see him rise the Morn betime For to make short this Bearer will tell you the rest And if I learn any thing here I will make you a Memorial at Even He will tell you the occasion of my remaining Burn this Letter for it is over dangerous and nothing well said in it for I am thinking upon nothing but fraud If you be in Edenburgh at the receipt of it send me word soon Be not offended for I give not over-great credit Now seeing to obey you my dear Love I spare neither Honour Conscience Hazard nor Greatness whatsoever take it I pray you in good part end not after the Interpretation of your false good Brother to whom I pray you give no
Woman as she Howbeit you cause me to be somewhat like unto her in any thing that touches you or that may preserve and keep you unto her to whom only you appertain if it be so that I may appropriate that which is won through faithful yea only loving of you as I do and shall do all the days of my life for pain or evil that can come thereof In recompense of the which and of all the evils which you have been cause of to me remember you upon the place here beside I crave with that you keep Promise to me in the Morn but that we may meet together and that you give no faith to suspicions without the certainty of them And I crave no other thing of God but that you may know that thing that is in my Heart which is yours and that he may preserve you from all evil at least so long as I have life which I repute not precious unto me except in so far as it and I both are agreeable unto you I am going to bed and will bid you good Night Advertise me timely in the Morning how you have fared for I will be in pain until I get word Make good watch if the Bird get out of the Cage or without her Mate as the Turtle I shall remain alone to lament your absence how short that soever it be This Letter will do with a good Heart that thing which I cannot do my self if it be not that I have fear that you are in sleeping I durst not write this before Ioseph Bastian and Ioachim that did but depart even when I began to write Another Letter to Bothwel concerning the departure of Margaret Carwood who was privie and a helper of all their love MOn coeur helas faul li que la follie d' une femme dont vous cognoissez assez l' in gratitude vers moy soit cause de vous donner deplasir c. MY heart alas must the folly of a woman whose thankfulness toward me you do sufficiently know be occasion of displeasure unto you considering that I could not have remedied thereunto without knowing it And since that I perceive it I could not tell it you for that I knew not how to govern my self therein For neither in that nor in any other thing will I take upon me to do any thing without knowledge of your will. Which I beseech you let me understand for I will follow it all my life more willingly than you shall declare it to me And if you do not send me word this night what you will that I shall do I will rid my self of it and hazard to cause it to be enterprised and taken in hand which might be hurtful unto that whereunto both we do tend And when she shall be married I beseech you give me one or else I will take such as shall content you for their conditions but as for their tongues or faithfulness toward you I will not answer I beseech you that an opinion of another person be not hurtful in your mind to my constancy Mistrust me but then I will put you out of doubt and clear my self Refuse it not my dear life and suffer me to make you some proof by my obedience my faithfulness constancy and voluntary subjection which I take for the pleasantest good that I might receive if you will accept it and make no ceremony at it for you could do me no greater outrage nor give more mortal grief Another Letter sent from Sterling to Bothwell concerning the practice for her Ravishment MOnsieur helas pourquoy est vostre fiance mise en pessonné si indigne pour so up conner ce qui est entierement vostre I' enrage vous m' aviez promise c. ALas my Lord why is your trust put in a person so unworthy to mistrust that which is wholly yours I am mad You had promised me that you would resolve all and that you would send me word every day what I should do you have done nothing thereof I advertised you well to take heed of your false Brother in law he came to me and without shewing me any thing from you told me that you had willed him to write to you that that I should say and where and when you should come to me and that that you should do touching him and thereupon hath preached unto me that it was a foolish enterprise and that with mine honour I could never marry you seeing that being married you did carry me away and that his folks would not suffer it and that the Lords would unsay themselves and would deny that they had said To be short he is all contrary I told him that seeing I was come so far if you not withdraw your self of your self that no perswasion nor death it self should make me fail of my promise As touching the place you are too negligent pardon me to remit your self thereof unto me Chuse it your self and send me word of it And in the mean time I am sick I will differ as touching the matter it is too late It was not long of me that you have not thought thereupon in time And if you had not more changed your mind since mine absence than I have you should not be now to ask such resolving Well there wanteth nothing of my part and seeing that your negligence doth put us both in the danger of a false Brother if it succeed not well I will never rise again I send this Bearer unto you for I dare not trust your Brother with these Letters nor with the business He shall tell you in what state I am and judg you what amendment these new ceremonies have brought unot me I would I were dead for I see all goeth ill You promised other manner of matter of your foreseeing but absence hath power over you who have two strings to your bow Dispatch the Answer that I fail not and put no trust in your Brother for his enterprise for he hath told it and is also quite against it God give you good night Another Letter to Bothwell for the Practice and Device to excuse the Ravishing DU lieu de l'heure je m' en rap porte à vostre frere à vous je le suiuray ne fauldray en rien de ma part Il trouve beauc oup de difficultez c. OF the Place and Time I remit my self to your Brother and to you I will follow him and will fail in nothing of my part He findeth many Difficulties I think he doth advertise you thereof and what he doth advertise you for the handling of himself As for the handling of my self I heard it once well devised Methinks that your Services and the long A mity having the good will of the Lords do well deserve a Pardon if above the duty of a Subject you advance your self not to constrain me but to assure your self of such place nigh unto me that other Admonitions or