A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF Mary Queen of Scots AND The Occasions that brought Her and Thomas Duke of Norfolk to their Tragical Ends. Shewing the hopes the Papists then had of a Popish Successor in England and their Plots to accomplish them With a full ACCOUNT of the TRYALS Of that QUEEN and of the said DUKE As also the TRIAL of PHILIP HOWARD Earl of Arundel From the Papers of a Secretary of Sir Francis Walsingham Now Published by a Person of Quality LONDON Printed for Tho. Cockerill at the Sign of the Three Legs in the Poultrey over-against the Stocks-Market 1681. A Preface to the following Tryals giving a brief Hystorical Account of the Life of Mary Queen of Scots and the occasions that brought both Her and the Duke of Norfolk to their Tragical Ends and the Earl of Arundel to his Trial c. IT may seem strange or unseasonable while the Press labours daily with the present Popish Plot to trouble the world with that which concerns only Those that so long ago are past and gone But as there are too many amongst us that question the Reality of the present Conspiracy so there are not a few that deny the Truth of those heretofore Or if they acknowledge any thing either of the Powder-Treason or Babingtons Conspiracy they extenuate the same almost to nothing by alledging that they were attempted by a few Private High-Spirited Gentlemen extreamly provoked with great Injuries and bitter usage which were the only causes of their desperate Resolutions for which they themselves sufficiently suffered and that therefore their Treasons are no more to be filed to the Account of their Church c. But by the following papers I conceive these Evasions will be silenced for thereby it will appear 1. That there was during a great part of Queen Elizabeths Reign a continued Series of Popish Treasons successively though God be blessed unsuccessfully carried on and that not by a few Desperado's but by a great number of persons of the most considerable Fortunes and Abilities of the Roman Catholick Religion 2ly That the main intentive and scope of the said Conspirators as every where they declare was to root out Protestantism and set up Popery unto which Attempts they were chiefly animated by the prospect of an immediate Popish Successor viz. the said Mary Queen of Scots 3ly That the Papists then were to make use of the same Vmbrage as now they do viz. to raise Lyes and Slanders of the Puritans and prerend that they designed Rebellion only to colour their own real Treasons as appears by the Queen of Scots Letter to Babington 4ly That these fatal Councils of the Guises and Popish Priests brought that great Princess who had the misfortune to be led by them to Ruine so that by endeavouring to anticipate the Succession she not only lost it but also her Life These and several other Remarkables which no doubt the Judicious Reader will observe in the perusal occasioned the publication of the ensuing papers at this time 'T is confessed the same are not so exactly taken as the Tryals of the present Age The Ingenious Skill of Speedy and short writing being much improved since those times yet it is evident by the Manuscript that there was no little care and diligence used therein so that nothing material seems to have escaped nor do any Historians give so punctual an Account of the Transactions as these papers which before never saw the Light concerning the Authentickness and Truth of which the Antientness of the hand-writing of the Original might be a sufficient Testimony had we not another more probable Argument which is That they were lately found amongst some Ancient papers that heretofore belonged to a Secretary of Sir Francis Walsingham an eminent Minister of State at that juncture For whose use 't is very credible the same were so curiously collected Besides If any shall be be at the pains to examine them they will find them to agree in the main with the Histories of those times not only with the Learned Cambden and the rest of our own Writers but with the Great Thaunus nay with the Jesuit Strada too But for the satisfaction of those Readers that are not so conversant in History that they may the better understand what they meet with in these Tryals we conceive it will not be unwelcome to prefix a brief Account of the Life and unhappy Fortunes of the Illustrious Mary of Scotland on whose Adventures all these prosecutions did depend wherein we shall impartially state matter of Fact without the Reflections of Buchanan or intollerable flatteries of Causin the Jesuit Mary Queen of Scots was the daughter and sole Legitimate Issue of James the fifth King of Scotland and of Mary his Queen a daughter of the house of Lorrain born in December 1541. she was scarce eight dayes old when the King her Father dyed and the Scottish Nobility being divided into Factions whereof the Family of the Hamiltons and the Earl of Lenox were the respective Heads The one side supported by King Henry the eighth of England and the other by the French King Henry the second she was by her Mother who being a French-woman inclined unto that Kings Interest sent into France about five or six years of Age to learn the Accomplishments of that Court. There she was educated under the French King and the house of Guise her Uncles who being desperate Enemies to the Reformation seasoned her with violent principles against the Protestant Religion she was a Lady very proper and beautiful of a great Wit and Courage beyond her Sex These Advantages and much more several important Reasons of State induced the French King to conclude her a fit Match for his Son the Dauphin For hereby they thought themselves not only sure to unite the Kingdoms of France and Scotland she being Sovereign Queen of the latter as he was Heir apparent to the former but also had a prospect of the Crown of England looking upon this Mary of Scotland as Great Grand-child to King Henry the seventh to be the next Heiress thereunto after Mary who had by this time mounted the English Throne For as for her sister Elizabeth they not only knew her to be one they called an Heretick but also gave out she was Illegitimate and so on both Accounts represented her as uncapable to succeed Hereupon a Marriage was solemnized between the Dauphin and this Princess Apr. 24th 1588. in Nostredam Church at Paris On the 27th of November following Queen Mary of England after a short Reign rendred infamous to all Posterity by the Butcheries committed on Protestants departed this Life And though Elizabeth according to her undoubted Right was with the general consent and applause of the Lords Commons and all the people proclaimed Queen and most happily succeeded her in the Throne yet had the Guises inveigled the French-King into such strong hopes of adjoyning England to the Crown of France by the aforesaid Title of
their Neece the Queen of Scots that he openly own'd the claim thereof so that thenceforwards his Son and Daughter in Law used the stile in all their Acts of State Francis and Mary of Scotland England and Ireland King and Queen and caused the Arms of England to be Engraven and Painted on their Palaces Housholdstuff and Heralds-Coats And the said King Henry dying shortly after this Francis who succeeded him by the name of Francis the Second and Mary Queen of Scots by the Council of the said Guises who bore great sway in France publickly assumed to themselves the Soveraignty of England and Scotland as well as that of France and Scotland pretending to Queen Elizabeths Ambassador who complained thereof sometime that the Queen of Scots bore the Arms of England only to shew the nearness of her Blood to that Royal Line and sometimes that she did it only to cause the Queen of England to forbear bearing those of France Much dispute there was about this matter which Queen Elizabeth as she had reason resented very grievously But at last in the Year 1560. upon a Treaty at Edenborough It was amongst other matters agreed that the French King and his Wife Queen Mary should henceforwards relinquish the Title and Arms of England and Ireland But when the same came to be confirm'd in France they sought Evasions and delay'd so long that in the interim King Francis the Second not being Eighteen years old dyed and left the Queen of Scots a Widow of Nineteen who thereupon resolv'd to leave France and to return to her own Kingdom of Scotland But Throgmorton Queen Elizabeths Ambassador before she went earnestly press'd her to confirm the said Treaty of Edenborough which she refused alledging she must first consult with the Nobility of Scotland This refusal so nettled Queen Elizabeth that she refused to grant her a safe Conduct for her passage However taking the opportunity of a Fog she set Sail from Callice and passing the Channel arrived safely in Scotland From thence she sent Letters to Queen Elizabeth promising all care to make and conserve Amity with her and requesting that a lasting Peace might be made between the two Crowns And in order thereunto desired that Queen Elizabeth would in Parliament declare her her next Heir if she her self should have no issue This proposition startled Queen Elizabeth who rather look't for the confirmation of the Treaty of Edenborough which she had so often promised and therefore return'd Answer in these words That as concerning the Succssion she hoped the Queen of Scotland would not by violence take away her Crown from her and her Children if she had any She promised not to derogate any thing of her right unto the Crown of England although she had claimed the Title and Arms of England thorough the too much hasty ambition of other men for which injury it was meet that she made satisfaction By setting down her Successor she feared lest their friendship should be rather dissevered than consolidated for that unto men established in Government their Successors are alwaies suspected and hated the people such is their inconstancy upon a dislike of present things do look after the rising Sun and forsake the Sun setting and the Successors designed cannot keepwithin the bounds of Justice and Truth their own hopes and other mens lewd desires Moreover if she should confirm the Succession unto her she should thereby cut off the hope of her own security and being alive hang her Winding-sheet before her own eyes yea make her own Funeral-feast alive and see the same But this Remonstrance took but little effect and therefore sometime afterwards an Interview was projected to be had between the two Queens but after a long Treaty relinquisht the Scottish Queen refusing it unless Queen Elizabeth would adopt her her Daughter or declare her her Heir apparent by Authority of Parliament This Queen Elizabeth would not consent to but advised her to a Marriage with Robert Dudely who thereupon was made Earl of Leicester which Alliance the French rail'd upon as dishonourable and as for her matching with any Forrein Prince the Earl of Murray natural Brother to the Scots Queen diverted her from it and proposed to her Henry Lord Darnly Son to the Earl of Lenox whereunto both Love and Policy seem'd to give their suffrages for as he was one of the most proper and goodly young Gentlemen in the world so likewise was he next Heir after her to the Imperial Crown of England so that she might at once gratifie her Fancy and sortifie her Title This Noble-man was born and at this time resided in England the Earl his Father having upon the troubles in Scotland retreated thither in King Henry the Eighth's time And upon the first return of Queen Mary into Scotland Queen Elizabeth had confin'd both Father and Son for holding correspondence with her But after some time first the Father and afterwards the Son on several specious pretences got leave to go into Scotland promising to return within such a Term. Being there a Marriage was quickly concluded and solemnized between the Queen and this young Lord at which Queen Elizabeth appear'd much dissatisfied nor did their Nuptial Joys remain long un-eclips'd but discontents which as easily climb to the glorious beds of Princes as to the homely pallets of Peasants arose between them whether it were that he thought he had not enough or took upon him too much share in the Government or on some more private disgust I determine not being unwilling to follow the reports of those prejudic'd Authors who have sullied this great Princesses Fame when the respect due to the Honour of Ladies especially the Majesty of a Crowned Head ought to have taught them more modesty From what ever ground these animosities sprung they soon grew to such an unhappy height that one Evening the King attended with several others rush't into the Queens Apartment as she was at Supper and seizing upon one David Rizius a Native of Piemont by profession a Musitian but for his Wit and Dexterity receiv'd into great favour with the Queen and made a kind of Secretary they assaulted him with their naked Swords and dragging him to the door gave him several mortal wounds whereof he instantly died The Queen was then great with Child of him who was afterwards James the 1st Monarch of Great Brittain And though Providence was pleased to prevent her Miscarriage yet the sight of so dismal a Tragedy could not but surprize her with wonderful astonishment insomuch that some Philosophers will needs have it that King James retain'd an aversion to the sight of naked Weapons and attribute the same to the impressions of this unparellel'd violence Of which the King 't is said soon repented and craved the Queens pardon charging Murray and Morton as the persons that instigated him thereunto But the King himself did not long survive this Assassination for within a month or two after he himself in a tempestuous night
of her Letters do write thus Per le expresse Secretaries Nave Curle Comaundement de la Royen ma Matresse By the special Commandment of the Queen my Mistress Nave and Curle being asked whether it were their Hands she confessed that she knew it to be their Hands and that Curle Queen of Scots Confession was an honest Man but she would not be judged by him and that Nave was the King's Secretary of France and that he had been Secretary to the Cardinal of Guyse But when she said she knew not Babington nor Ballard my Lord Treasurer Lord Treasurer said Madam I will tell you whom you know You know Morgain who hired Parry to kill the Queen and after you knew it you gave him a Pension Madam you give Pensions to Murtherers Then she said He hath lost all for my sake but you give Pentions in Scotland against me to my Son Queen of Scots The Lord Treasurer said The Queen because the Revenues of the Lord Treasurer Crown are diminished giveth the King a Benevolence being her Kinsman The Second Day at her first coming she renewed her Protestation Second Day Queen of Scots saying I am A Sacred and Anointed Queen and ought not to be judged by the Law I am A Free Prince and owe no more to any Prince than they owe to me I come hither for the Justification of my Honour and that which is laid to my charge that I should do against my Sister Her Oration was very long and of many things I like not said she to take this Course though I desire the Catholicks should be delivered out of their Persecution I had rather play the part of Hester than of Judith to pray for my people than to take any other way to deliver my People God forbid that I should deserve to be denied of Jesus Christ before his Father They gave it out that I was of no Religion for there was a time when I tender'd my self but they cared not for my Soul But my Lords when you have done all that you can and put me from that I should have yet you shall not obtain your Cause of Mary Steward And here she wept and blubbered that they could not conceive her speech I desire said she that another Assembly may be called where She wept I may have my Council I appeal to God first who is the Just Judge and She desireth another Assembly to Princes my Allies Here my Lord Treasurer said Madam We have set down your Protestations under a Notaries Hand and we have protested that your Protestation Lord Treasurer be not prejudicial to the Crown of England The Queen said Indeed My Lord you take no Commission but that Queen of Scots may serve your own turn you have done the worst you can I have often offered if I might be at liberty that I would do all duty and labour to quench the Troubles that are made but I could not be heard I was made believe that I should be at liberty and I promised Hostages for my Security my own Son and my Cousin Guise his Son The Lord Treasurer answered it is true the Queen was contented and so was the Council you offered Hostages as you say But it is as true that Lord Treasurer the Lords of Scotland would not consent that the King should come The Queen said But I told you that if I might be at liberty I would Queen of Scots effect it Madam said the Lord Treasurer the Queen shall set you at liberty and you shall seek her destruction for all this practice of your Enlargement Lord Treasurer was nothing else but a Plot against the Queen for even then when it was adoing your Man Morgan hired Parry to kill the Queen Morgan a Traitor hired Parry to kill the Queen Qu. of Scots Ld. Treasurer Qu. of Scots My Lord quoth she you are my Enemy No said my Lord Treasurer I am Enemy to the Queen's Enemies Was it not reported said the Queen of Scots that the Queen of England should never be free from Practices until I were set at liberty and I therefore desired that the occasion might be taken away Then was read a Letter to Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador wherein Mendoza she promised to give the King of Spain the Kingdoms of England and Scotland if her Son would not be reclaimed from that Heresie wherein she said he was misled There was also sent a Letter to Doctor Allin wherein she calleth him Dr. Allin Reverend Father in God and dealeth with him about the Invasion and his Letter to her also There was read her Letters to the Lord Paget Charles Paget and Lord Paget Charles Paget Sir Francis Englefield Sir Francis Englefield In every of which Letters she saith she hath given direction to the Catholicks on this side for a Dispatch Here she being pressed with Truths of the Conspiracy and because her own Man had sworn it she said she thought he made no Conscience of an Qu. of Scots Oath given him Hereat the whole House murmured concerning the giving away the Murmuring of the Lords Kingdom of England to the King of Spain Writing to Mendoza she adviseth him thus Let not this be known for if it should it would be in France the Loss of my Dowry in Scotland the Breach with my Son and in England my total Destruction Here Mr. Sollicitor remembred the Lords that if a Forein Prince had Mr. Sollicitor the Kingdom as she would assign it what should become of their Dignities and Estates Madam said my Lord Treasurer The Succession of the Crown who soever hath it cannot give it to a Forein Prince it must go by the Laws Lo. Treasurer of the Realm to a natural English Man born Your Enemies in Scotland threatned to kill you and Her Majesty said she would then revenge it and so your Life was assured At her first rising up she talked long with the Lord Treasurer coming to She talketh with the Lord Treasurer Mr. Vice-Chamberlain Mr. Secretary and the Earl of Warwick him to his Seat after to Mr. Vice-chamberlain and Mr. Secretary excusing her self to them and used great Insinuations to persuade them She said to the Earl of Warwick that she had heard that he was an Honourable Gentleman desiring him not to believe all things he heard of her and also she desired him to commend her to my Lord of Leicester saying that she wished him good Success in his Affairs To the Judges and Lawyers she To the Judges and Lawyers said I pray God bless me from you you have sore Hands over them that be under you And to Mr. Phillips Thou never readest any good for me and so Mr. Phillips the Lords brake up their sitting on Saturday October 15. 1586. at One of Lds. break up the Clock in the Afternoon and adjourned the Commission to the Star-Chamber The
Duke being found by intercepted Letters notwithstanding his aforesaid promises still to continue his affection to and correspondence with the Scottish Queen was brought to his Trial here printed and for the Crimes therein specified condemned and beheaded Some few days after his Execution William Lord de la Ware and others were sent to the Queen of Scots who was then full of grief and sorrow for his death owning that a contract of Marriage had passed between him and her to expostulate with her and charge her with divers matters as that she had usurp'd the Title and Arms of the Realm of England and had not renounced the same as she ought to have done by the Treaty of Edenbourgh that she had sought to Marry with the Duke of Norfolk a Subject of England without the Queens privity and to effect the same Marriage had tried all means by her Agents and Ministers to rescue the said Duke out of Prison by force that she had raised the Rebellion in the North and relieved the Rebles after they were put to flight in Scotland and the Low-Countries that she had by Ridolph the Italian importun'd both the Pope and the King of Spain and others for Forrein Forces to invade England that she had conspired with several English Subjects to take her out of Prison by force and proclaim her Queen of England that she had received Letters from the Pope wherein to use his own words he promised to cherish her as the Hen doth her Chickins and to account those that stood for her the true Children of the Church Lastly that she had procured the Popes Bull against the Queen and had suffered her self publickly to be stiled Queen of England by her Ministers in Forrein Courts Whereunto protesting First That she was a free absolute Queen and subject to none she with a settled countenance and courage answered 1. That she had not usurped the Title and Arms of England but that the King of France and her Husband had imposed them upon her being very young and under the direction of her Husband and therefore not to be laid upon her for a fault and that as she did not after her Husband's death so neither would she claim them as long as Queen Elizabeth or any Children she might have should live 2. That she never imagined any detriment or hurt to the Queen by her Marriage with the Duke of Norfolk being perswaded it would be for the good of the Common-wealth and that she did not renounce it because she had given her Faith and Troth unto him 3. That she willed the Duke by some means to get out of danger and Prison which she did out of the duty she owed to him as her Husband 4. That she had not raised rebellion nor was privy to the same but was always ready to reveal all attempts against the Queens life 5. That she never relieved the English Rebels only that in her Letters she recommended the Countess of Northumberland to the Duke of Alva 6. That she used Ridolph whom she knew to be highly in the Popes favour in many matters yet receiv'd no Letters from him 7. That she never moved any to attempt her deliverance yet that she willingly gave ear unto them that offered their labour therein and for that purpose that she communicated to Rolston and Hall a private Character 8. That she had receiv'd sometimes Letters from the Pope very pious and consolatory wherein were no such Expressions or Phrases 9. That she procured not the Bull that she only saw the Printed Copy thereof and when she had read it she threw it into the fire 10. That if any in Forrein parts writ or nam'd her otherwise than they ought they and not she were to answer it 11. That she never by Letters required aid of the Pope or the King of Spain to invade England but only to be restored into her Kingdom by their means and not without the Queens privity 12 But if any question or doubt be made of those Letters of effecting the Marriage by force of Arms she requested since she was born of the Royal Blood of England that she might answer Personally in the next Parliament How far these specious Allegations were credited by Queen Elizabeth we find not 't is certain they produc'd little effect towards her delivery But on the contrary it being about the same time discovered that she held Correspondence with Spain and that the Lord Seton who landed in Essex disguised like a Mariner had brought a promise of Aid to her from the Duke of Alva she was confined more strictly and with greater Guard Likewise in Scotland to prevent the Duke of Guises design which was to make use of the Duke of Lenox's favour with the King to withdraw his affection from the English the Earl of Gowry and others resolve by all means to remove Lenox and the Earl of Arran from the King To accomplish which while Lenox was gone from Perth where the King then lay to Edenburgh and Arran also was absent the said Earl of Gowry with the Earls of Mar and Lindsey and others take an opportunity to invite the King to the Castle of Rewthen and there detained him not permitting him to walk abroad and removing all his trusty Servants cast Arran into Prison enforc'd the King to call home the Earl of Angus and send away Lenox into France As also by his Letters to Queen Elizabeth to own and approve of all these proceedings Which were much regretted by the Queen his Mother who on this occasion wrote a long Letter to Queen Elizabeth lamenting her own and her Sons deplorable fortune and did it so Pathetically that Queen Elizabeth was much affected with it and a serious debate was moved in her Council thereupon and most of them inclin'd to set her at liberty on these Terms and Conditions 1. That she and her Son should promise to practise nothing hurtful to Q. Elizabeth and the Realm of England 2. That she would voluntarily confess that whatsoever was done by Francis the Second the French King her Husband against Q. Elizabeth was done against her will and that she should utterly disallow the same as unjust by confirming the Treaty of Edenburgh 3. That she should condemn all the practises ever since that time and ingenuously renounce them 4. She should bind her self not to practise any thing directly or indirectly against the Government of the Realm of England in Ecclesiastical or Civil affairs but by all manner of means oppose her self and resist such practisers as publick enemies 5. That she shall challenge or claim no right unto her self in the Kingdom of England during the Life of Queen Elizabeth and that afterward she will submit her right of Succession unto the Estates of England 6. And to the end that she may not hereafter use any cavil and say That she condescended to these Conditions being a Prisoner and by coaction she her self should not only swear unto them but also
well concerning the disallowing excluding or disabling any person that may or shall pretend any Title to come to the Crown of this Realm as also for the pursuing and taking revenge of any such wicked act or attempt as is mentioned in the same Association shall and ought to be in all things expounded and adjudged according to the true intent and meaning of this Act and not otherwise nor against any other person or persons The Scottish Queen was too quick sighted not to perceive that this Association was an Arrow level'd principally against her yet whether push't on by the greatness of her spirit or the blindness of her Fate or rather seduc'd by affording an ear as well to the treacherous counsel of her enemies as unto the pernicious devices of her friends she was still busy in Intrigues for procuring her Liberty and particularly Queen Elizabeth had private informations from one Hart a Romish Priest that Dr. Allen a Popish Fugitive advanc'd by the Pope to the Cardinalate for the Popish Ecclesiasticks of England and Sir Francis Inglefeild for the Laity and the Bishop of Rosse for the Queen of Scotland had unanimously undertaken and with the authority of the Pope and consent of the King of Spain decreed that Q. Elizabeth should be deposed and the King of Scotland disinherited of the Kingdom of England as being both manifest and notorious Hereticks and the Queen of Scots to be married to some Catholick Nobleman who should be chosen King of England by the English Catholicks and the Election ratified by the Pope and the lawful issue of this man by the Queen of Scotland to be declared Successors to the Crown c. But these were only remote and vnfledg'd projects there was another dangerous Conspiracy somewhat of the same complexion nearer hand and almost ripen'd for execution which in the year 1586. happily for Queen Elizabeth but as to the Queen of Scots fatally discovered which in short was thus One Gifford a Dr. of Popish Divinity had perswaded one John Savage a man of great courage and blind zeal that it was a meritorious work to take away the lives of Princes excommunicated who thereupon made a solemn Vow to kill Queen Elizabeth To render his attempt more feasible and to rock the Queen and her Council into security that the danger might so much the more certainly overwhelm them by how much it was less apprehended the Jesuits and Seminary Priests publish't a Book exhorting the Roman Catholicks in England to attempt nothing against their Prince and to use only the Christian weapons prayers and tears c. In the mean time Savage waiting his opportunity one Ballard a Priest that had been contriving in France with Mendoza Paget and others about invading of England came over as a Soldier by the name of Captain Foscu and being not unacquainted with Savage's design communicated the same to Mr. Anthony Babington a Derby-shire Gentleman of an ancient Family Rich very handsom of an excellent Wit Learned above his years and a zealous Papist who having lately been abroad the Archbishop of Glasgow the Scottish Queens Ambassador had engag'd him with continual applauses of that Queens Vertue and Beauty and of promises of honours and preferments from her obscurely intimating no less than hopes of Marriage whereby the ambitious young man resolv'd to run all adventures to render himself capable of her good Graces nor was that Queen wanting to give encouragement by holding a correspondence with him by Letters in Cipher which though for some time interrupted by her removal from the Charge of the Earl of Shrewsbury to the Custody of Amias Paulet and Sir Drew Drury was yet renewed again some time after as by the Letters in the following Sheets appears Babington being thus inform'd of Savage's Vow resolving to have the murder of Queen Elizabeth effectually perform'd would needs associate Five more with him for that attempt and also drew in divers other Popish Gentlemen no less fiery zealous than himself into the Conspiracy as Edward Windsor Brother to the Lord Windsor Thomas Salisbury of a good Family in Denbyshire Charles Tilney of an ancient worshipful House the only hope of his Family and one of the Gentlemen-Pensioners to Queen Elizabeth the last Two being lately reconciled to the Church of Rome by the said Ballard Chidiock Tichburn of Hampshire Edward Abington whose Father had been Cofferer to the Queen Robert Gage of Surry John Travers and John Charnock of Lancashire John Jones whose Father had been Tailor to Queen Mary one Barnwell of an honourable Family in Ireland Henry Dun a Clerk in the First-Fruits-Office and several others but those that were to assassinate Queen Elizabeth were the before-named Savage Abington Barnwell Tilney and Tichburn the Conspirators were all Sworn to Secrecy and had several Consults as in Pauls-Church St. Giles in the Fields and in divers Taverns and proceeded to that vanity that they had also their Pictures drawn to the Life all in one Table with Babington in the midst thus Circumscrib'd Hi mihi sunt Comites quos ipsa pericula jungunt But that Verse being thought too plain they removed it and instead thereof inserted this Motto Quorsum haec alió properantibus The Plot being thus laid to murder Queen Elizabeth and at the same instant to free the Queen of Scots Forrein Forces to land Rebels at home ready to joyn with them and all things in so forward a posture it will be convenient to observe how this desperate Contrivance was brought to nought The before-mentioned Gifford the Priest born in Stafford-shire not far from Chartley where the Queen of Scotland was kept was sent over about this time by the Fugitives into England under the counterfeit name of Luson to remember Savage of his Oath and secrerly to convey Letters to and fro between the Queen and her Correspondents which for some time he performed for by corrupting a Brewer belonging to Amias Paulet at a hole in a Wall into which a stone was put so that it might be taken out he secretly sent in and receiv'd back Letters but the said Gifford whether troubled in conscience or corrupted with bribes or terrified through fear or which I esteem more probable appointed so to do that he might precipitate the Queen to destruction disclosed the whole Intrigue to Secretary Walsingham and communicated to him all the Letters that either way he receiv'd who unseal'd and Copied them and then by the rare skill of one Phillips found out a Key to the Ciphers and by the dexterity of one Gregory sealed them up again so that they could not be perceiv'd to have been open'd and then dispatch't them away as directed Queen Elizabeth by this means having notice of the storm that hung over her head thought fit to prevent it in time and when Walsingham would have suffered them to have proceeded further the Queen refused lest as she said in not taking heed of danger when she might she should seem more to
which I could not for a long time agree at length by many urgent perswasions he won me so as I told him I would do my best and being asked as he was ascending the Ladder whether he thought it lawful to kill her Majesty he answered No no for I take her to be my lawful and natural Prince and as Salsbury he desired all Catholicks to indure with patience and never to attempt any thing against her Majesty under whose Government he had lived quietly until within these Ten Weeks that those things were first imparted unto him and whereas he was indebted to divers and divers in like manner to him he forgave all that was owing to him and craved forgiveness of what he owed He desired God to forgive Babington the only cause of his fall and death and was right sorry for a Gentlewoman one Mrs. Bellamy at whose house he with the rest were relieved after they fled he prayed God whom he had chiefly offended next her Majesty and last of all the people forgiveness saying no soul was more sorrowful than his nor none more sinful and prayed for her Majesty wishing she might live in all happiness and after this life be eternized in everlasting bliss and so he prayed in Latin and English and was executed Edward Jones said I come hither to die but how rightfully God knows for thus stands my case At Trinity Term last Mr. Salsbury made me acquainted 10. Jones with their purposes and for that he knew me to be well horsed he thought me as fit as any to attempt the delivery of the Queen of Scots and requested me to be one which I utterly denied altogether misliking their practises and perswading him by what means I might from it and told him this was the haughty and ambitious mind of Anthony Babington which would be the destruction of himself and friends whose company I wished him to refrain and for that I would have him out of his company I have divers times lent him money and pawned my Chain and Jewels to buy him necessaries to go into the Country and whereas I had made conveyance of my lands to divers uses with some Annuities and placed my Wife with my friends and given over house-keeping and by reason of my conscience thought to live at ease I called my servants together again and began to keep house more freshly than ever I did only because I was weary to see Salsbury 's stragling and for that I was willing to keep him about home and never consented to any of his Treasons but always advised him to beware for though I was and am a Catholick yet I took it to be a most wicked act to offer violence to my natural Prince I did intend to go into Ireland with Mr. Edward Fitton and there to have served until at length very shortly after this my determinate mind being not setled I received a Note of their names amongst whom was the name of my dear friend Then I began to fear what hath happened I heard that night he would be at my house and indeed he came thither about Twelve of the Clock and the door being opened him as he was very familiar with me he came running up to my Bed-side with a candle in his hand which he took from one of my men saluting me with these words Ned Jones how dost thou Ah! Tom said I art thou one of them that should have killed the Queen yea said he what meanest thou by that see and read this said I giving him the Note wherein his name was he seeing turned about and said there be many Catholicks in England as far in this Act as we are the more the worse quoth I. Here is the sum of my fault in which I know I have offended her Majesty First Because I did conceal it at London And Lastly Because I did not apprehend my dear friend Tom being in my house for which fault I am heartily sorry and do ask her Majesty forgiveness There is one thing wherein I am to move you concerning my debts I have set them down so near as I could what they are good Sir Francis Knowles I shall intreat you to be a mean to her Majesty that there may be some care had of my Creditors and debtors The debts which I owe do amount in the whole to 980. l. The debts which are owing me are 1600. l. But who shall look into my Compting-house shall find many of 100. l. 200. l. or 300. l. whereof all is discharged except of some 50. l. and some 40. l. and such like without any defeasance and lye only in my credit so that unless some man of conscience enter into the Action of my Compting house it is like to be the utter undoing of a number but God he knows my mind and I hope it shall not be laid to my charge and so concluded with his prayers first in Latin and then in English that the people might better understand what he prayed and so was executed 11. Charnocke John Charnocke Gent. excuted 12. Travers John Travers Gent. executed 13. Gaget Robert Gage Gent. executed 14. Bellamy Jeremy Bellamy Gent. executed Queen Elizabeths Letter directed to Sir Amias Paulet Knight Keeper of the Queen of Scots at the Castle of Fotheringhay viz. AMias my most faithful servant God reward thee treble-fold in the Her Majesties Letter to Sir Amias Paulet double of thy most troublesome charge so well discharged if you knew my Amias how kindly besides dutifully my grateful heart accepts your double labours and faithful actions your wise orders and safe regards performed in so dangerous a charge it would ease your travel and rejoice your heart in that I cannot ballance in any weight of my judgment the value that I prise you at and suppose no treasure to countervail such faith and shall condemn my self in that thought I never committed if I reward not such deserts yea let me lack when I most need if I acknowledg not such a merit with a reward not omnibus datum but let your wicked Murtheress know how with hearty sorrow her vile deserts compel these Orders and bid her from me ask God forgiveness for her treacherous dealing against my life many years to the intollerable peril of her own and yet not content with so many forgivenesses but must fall again so horribly far passing a womans thought much less a Princes instead of excusing whereof not one can serve it being so plainly confessed by the Author of my guiltless death let repentance take place and let not the Feind possess her so that the better part be lost which I pray with hands lifted up to him that can both save and spill with my most loving adieu and prayer for thy long life Your assured and loving Soveraign as heart by good desert indureth Elizabeth Regina The Commission for executing the Queen of Scots ELIZABETH by the Grace of God Queen of England France and
Ireland c. To our trusty and well-beloved Cousins George Earl of Sbrewsbury Earl Marshal of England Henry Earl of Kent Henry Earl of Darby George Earl of Comberland and Henry Earl of Pembrook greeting c. Whereas sithence the Sentence given by you and others of our Council Nobility and Judges against the Queen of Scots by the name of Mary the Daughter of James the 5th late King of Scots commonly called the Queen of Scots and Dowager of France as to you is well known All the States in the last Parliament assembled did not only deliberately by great advice allow and approve the same Sentence as just and honourable but also with all humbleness and earnestness possible at sundry times require solicit and press us to direct such further execution against her Person as they did adjudg her to have daily deserved adding thereunto that the forbearing thereof was and would be daily certain and undoubted danger not only unto our own life but also unto themselves their posterity and the publick estate of this Realm as well for the Cause of the Gospel and true Religion of Christ as for the Peace of the whole Realm whereupon we did although the same were with some delay of time publish the same sentence by our Proclamation yet hitherto have forborn to give direction for the further satisfaction of the aforesaid most earnest requests made by our said States of our Parliament whereby we do daily understand by all sorts of our loving subjects both of our Nobility and Councel and also of the wisest greatest and best devoted of all Subjects of inferiour degrees how greatly and deeply from the bottom of their hearts they are grieved and afflicted with daily yea hourly fears of our life and thereby consequently with a dreadful doubt and expectation of the ruin of the present happy and godly estate of this Realm if we should forbear the further final execution as it is deserved and neglect their general and continual requests prayers counsels and advices and thereupon contrary to our natural disposition in such case being overcome with the evident weight of their counsels and their daily intercessions importing such a necessity as appeareth directly tending to the safety not only of our self but also to the weal of our whole Realm We have condescended to suffer Justice to take place and for the execution thereof upon the special trusty experience and confidence which we have of your loyalties faithfulness and love both toward our Person and the safety thereof and also to your native Countries whereof you are most noble and principal members we do will and by Warrant hereof do Authorize you as soon as you shall have time convenient to repair to our Castle of Fotheringhay where the said Queen of Scots is in custody of our right trusty and faithful servant and Councellor Sir Amias Paulet Knight and then taking her into your charge to cause by your Commandment execution to be done upon her Person in the presence of your selves and the aforesaid Sir Amias Paulet and of such other Officers of Justice as you shall command to attend upon you for that purpose and the same to be done in such manner and form and at such time and place and by such persons as to five four or three of you shall be thought by your discretions convenient notwithstanding any Law Statute or Ordinance to the contrary And these our Letters Patents sealed with our great Seal of England shall be to you and every of you and to all persons that shall be present or that shall be by you commanded to do any thing appertaining to the aforesaid execution a full sufficient Warrant and discharge for ever And further we are also pleased and contented and hereby we do will command and authorise our Chancellor of England at the requests of you all and every of you the duplicate of our Letters Patents to be to all purposes made dated and sealed with our great Seal of England as these presents now are In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Yeoven at our Mannor of Greenwich the 1st day of February in the 29th year of our Reign First After she was brought down by the Sheriff to the place prepared in the Hall for that purpose by the commandment of the Earls of Shrewsbury Octavo die Feb. 1586. and Kent her Majesties Commission aforesaid was openly read Then according to a direction given to Dr. Fletcher Dean of Peterborough he was willed to use some short and pithy Speech which might tend to admonish her of the nearness of her end and the only means of salvation in Christ Jesus As soon as he began to speak she interrupted him saying she was a Catholick and that it was but a folly being so resolutely determined as she was to move her otherwise and that our prayers could do her little good On Wednesday the 8th of February 1586. there assembled at the Castle of Fotheringhay the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent with divers Knights The Assembly of the Lords at the death of the Queen of Scots and Gentlemen Justices of Peace in the Counties there and about Eight of the Clock the Earls and the Sheriff of the Shire went up to the Scottish Queen whom they found praying on her knees with her Gentlewomen and men and the Sheriff remembring her the time was at hand she rose up and said she was ready then was she led by the arms from her Chamber unto the Chamber of Presence where with many exhortations to fear God and live in obedience kissing her women and giving her hand to her men to kiss praying them all not to sorrow but to rejoice and pray for her she was brought down the Stairs by two Souldiers and being below and looking back she said she was evil attended and besought the Lords that she might for womanhood sake have two of her women to wait upon her they said they were only withheld for that it was feared by their passionate crying they would much disquiet her spirit and disturb the execution then she said I will promise for them they will do neither so two whom she willed were brought in to her Then she spake much to Melin her man and charged him as he would answer before God to deliver her Speeches and Messages to her Son in such sort as she did deliver them All which tended to will him to govern wisely and in the fear of God to take heed to whom he betook his chiefest trust and not to give occasions to be evil thought on by the Queen of England her good Sister And to certifie him she died a true Scot true French and true Catholick And about 10 of the Clock she was brought into the great Hall where in the midst of the Hall and against the Chimney in which was a great fire was a Scaffold set up of two Foot high and Twelve Foot broad having two Steps to come up