a turbulent spirit and nature casting out threats and terrors of the bloud that was ere long to bee shed in England On the next day the other seuen were drawne vnto the same place but vsed with more mercy by the Queenes commandement who hated the former cruelty for euery one of them hung till they were quite dead before they were cut downe and bowelled Salisbury the first was very penitent and aduised the Catholikes not to attempt the restitution of Religion by force or armes and the same did Dun who was the next Iones protesting that he had disswaded Salisbury from this enterprise and that he vtterly condemned and disliked the haughty and rash spirit of Babington and the purpose of inuasion Charnock and Trauerse fixed wholly to their praiers commended themselues to God and the Saints Gage extolling the bountifull liberality of the Queene toward his father and detesting his owne treacherous ingratitude toward a Princesse so well deseruing Hierom Bellamy who had hidden Babington after he was proclaimed traitor whose brother priuy to the same offence had strangled himselfe in prison ashamed and silent was the last of this company These men being executed Nauus the Frenchman and Curlus the Scot who were Secretaries to the Queene of Scotland being examined about the letters copies of letters and little notes and Ciphers found in the Queenes closet of their owne will acknowledged by their subscriptions that the handwritings were their owne endited by her in French taken by Nauus and turned into English by Curlus Neither did they deny that she receiued letters from Babington and that they wrote backe by her commandement in such a sense as is aforesaid Yet this is certaine out of letters that when Curlus did at this time aske Walsingham for what he promised that Walsingham did reproue him as one forgetfull of an extraordinary grace as that he had not confessed any thing but that hee could not deny when Nauus charged him therewithall to his face The Counsellors of England could not agree what should be done with the Queene of Scotland some thought good that no seuerity was to be vsed against her but to be kept very close as well for that she was not the beginner of this plot but onely made acquainted with it and also for that she was sickly and not like to liue long Others for the securitie of Religion would haue her dispatched out of the way and that by the course of Law Leycester had rather haue it done by poyson and secretly sent a Diuine to Walsingham to shew him that this was lawfull but Walsingham protested that he was so farre from allowing that any violence should be vsed that long agoe hee crossed and broke the aduice of Morton who had perswaded to send her into Scotland that she might be killed in the very borders of both the kingdomes They were moreouer of different opinions by what law or Act they should proceed against her whether out of that of the XXV yeare of Edward the third in which he is a traitor who deuiseth to kill the King or the Queene or moueth warre in the Kingdome or doth adhere vnto his enemies Or whether by that Law or Act of the XXVII yeare oâ— Queene ELIZABETH which is set downe before At length their opinion preuailed who would haue it by this latter law as made for this purpose and therefore to be accommodated thereunto therefore out of that law enacted the former yeare that enquiry might be made and sentence pronounced against them who raised rebellion inuaded the kingdome or attempted to hurt the Queene many of the Priuie Counsell and Noblemen of England were chosen Commissioners by letters Patents which was this after the Lawyers forme and stile ELIZABETH by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queene Defender of the faith c. To the most Reuerend Father in Christ Iohn Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of all England and one of our Priuy Counsell And to our beloued and trusty Thomas Bromley Knight Chauncellor of England and another of our Priuie Counsell And also to our welbeloued and trusty William Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer of England another of our Priuy Counsell And also to our most deare cousin William Marquesse of Winchester one of the Lords of the Parlament And to our most deare cousin Edward Earle of Oxford great Chamberlaine of England another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our most deare cousin George Earle of Shrewsbury Earle Marshall of England another of our Priuy Counsell and to our most deare cousin Henry Earle of Kent another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our most deare cousin Henry Earle of Darby another of our Priuy Counsell And to our most deare cousin William Earle of Worcester another of the Lords of the Parlament And to our most deare cousin Edward Earle of Rutland another of the Lords of the Parlament And to our most deare cousin Ambrose Earle of Warwicke Master of our Ordnance another of our Priuy Counsell and to our most deare cousin Henry Earle of Pembrooke another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our most deare cousin Robert Earle of Leicester Master of our horse another of our Priuy Counsell And to our most deare cousin Henry Earle of Lincolne another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our most deare cousin Antony Vicount Montague another of the Lords of the Parlament And to our welbeloued and trusty Charles Lord Howard our great Admirall of England another of our Priuy Counsell And to our welbeloued and faithfull Henry Lord Hunsdon our Lord Chamberlaine another of our Priuy Counsell And also to our welbeloued and trusty Henry Lord of Aburgeuenny another of the Lords of the Parlament And to our welbeloued and trusty Edward Lord Zouch another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our welbeloued and trusty Edward Lord Morley another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our welbeloued and trusty William Lord Cobham Lord Warden of our fiue Ports another of our Priuy Counsell And also to our welbeloued and trusty Edward Lord Stafford another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to oâ—r welbeloued and trusty Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our welbeloued and trusty Iohn Lord Lumley another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our welbeloued and trusty Iohn Lord Sturton another of the Lords of the Parlament And to our welbeloued and trusty William Lord Sandes another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our welbeloued and trusty Henry Lord Wentworth another of the Lords of the Parlament To our welbeloued and trusty Lewis Lord Mordant another of the Lords of the Parlament And to our welbeloued and trusty Iohn Lord St. Iohn of Bletso another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our welbeloued and trusty Thomas Lord Buckhurst another of our Priuy Counsell And
IACOB MAG BRIT REG. MATER SERENISSIMA MARIA REGINA The most excellent Princesse Mary queene of Scotland and Dowager of France Mother to our Soueraigne lord James of greate Brittaine France Ireland king THE HISTORIE OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Mary Stuart QVEENE OF SCOTLAND LONDON Printed by Iohn Haviland for Richard Whitaker and are to be sold at the signe of the Kings Head in Pauls Church-yard 1624. TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE Most Dread Soueraigne ZENO the Philosopher being asked how a man might attaine wisdome answered By drawing neere vnto the dead O the Sepulchers of our Ancestors how much more doe they teach than all the studie bookes and precepts of the learned And herein due praise must needs be ascribed vnto Historie the life of memorie and the mirrour of mans life making those Heroick acts to liue againe which otherwise would be buried in eternall forgetfulnesse whereby the minde a greedy hunter after knowledge is enflamed by affecting the seuerall perfections of others to seeke after excellent things and by feruent imitation to attaine to that glory which is gotten by vertuâ— For these causes most renowned Soueraigne when I considered Plutarke laying aside the studie of Philosophic to thinke the time well imploied in writing the liues of Theseus of Aristides and of other inferiour persons and knowing how farre the lustre and splendor of Princes shineth beyond the brightnesse of others euery one standing for a million of the common people And being sensible that it is infused euen by nature euery man to desire and to be delighted with the relation and story of his owne Ancestors and predecessors For these reasons I presumed to present vnto your Highnesse this Treatise of the life and death of your Royall Mother the Lady MARY STVART Queene of Scotland A History most fit for this your Meridian of Great Britaine and yet neuer published in the English tongue before Wherein although I confesse the slendernesse of my skill in the exornation and beautifying of the stile and thereby may worthily incurre the reproofe of the learned yet if your Maiesty vouchsafe your gracious and Princely acceptation all faults therein shall easily bee couered and blotted out Therefore I become your humble Orator praying no other thing than the Sunne Diall of the Sunne Aspice me vt aspiciar most humbly beseeching the Almighty to blesse your most Excellent Maiestie with a long happie and prosperous reigne Your Sacred Maiesties most humble subiect WIL. STRANGVAGE THE PREFACE TO THE ENSVING HISTORIE IT is a thing most true and some finde it by experience that here below in this world there is nothing eternall And how can it be otherwise when the great Kings and Princes of the earth who seeme to be created of the most pure substance of the Elements of a matter as may bee said for their excellency incorruptible of the fine gold of Euilath and of the best mould to the patterne of the fairest Ideas and beare and carry the Image and Seale of all puissance as the chiefe impression of natures worke in the plaine greatnesse of Maiestie which engraueth their forehead with a gracious statelinesse Yet doe we see them euery day who seeme vnto men to be lasting and durable as eternity it selfe to quit the arches oâ— triumph and to yeeld themselues vnto the triumph oâ— death And more than that the most part of them finish their daies not in the sweet and calme waters like Pourcontrells but by a death disseasoned sometimes in their greene youth and flourishing age by the stormes and tempests as doe the Dolphins within the torrents billowes or waues of the sea tossed by diuers factions And it seemeth that this fatality pursueth ordinarily the most worthy and vertuous persons so that they finish their liues many times with violence or precipitation and not to goe vnto their death in a smooth path but to bee interrupted with some strange accident which cclipseth the bright shining lustre of their greatnesse which dasell the mindes of men that from below beheld them sitting aloft on the throne of Maiestie All which appeared most plainly and euidently to be true in the most worthy and royall Princesse MARY STVART Queene of Scotland who in all her life being tossed and turmoiled with infinite misfortunes concluded it with an vntimely death as followeth in the sequell of this Historie of her life and death MARY STVART Queene of Scotland was daughter vnto Iames the fist King of Scotland a wise and valiant Prince and of the Lady MARY of the Illustrious family of the Dukes of Lorraine whose fame for valour is renowned thorow all Christendome was borne on the eighth day of December in the yeere of our Lord 1541. She was not aboue eight daies old when her father died being left thus young the Noblemen of Scotland being diuided whereof the family of the Hamiltons and the Earle of Lynnox being the 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 the care of her mother who inclined vnto the French King at the age of six yeeres or thereabouts sent into France in the Gallies of Villagagnon a Knight of the Rhodes appointed by the French King vnto this seruice in the which voyage by the West Seas for in the other passage neere the Straits of Calice the Englishmen had laid a strong Nauy to intercept her she hardly escaped drowning by meanes of a storme or tempest that happened neere vnto the coast of little Brittaine in France where she afterward tooke land from whence she was conueyed vnto the Court of France where she was brought vp vnder her Curators the French King and the Dukes of Guise and by their exquisite care she drew in with the aire the sweetnesse of the humours of the countrey and in the end by the singular grace of nature and carefulnesse of her friends and Kinsfolks became with her age the fairest and goodliest Princesse of our time And beside this her rare beauty she had her vnderstanding and intendment so pure and perfect her iudgement so certaine surmounting and aboue the condition of her age and sex that it bred and caused in her a greatnesse of courage which was yet mixt and qualified with such sweetnesse and modesty that you could not see any thing more Royall any thing more gracious Her manners and priuate actions were such and were so well liked of generally that it caused King Henry the second of France and his Queene who was admired for her prudence to marry their eldest sonne Daulphin of France and heire of their Crowne vnto this Lady as vnto one well deseruing to be ioyned in mariage vnto their sonne heire apparant of the greatest kingdome in Europe And so vpon the foure and twentieth day of April in the yeere of our Lord 1558. Francis the Daulphin of France and MARY STVART Queene of Scotland were maried in the Church of Nostra Dama
vnto which he was forced to yeeld forasmuch as they triumphed ouer his innocencie he repeateth the vnfortunate deaths of his Ancestors that is to say of his great grandfather who was condemned and neuer called to triall of his grandfather who was beheaded for trifling matters and of his Father who as he affirmed was circumuented by his enemies and who neuer carried any euill minde toward his Prince or Countrey But that he lest he should runne into the same hard fortune his father had forsooke his country that he might spend his time in the seruice of God and in the works tending to the saluation of his soule but not his loyalty and fidelity toward his Prince Before these letters were deliuered he went into Sussex and being ready to take ship in an obscure creeke was taken and apprehended by the treachery of his seruants and discouery of the master of the ship and committed vnto the Tower of London At that time there was prisoner in the same place Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland a man of a liuely spirit and couâ—age brother of Thomas beheaded at Yorke suspected to be priuy vnto the plot of Throgmorton the Lord Paget and the Guises for the inuading of England and deliuering of the Queene of Scotland vnto whom alwaies he had borne a great loue and affection In the moneth of Iune he was found dead in his bed shot thorow with three bullets about the left pappe the doores being bolted on the inside The Crowners quests according to the custome taken out of the next neighbours and sworne by the Crowner viewing the body considering the place hauing found the pistoll with the gunpowder in the chamber his man who bought the Pistall and the seller thereof being examined gaue their verdict that the Earle did murther himselfe The third day after the Noblemen of the Realme came in great number and met in the Starre chamber where Thomas Bromly Lord Chauncellor of England succinctly declared that the Earle had plotted and deuised treason against his Queene and Countrey which being now to come vnto light and to be discouered vpon the guiltinesse of his conscience had murdered himselfe But that the multitude and common people who alwaies conster things to the worst might be satisfied he commanded the Kings Atturney and the Kings Counsell at law to deliuer and explaine at large the causes why the Earle was kept and detained in prison and the manner of his death Hereupon Popham the Queenes Atturney Generall beginning at the rebellion in the North sheweth out of the Records That he was arraigaed for this Rebellion and for purposing to deliuer the Queene of Scotland did then acknowledge his fault and submitted himselfe vnto the mercy of the Queene and that he was fined at fiue thousand marks as I haue said before and that the Queene such was her clemency tooke not a penny but remitted the same and that after the execution of his brother for the same fault she confirmed him in the honour of Earle of Northumberland That he neuerthelesse entred into new practises to deliuer the Queene of Scotland to conquer England and to kill the Queene and to destroy Religion That Mendoza the Spanish Embassador had signified vnto Throgmorton that Charles Paget vnder the name of Mope had talked with him of these things secretly in Suffex That the Lord Paget had insinuated the same things almost vnto Throgmorton and that the same things were euident and apparant by the papers of Câ—â—eycton the Scottish Iesuite and that Charles Paget had told these things vnto William Shelley when he returned out of France Then Egerton the Queenes Solliciter argued wittâ—ly out of the circumstances and the great care taken of concealing it that the Earle was guilty of and priuy to these things that is to say For that the Earle since that none in England could charge him with these things but the Lord Paget who was very familiar with Throgmorton a few daies after the taking and apprehension of Throgmorton made a ship ready for Paget by Shelley in which he passed ouer into France When Throgmorton began to confesse some things hee departed from London and went out of the way vnto Petworth and signified vnto Shelley whom he had sent for vnto him that he was fallen into great danger of his life and of his estate and requested him to conceale the businesse and to send away them who were acquainted with the departure of the Lord Paget and with the comming of Charles Paget which was done forthwith And he himselfe sent a good way off the man whom hee had vsed about Charles Paget Moreouer the Sollicitor said that he being now in prison dealt oftentimes with Shelley by the Keepers whom he corrupted to know what things and of what nature hee had confessed After that Shelley by a poore woman a secret messenger betweene them had certified him that he could not conceale matters any longer that their condition and estate were not like that he should be put on the racke but that the Earle could not in respect of his place and degree and had written those things which he had confessed the Earle fighed grieuously and sometimes said as Panton who waited on him in his chamber confessed that by the confession of Shelley he was vtterly vndone Then the manner and reason of his death is declared out of the testimony of the Enquest of the Lieutenant of the Tower of some of the Warders and of Panton and thereupon it was gathered that he for feare left his house and family should be vtterly destroied and a blemish and blot imposed thereon had laid his owne violent hands vpon himselfe Truly many honest men as well for that they fauour Nobility as also for that he was holden and reputed a man of very great valour were heartily sorry that such a man came to such a lamentable and wretched death What things the suspecting fugitiues talked in corners of one Balliue one of Hattons men who a little before was made Keeper vnto the Earle I omit as a thing of small credit neither meane I to set downe any thing out of idle reports Anno 1586. IN this yeare Philip Earle of Arundell who had laine now a whole yeare in prison was accused in the Starre Chamber That he had releeued Priests against the lawes that he had had commerce of letters with Allan and Persons the Iesuite enemies of the Queene and that he had derogated in writing from the Iustice of the Land and imagined to depart out of the land without licence Hee proâ—essing his dutie and seruice vnto the Queene and his loue and good will vnto his countrey excused himselfe with great modesty by the loue he had to the Catholike Religion and by his ignorance of the lawes and submitted himselfe vnto the censure and iudgement of the Lords who fined him at tenne thousand pounds and to be imprisoned during the Queenes pleasure In the moneth of Iuly a most pernicious Conspiracie against
by the superfluous priuilege of a Royall Estate which can be now of no vse make your appearance for a triall shew your innocency lest by searching of euasions you draw vpon your selfe suspicion and purchase a perpetuall blemish of your reputation I doe not refuse said she to answer in a full Parlament before the Estates of the kingdome lawfully called so that I may be declared next in succession Yea and before the Queene and her Counsellors so that my protestation may be admitted and I may bee acknowledged the next kinswoman of the Queene In plaine termes I will not submit my selfe vnto the iudgement of mine aduersaries by whom I know all the defence I can make of mine innocency will not be allowed and receiued The Chancellor asked her if she would answer if her protestation were admitted She answered I will neuer submit me to the new law mâ—ntioned in the letters Patents Hereupon the Treasurer 〈…〉 Yet we will proceed to morrow though you be absent and continue obstinate in the cause She said Search and examine your consciences haue regard to your honour God will requite you and your heires for your iudgement vpon me On the next day being the fourteenth day of October she sent for some of the Commissioners and requested that the protestation might bee admitted and allowed The Treasurer asked her whether shee would come to triall if the protostation were onely receiued and put into writing without allowance At length she condescended yet with an euill will lest shee as she said might seeme to derogate from her predecessors or successors but that shee was much desirous to cleare the crime obiected being perswaded by the reasons of Hatton which she had better thought on Forthwith met and assembled in the Chamber of presence the Commissioners that were present There was a chaire of Estate set vnder a Canopy in the vpper part of the Chamber for the Queene of England Against it lower and further off neere vnto the railes a Chaire for the Queene of Scotland hard to the walls on both sides benches or formes on the which on the one side sate the Chancellor of England the Treasurer of England the Earles of Oxford Kent Darby Worcester Rutland Cumberland Warwicke Penbroke Lincolne and Vicount Mountacute On the other side the Lords Aburgeuenny Zouch Morley Stafford Grey Lumley Sturton Sandes Wentworth Mordant Saint Iohn of Bletso Compton and Cheiney Next to them sate the Knights of the Priuy Counsell as Iames Croft Christopher Hatton Francis Walsingham Ralph Sadleir Walter Mildmay and Amias Powlet Forward before the Earles sate the two chiefe Iustices and the chiefe Baron of the Exchequer on the other side two Barons and other Iustices Dale and Ford Doctors of the Ciuill law at a little table in the middle sate Popham the Queenes Atturny Egerton the Sollicitor Gaudie the Queenes Serieant at law the Clarke of the Crowne and two Clarkes When she was come and had set her selfe in her seat silence being made Bromly the Chancellor turning to her made a short speech to this purpose The most high and mighty Queene of England being certified to her great griefe and anguish of minde that you haue plotted both the destruction of her and of England and also of Religion according to the duty due vnto God her selfe and people in the which lest she should faile and out of no malice of minde hath appointed these Commissioners who may heare what things are obiected against you and how you can cleare your selfe from the crimes laid against you and shew your innocency She arising vp said that she came into England to seeke and request aid which was promised her neuerthelesse that shee was deteined in prison euer since that time Shee protested that she was not subiect to the Queene but was a free and absolute Queene neither was to be forced or compelled to be brought in or tried before the Commissioners or any other Iudge for any cause whatsoeuer but only God alone the Soueraigne Iudge of all lest that she should doe wrong and iniury vnto her owne Royall Maiesty her Sonne the King of Scotland her Successors or any other absolute Princes But now she was there in person to refell the crimes obiected against her And she requested her friends or seruants to witnesse these things The Chancellor not acknowledging that helpe was promised answered That this protestation was to no purpose for that whosoeuer of whatsoeuer ranke or estate he were in England did offend against the lawes of England may be made subiect to the same and may be examined and iudged by the late new law And that therefore that protestation made to the preiudice of the lawes and of the Queene of England was not to be admitted Yet the Commissioners commanded as well her protestation as the answer of the Chancellor to be recorded Then the letters Patents which as I haue often said were founded vpon the Act of Parlament being read aloud she with a great courage made a protestation against that Act as made directly and purposely against her and in this matter put it to their conscience And when the Treasurer answered that euery man in this Realme was bound to the obseruation of the lawes though neuer so lately made and that shee might not speake in disgrace of the lawes and that the Commissioners would iudge by vertue of that law whatsoeuer protestations or appellations she made At length she said shee was ready and prepared to answer of any act whatsoeuer done against the Queene of England Then Gawdy expounded and made plaine the Act in euery point and affirmed that shee had offended against the same and then he made an Historicall Narration of Babingtons conspiracy and concluded that she knew of it allowed it promised helpe and shewed the waies and the meanes She with an vndanted courage answered that she knew not Babington neuer receiued letters from him nor neuer wrote vnto him neuer plotted the destruction of the Queene And that to proue it effectually the subscription vnder her owne hand was to be produced She neuer heard so much as any man speake it that she knew not Ballard neuer maintained him but that shee had heard that the Catholikes were much agrieued with many things and that she certified the Queene therewith in her letters and had earnestly desired her to haue pitty of them And that many vtterly to her vnknowne had offered their seruice vnto her yet that she neuer moued any to any wickednesse and that she being shut vp in prison could neither know nor hinder the things which they attempted Vpon this out of the confession of Babington shee was vrged that there passed an entercourse of letters betweene her and Babington She acknowledged that she had speech with many by letters neuerthelesse it could not be gathered thereby that shee knew of all their naughty practises She requested that a subscription with her owne hand might be produced and she asked who could haue harme by it
was cut off at two blowes The Deane saying aloud So let the enemies of Queene ELIZABETH perish the Earle of Kent saying the same and the multititude sighing and grieuing thereat Her bodie was embawmed and was after buried like a Prince in the Cathedrall Church of Peterburgh And her funerals were kept most magnificently at Paris at the charges of the Guises who performed all the best offices of kindred for their Cousin both aliue and dead to their great commendation In this lamentable manner ended her life MARIE Queene of Scotland the great grand-daughter of Henry the seuenth by his eldest daughter in the XLVI yeere of her age and the XVIII yeere of her captiuitie A woman most constant in her Religion adorned with a wonderfull pietie toward God wisdome aboue her sex and was also very faire and beautifull And is to be accounted one of those Princes whose felicitie was changed into aduersitie In her infancie shee was with strife desired for wife by King Henry the eighth of England for his sonne Edward and by Henry the second King of France for Francis the Dolphin At the age of fiue yeeres she was carried into France and at the age of fifteene yeeres married vnto the Dolphin Shee flourished and was Queene of France one yeere and foure moneths Her husband being dead she returned into Scotland and was maried againe vnto Henry Stuart Lord Darley and had by him IAMES the first Monarch of Great Britaine Tossed and turmoiled by Murrey her bastard brother and other her vngrate and ambitious subiects deposed from her Kingdome and driuen to flie into England and circumuented and entrapped as men speaking indifferently thinke by sundry English-men carefull of the conseruation of their Religion and of the safetie of Queene ELIZABETH and thrust forward by others desiring much to restore the Roman Religion and oppressed by the testimonies of her Secretaries who were absent and as it seemed corrupted with rewards Neere to the graue an Epitaph in the Latine tongue was affixed and forthwith taken away MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA REGIS FILIA REGIS GALLORVM VIDVA REGINAE ANGLIAE AGNATA ET HAERES PROXIMA VIRTVTIBVS REGIIS ET ANIMO REGIO ORNATA IVRE REGIO FRVSTRA SAEPIVS IMPLORATO BARBARA ET TYRANNICA CRVDELITATE ORNAMENTVM NOSTRI SECVLI ET LVMEN VERE REGIVM EXTINGVITVR EODEMQVE NEFARIO IVDICIO ET MARIA SCOTORVM REGINA MORTE NATVRALI ET OMNES SVPERSTITES REGES PLEBEII FACTI MORTE GIVILI MVLCTANTVR NOVVM ET INAVDITVM TVMVLI GENVS IN QVO CVM VIVIS MORTVI INCLVDVNTVR HIC EXTAT CVM SACRIS ENIM DIVAE MARIAE CINERIBVS OMNIVM REGVM ATQVE PRINCIPVM VIOLATAM ATQVE PROSTRATAM MAIESTATEM HIC IACERE SCITO ET QVIA TACITVM REGALE SATIS SVPERQVE REGES SVI OFFICII MONET PLVRA NON ADDO VIATOR Which may be Englished thus MARY Queene of Scotland daughter of a King widow of the King of France kinswoman and next heire to the Queene of England adorned with Royall Vertues and a princely spirit hauing often but in vaine implored the right of a Prince the ornament of our age and the true princely light is extinguished by a barbarous and tyrannical crueltie And by the same wicked iudgement both MARY Queen of Scotland is punished with a naturall death and all Kings liuing are made common persons and punished and made liable vnto a ciuill death A strange and vnheard kinde of grant is here extant in which the liuing are included with the dead for with the ashes of this blessed MARY know thou that the Maiestie of all Kings and Princes lye here depressed and violated and because the Regall secret doth sufficiently admonish Kings of their dutie O Traueller I say no more Out of this lamentable fortune of so great a Prince the disposition of the diuine prouidence most euidently appeared as some wise men haue obserued For those things which the Queenes ELIZABETH and MARY chiefly wished and studied to procure by this meanes came to passe Queene MARY which also shee said at her death desired nothing more earnestly than that the diuided Kingdomes of England and Scotland might be vnited in the person of her deare sonne And the other wished for nothing more than that the Religion by her established in England might be kept and conserued with the safetie and securitie of the people And that almightie God did heare their praiers England to her vnexpected felicitie doth now see and with great ioy acknowledge As soone as word was brought to Queene ELIZABETH that the Queene of Scotland was put to death shee not thinking thereof she heard it with great indignation shee looked heauily and could not speake a word and readie to swound for sorrow in so much that she put on mourning apparell and grieued exceedingly and lamented very much Shee caused her Counsellors being reproued and forbidden her presence to be examined and commanded Dauison to be brought into the Star-Chamber And as soone as her dolour would permit her she in great haste wrote this letter following vnto the King of Scotland with her owne hand and sent it by Mr. Robert Cary one of the Lord of Hunsdons sonnes Deare brother I would to God you did know but not feele with what incomparable griefe my minde is tormented and vexed by reason of the lamentable euent which hath befallen contrary to my minde and will which you shall vnderstand fully by my Cousin for as much as I cannot abide and endure to set it downe by writing I beseech you that as God and many others can beare witnesse vnto my innocencie in this matter so I desire you to beleeue that if I had commanded it I would neuer haue denied the same I am not of that base minde that for any terrour I should feare to doe that which is iust or to deny it being done I doe not so degenerate from my Ancestors nor am I of such an ignoble minde But as it is not the part of a Prince to couer and cloake the sense of his minde with words so will I neuer dissemble nor glose mine actions but I will performe that they shall come to light and appeare to the world in their colours I would haue you be assuredly perswaded that as I know that this was done vpon desert so if I had imagined it I would not haue put it ouer vpon any other neither yet wil I impute that to my selfe which I did not so much as thinke He who shall deliuer you these Letters shall acquaint and impart other things vnto you As for me I would haue you to beleeue that there is none other who loueth you better and beareth better affection to you or that will haue a more friendly care of you and your affaires If any one suggesteth or putteth other things into your head I would haue you to think that he beareth more good will and affection to others than to you God Almightie keepe you in health and preserue you alwaies In the meane time that Mr. Cary
in Paris One cannot declare with what applause of all the people with what congratulation of all the neighbour Princes with what Magnificence this mariage was solemnized By this her mariage her husband obtained not onely the Title of King of Scotland in the right of his wife but also another more rich and great which was of the most contented Prince the earth then beheld for that hee was ioyned in mariage with a Princesse who besides many other great vertues composed her selfe wholly to please and to giue content vnto her husband and therein vsed not the ordinary care of a Princesse but more trauell and sollicitude than doe the women of meane condition and qualitie maried vnto great Princes as also appeared after his death which befell not long after by her immeasurable mourning not being able to finde any consolation for her sorrow in that place where shee had lost that which shee had loued better than her selfe so much that the amitie of her kinsfolks and allies could not retaine her nor the sorrow and regret of all France could not call her backe nor the sweetnesse of that Court which inuited her could not stay her but that shee would depart from thence After this on the seuenteenth day of Nouember the same yeere deceased Mary of England at which time the Parlament was holden at Westminster being certified of her death with a vniuersall consent in regard of her most certaine right vnto the Crowne of England of the which none could doubt both the Prelates and Nobles with the Commons agreed to haue the Lady ELIZABETH proclaimed Queene which was done with the generall applause and consent of them and all the people Queene ELIZABETH being established and hauing taken order for things at home and domesticall affaires applied her minde next to settle her affaires abroad For which end it was thought fit to send Embassadors vnto Princes to signifie vnto them the death of Queene MARY and her succession vnto the kingdome Vnto Ferdinand the Emperor was sent Thomas Challenor with letterâ— wherein the Queene vnder her owne hand certified him that her sister Queene MARY was dead and that she by the goodnesse of God was succeeded as her rightfull heire and with the generall consent of her subiects in the gouernment of the Realme and that she desired nothing more than that the ancient League and amitie betweene the families of England and Austria might not only be conserued but also increased Vnto the King of Spaine being in his Low counâ—ries was sent the Lord Cobham with instructions to the same purpose King Philip vnderstanding the decease of Queene MARIE his wife fearing lest England Scotland and Ireland should be adioyned vnto France by mâ—anes of the Queene of Scotland her Title dâ—lt seriously with Queene ELIZABETH by the Conde of Feria whom he had sent before to visit his sicke wife and the then Lady ELIZABETH also about his mariage with her promising to procure a dispensation for the same This motion troubled her much for to reiect the most mightie King of Europe hauing deserued well of her and suing to her for mariage vpon his owne motion This thing no lesse disquieted the French King who was also fearefull that England and Spaine should bee conioyned againe iâ— one by mariage therefore â—ee did all that was possible to be done at Rome by the Bishop of Angulesme that no such dispensation should be granted but yet very secretly lest he should prouoke the Englishmen against him but she put him off with a modest and shamefast answer And when hee saw that he could not obtaine his suit for himselfe and had also giuen it quite ouer being agreed with the French King to marry his daughter yet that the kingdome of England might be retained in his family still he moued the Emperour Ferdinand to commend one of his sonnes to be a suiter vnto Queene ELIZABETH which motion he willingly entertained and for that purpose sent vnto her very louing letters and by Gaspar Preynerus free Baron in Stibing diligently followed and prosecuted the same the King of Spaine himselfe also to bring it the sooner to passe and to further it most courteously offering and promising vnto Queene ELIZABETH his singular loue kindnesse and affection THE LIFE DEATH AND VARIABLE fortunes of the most gracious Queene MARIE STEVVARD Queene of Scotland Anno 1559. THe French King Henrie the second for the benefit of his sonne the Dolphin King and MARIE Queene of Scots casting his eies vpon England did not withdraw his French Souldiers out of Scotland as hee had promised but sent secretly more daily into Scotland and dealt vehemently with the Pope to pronounce Queene Elizabeth an Heretike and illegitimate which the Emperor and the King of Spaine most diligently but couertly sought to hinder yet had the Guises drawne the French King into such a sweet hope of adioyning England vnto the Crowne of France by the title of their Niece the Queene of Scots that hee openly claimed the same in the right of his sonne and daughter in law And commanded them when hee could not obtaine his purpose at Rome to vse this title in all their Letters patents FRANCIS and MARIE by the grace of God of Scotland England and Ireland King and Queene and caused the armes of England together with the armes of Scotland to be painted in the walls buildings and in the houshold stuffe and also to be put into the Heralds coats The English Ambassador in vaine complained that herein great wrong was done vnto Queene Elizabeth with whom he had made lately a league and had not done this to Queene MARIE of England who had proclaimed warre against him But Henries sudden death which happened shortly after made an end of his attempts But Francis the second who succeeded him and MARIE Queene of Scots his wife by the counsell of the Guises who were then of great authoritie in France bore themselues openly as Kings of England and Ireland neither did they abstaine from claiming the armes but set them out more and more And vnto Nicholas Throgmorton the Lieger Embassador a man both wise and stout it was first answered That it was lawfull for the Queene of Scots to beare them with some little difference to shew the nearenesse of her bloud vnto the royall line of England Hee stifly denied it saying that by the Law of Armes none who was not begot of the certaine Heire might beare the armes of any familie Afterward they said they bore the armes for no other cause than to cause the Queene of England to abstaine from bearing the armes of France Yet at length he obtained at the intercession of Mont Morancy who loued not the Guises that they left off the armes of England and Ireland altogether But yet from this title and vsurpation of armes which Henrie made the young Queene of Scots to take on her moued thereto by the Guises proceeded all the euils which came so thicke vpon her afterward as from
of displeasure I will lay it downe in few words laying aside the person of an Embassadour As soone as the Queene my Ladie and Mistresse was crowned you did vsurpe the title and armes of England which you did not take in the reigne of Queene MARIE Iudge you in your discretion if a greater wrong can bee offered vnto a Prince Such iniuries as this priuate men cannot disgest much lesse Princes But said she my husbands father and my husband himselfe would haue it done and commanded it to bee so After their decease when I was at mine owne hand I left off wholly both those armes and the title but yet I know not how it can be any wrong to the Queene if I also a Queene whose Grand-mother was eldest sister vnto Henry the eight doe beare these armes since others farther off than I bore them I am sure Courtney Marquesse of Exceter and the Duchesse of Suffolke Niece vnto Henry the eight by his younger sister did beare the armes of England with borders for a difference by a speciall fauour When these things did not satisfie Queene Elizabeth who was fully perswaded that shee put in delaies still vpon some more hopes since she had not proposed vnto the Estates of Scotland who had once or twice assembled since her husbands death any thing about the confirmation of the treatie She being vpon her way sent for Throgmorton againe vnto Abbeuille where shee courteously asked him how she might satisfie Queene Elizabeth in word or deed he said by ratifying the treatie of Edenburgh as I haue often said vnto whom shee said Now heare and iudge if there bee not most iust reasons which she calleth delaies and vaine excuses The first Article in it of ratifying the treatie of Chasteau Cambresy betweene England and France pertaineth nothing vnto me The second of ratifying the treaty betweene England and Scotland was ratified by my husband and mee neither can it bee ratified againe when my husband is expressedly named in it The Articles 3 4 and 5. are already performed for the preparations for warre are ceased The French Souldiers are called backe out of Scotland and the Fortresse of Aymouth is demolished I haue not borne nor vsed the title nor armes of England since my husbands death It is not in my power to put them out of the houshold stuffe buildings and Letters patents through France as it is not in my power to send into England the Bishop of Valence and Randan who are not my subiects to dispute about the sixth Article And for the last Article I hope my seditious subiects shall not haue cause to complaine of my seueritie But as I perceiue she will preuent me by stopping my returne that they shall not haue triall of my clemencie what remaineth now in this treatie which may be wrong to the Queene Yet that I may giue her satisfaction more abundantly I will write larger Letters of this businesse with mine owne hand though shee doth not vouchsafe to write backe vnto me but by her Secretarie But I pray you my Lord Embassador doe the part of an Embassador that is rather mollifie than exasperate the matter But yet Queen Elizabeth was not satisfied with these letters in whose minde the iniurie for the vsing of the armes and title of England was deeply imprinted and still shee was afraid lest shee should challenge them againe if shee were not bound and tied thereto by the confirmation of the treatie and the religion of an oath In the meane while the Q of Scotland getting a good gale of wind departed from Calice and in a foggie mist passing by the English ships which some thought were sent to Sea to conuey her with honour others to suppresse Pirates and as others said to intercept and take her arriued safe in Scotland For Iames the Bastard very lately returning by England had secretly willed Queene Elizabeth to take her by the way if she had a desire to prouide for Religion and her owne securitie And Lidington being glad that d'Oysell was detained in England perswaded it also Shee being returned into Scotland vsed her subiects with all courtesie changed not their religion though it had beene brought in by tumults and beganne to settle the common wealth by enacting good Lawes But vnto Queene Elizabeth shee sent Lidington with her owne and the letters of the Scottish Nobilitie in the which shee promised all care to make and conserue amitie with her and requested that a certaine forme of peace might bee made betweene England and Scotland and that there was none more certaine than if Queene Elizabeth if shee should haue no issue would declare her by the authoritie of Parliament the next heire to succeed her in the Realme of England This thing seemed strange vnto Queene Elizabeth who looked for the confirmation of the treatie of Edenburgh promised by word and by her hand writing yet she answered As concerning the succession shee hoped the Queene of Scotland would not by violence take her Crowne away from her and her children if she had any shee promised not to derogate any thing of her right vnto the Crowne of England although she had claimed the title and armes of England through the too much hastie ambition of other men for which iniurie it was meet that she made satisfaction By setting downe her successor shee feared lest their friendship should bee rather disseuered than consolidated for that vnto men established in gouernment their successors are alwaies suspected and hated the people such is their inconstancie vpon a dislike of present things doe looke after the rising Sunne and forsake the Sunne setting and the successors designed cannot keepe within the bounds of Iustice and truth their owne hopes and other mens lewd desires Moreouer if she should confirme the succession vnto her shee should thereby cut off the hope of her owne securitie and being aliue hang her winding-sheet before her owne eies yea make her owne funerall feast aliue and see the same After shee had answered these things thus shee did againe sending her letters vnto her by Peter Mewtas mildly will her to confirme the treatie Neither did the other directly denie it but insinuated that shee could not doe it vntill shee had set the affaires of Scotland in good order Anno 1562. MArgaret Countesse of Lynnox Niece to King Henry the eight by his eldest sister was deliuered as prisoner to Richard Sackuill and her husband the Earle of Lennox was assigned vnto the Master of the Rolls in the like manner for that hee had secret intelligence by letters with the Queene of Scots in which custodie both of them were kept a good space Not long after Henry Sidney was sent vnto the Queene of Scots whose message was that the enteruiew which he had desired to haue with Queene Elizabeth might bee put off vnto the next yeere or vntill the French warres were waxen colder At this time it was consulted whether it was for any good purpose that these two
her whom she had in her secret purpose appointed husband for the Queene of Scotland that he might be more worthy of that match Baron of Denbigh giuing vnto him Denbigh with the demeasnes and the next day Earle of Leycester to him and his heires males lawfully begotten For whose sake also shee had before created his elder brother Ambrose Baron Lisle and Earle of Warwicke and to his heires males lawfully begotten and to Robert his brother and to his heires males of his body lawfully begotten Dudly aduanced to these honours to purchase fauour and grace with the Queene of Scotland vnto whom hee made suit in mariage studied with all kinde of offices to deserue well of her and forthwith accused Bacon keeper of the great Seale vnto the Queene that hee had dealt in the matter of succession against the Queene of Scotland and that hee was priuie and accessary vnto a Pamphlet made by one Hales who endeuoured to proue the right of the Crowne of England to belong vnto the familie of Suffolke if the Queene died without Heire for the which he had beene put in Prison but Bacon though hee denied the same was with much adoe and after a long time restored vnto the Queenes fauour by Cecill who kept his owne iudgement in this point secret to himselfe and alwaies determined so to doe vnlesse the Queene as he would say commanded him to speake his mind for she could not endure of all things to haue the right of succession called into question and dispute but the wiser and the richer men were troubled with nothing more whilest in the controuersie of Religion the hot Protestants thought the Q. of Scotland was to be put by and reiected because she was of another Religion though her right was vndoubted out of some querks and words of their Law bookes Some of the Romanists and most that regarded equitie and iustice thought she was to be receiued as the true and certaine Heire by the Law And many preferred Margaret Aunt to the Queene of Scotland the wife of Matthew Stewart Earle of Lennox and her children as those of whom they hoped the best as borne in England These things were not vnknowne vnto the Q. of Scotland who to preuent it as much as she could by the aduice of the Countesse of Lennox her Aunt sent for Matthew Earle of Lennox to come into Scotland vnder pretence to restore him into his ancient Patrimonie but indeed to aske him counsell in these affaires who by his wiues meanes obtained leaue and also letters of commendations from Queene Elizabeth after hee had beene banished from his natiue Countrie now full twentie yeeres Hee for I will for more perspicuitie and light to the matter rehearse the same somewhat higher was borne of the same stocke of the Stewarts as the royall familie of the Scots was For Marie daughter vnto Iames the second King of Scotland bore vnto Iames Hamilton Iames the first of this stocke Earle of Arran and Marie his daughter wife vnto Matthew Stewart Earle of Lennox the first of this Christian name Iames Earle of Arran his first wife being diuorced and yet liuing married Ienet Beton Aunt to Cardinall Beton by whom he had Iames D. of Chasteauleroy whom his aduersaries hereupon accounted a Bastard Marie sister to the Earle of Arran bore vnto Matthew Iohn Earle of Lennox who being slaine by the Hamiltons at such time as he would haue restored Iames the fourth to his libertie left this second Matthew Stewart of whom we speake Earle of Lennox most deare to Iames the fift in regard of his father But Matthew the King being dead and the Hamiltons hauing all the gouernment in their power departed secretly into France from whence hee was sent by Henry the second the French King to see that the common wealth of Scotland tooke no harme by Hamilton the Regent and herein he behaued himselfe worthily but being a plaine and honest minded man and entangled by the craft and policie of Cardinall Beton and Hamilton he fell out of the fauour of the French King in a short time And when hee could neither tarrie at home nor returne into France he came into England and submitted himselfe to King Henry the eighth who accepted him as a man well beloued in the West borders and acknowledged him as next heire to the Crowne of Scotland after MARIE then an infant though the Hamiltons confiscated all his possessions as of a Traitor condemned and married him vnto the Ladie Margaret Douglas his Niece by his eldest sister giuing him lands in England worth yeerely of the old rent 1700. Markes he promising for his part to deliuer into the hands of the King of England the Castles of Dunbritton the I le of Butha and the Castle of Rothsay which peeces being couragiously and valiantly attempted could not yet be gotten This man the Queene of Scotland a woman prudent and circumspect and who applied all her studies vpon the hopes of England sent for to come into Scotland as I haue said pardoned his banishment restored him vnto his ancient possessions as well that shee might oppose him against the attempts of Iames the Bastard as also to put other folkes out of hope of the succession of England by his sonne Henry Darly For if that young man borne of the royall bloud in England and well beloued of the English Nation should marrie with some of the great families of England shee secretly to her selfe feared that he bolstered vp with the power of England might bee a blocke in her way in the right of her succession in England since hee was accounted in most mens opinion the second heire of the Crowne of England after her and there was nothing shee more wished than that the Realmes of England and Scotland might deuolue by her meanes vnto some of the Scottish race and by him might bee propagated vnto posteritie in the ancient surname of the Stewarts This came to the knowledge of Queene Elizabeth and to preuent her purpose shee declared vnto her by Randolph that that mariage was so vniuersally disallowed by the English men that she adiourned the Parliament against the will of her Councell vntill another time lest the Estates moued vnto wrath for this cause should make some act against her right in succession which lest it should afterward come to passe she willed her not to doe so but to giue satisfaction vnto the English men by thinking vpon some other match And now againe she commended Leicester whom she had aduanced vnto the degree of an Earle and especicially for that cause with more earnestnesse to bee her husband Vpon this occasion at Barwicke in the moneth of Nouember there talked together about the mariage with Leicester the Earle of Bedford and Randolph and for her were Murrey and Lidington Commissioners The English men promised firme amitie perpetuall peace and certaine hope of the succession if shee would marrie with Leicester for vpon this condition Queene Elizabeth had promised to
subiects according to the times expressed in their licence The father excused himselfe most modestly in his letters the sonne desired that she would not be against his preferment insinuated that it may be that he may be profitable to his deare Countrie of England and openly professed himselfe a louer and honourer of the Queene of Scotland aboue all others who to giue correspondencie to his loue first made him Knight and afterward Lord Aâ—â—â—â—och Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothsay and the fift moneth after his comming into Scotland tooke him to her husband with the consent of the most of the Noble men and proclaimed him King Murrey who applied all his wit to his owne priuate ambition and vnder the goodly pretence of Religion had drawne in the Duke of Chasteauleroy an honest minded man vnto his side fretting and others raising tumults and arguing these questions Whether a Papist was to be receiued to be their King Whether the Queene of Scotland might choose her selfe a husband at her owne election Whether the Noblemen of the Land might not by their authoritie appoint her a husband The Queene of England who knew the milde nature of Darly and the plaine and honest minde of the father taking compassion of the young man her Cousin and of the Queene a young woman also who had to deale with most turbulent persons who being aboue this twentie yeeres loosed from the gouernment of Kings could not now endure any Kings tooke it more quietly Neither had she any feare of them when she saw the power of the Queene her aduersarie not increased by that meane match and had the mother of Darly in her hand and foresaw that troubles would arise hereupon in Scotland which began incontinently for many Noblemen of Scotland as Hamilton and Murrey chafing fretting at the mariage this man for that the mariage was made without the consent of the Queene of England the other vpon a spight or priuie malice against the familie of Lennox but both of them vnder the pretext of the conseruation of Religion displaied their banners in manner of warre to disturbe the mariage so that the Queene was of necessitie enforced to leuie forces that the mariâ—â—â— might be celebrated with securitie and then she did so fiercely pursue the rebels by the helpe of the King her husband that she made them flie into England before the bands of English men promised to them could come but the Queene of England did couertly grant a lurking place vnto Murrey who was wholly addicted vnto the English and secretly maintained him with money by Bedford vntill hee returned into Scotland which was the day after the murder of Dauid Rizius The causes which Queene Elizabeth alleadged why shee admitted Murrey and the Scottish rebels into England were for that the Queene of Scotland had receiued Yaxley Standen and Welsh English fugitiues into Scotland and receiued O-Neale a great man of Ireland into her protection had intelligence with the Pope against England and had not done iustice on the theeues on the borders and on Pirates Queene Elizabeth not forgetfull of the Scottish affaires a moneth or two after the mariage sent Tamworth a Gentleman of her priuie Chamber vnto the Queene of Scotland to warne her not to violate the peace and to expostulate with her for her hastie marriage with the natiue subiect of England without her consent and withall to request that Lennox and Darly might be sent backe into England according to the league and that Murrey might be receiued againe into fauour Shee smelling his arrand admitted him not to her presence but in articles deliuered in writing promised in the word of a Prince that neither shee nor her husband would attempt any thing to wrong the Queene of England or her children lawfully begotten or the quiet of the Realme either by receiuing fugitiues or by making league with strangers or by any other meanes yea most willingly that they would make such league with the Queene and Realme of England which might be profitable and honourable for both the Realmes neither that they would innouate any thing in the Religion Lawes and liberties of England if at any time they should possesse the Kingdome of England yet vpon this condition that Queene Elizabeth would fully performe this thing on her part toward her and her husband viz. by Parlament establish the succession of the Crowne of England in her person and her lawfull issue and if that failed in Margaret Countesse of Lennox her husbands mother and her children lawfully begotten As for the other things shee answered That shee had acquainted the Queene with her mariage with Darly as soone as she was fully determined to marie him and had receiued no answer from her That she had satisfied the Queenes demands forasmuch as she had not married a stranger but an English man borne who was the noblest in birth and most worthiest of her in all Britaine that she knew But it seemed strange that she might not keepe with her Darly whom shee had maried or not keepe Lennox in Scotland who was a natiue Earle of Scotland As for Murrey whom she had tried to bee her mortall enemie shee in faire words besought her to leaue her subiects vnto her owne discretion since that she did not intermeddle in the causes of the subiects of England With this answer Tamworth returned not respected as he thought according to his estate and place for to say the truth the malapert fellow had touched the reputation and credit of the Queene of Scotland with I know not what slander and had not vouchsafed to giue her husband the title of King Anno 1566. IN Iune the Queene of Scotland in a happie houre and to the perpetuall felicitie of Britaine was deliuered of her sonne Iames who is now the Monarch of Britaine which shee signified forthwith vnto Queene Elizabeth by Iames Meluin Who although she was grieued at the heart that the honour to bee a mother was borne away before her by her aduersarie yet she sent Henry Killigrew incontinently to congratulate with her for her safe deliuerance and the birth of a sonne And to will her not to fauour any more Shane O-Neale then rebelling in Ireland nor to entertaine Christopher Rokesby fled out of England and to punish certaine theeues vpon the borders Shortly after the estates of the Realme in the Parlament holden at London moued the Queene earnestly to marry and to set downe and nominate her successor but she by no meanes could be drawne to it Yet that it might appeare to the world whom shee thought most rightfull successor shee cast into prison Thornton the Reader â—f the Law at Lincolnes Inne in London at that time of whom the Queene of Scotland had complained that he in his reading had called into question and made a doubt of the right of her succession The time being come for the baptizing of the Prince of Scotland the Queene of England being requested to be Godmother
to our welbeloued and trusty Henry Lord Compton another of the Lords of the Parlament And also to our welbeloued and trustie Henry Lord Cheney another of the Lords of the Parlament To our welbeloued and trusty Francis Knolles Knight Treasurer of our houshold another of our Priuy Counsell And also to our welbeloued and trusty Iames Crofts Knight Controller of our said houshold another of our Priuy Counsell To our beloued and trusty Christopher Hatton Knight our vice-Chamberlaine another of our Priuy Counsell And also to our trusty and welbâ—loued Francis Walsingham Knight one of our chiefe Secretaries another of our Priuy Counsell And also vnto our trusty and welbeloued William Dauison Esquier another of our principall Secretaries of our Priuy Counsell And to our trusty and welbeloued Ralph Sadleir Knight Chauncellor of our Dutchy of Lancaster another of our Priuy Counsell And also to our trusty and welbeloued Walter Mildmay Knight Chauncellor of our Exchequer another of our Priuy Counsell And to our trusty and beloued Amyas Powlet Knight Captaine of the I le of Iersey another of our Priuy Counsell And to our trusty and welbeloued Iohn Wolley Eâ—quire our Secretary for the Latine tongue another of our Priuy Counsell And also to our trusty and welbeloued Christopher Wâ—ay Knight chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench And to our trusty and welbeloued Edmund Anderson Knight Chiefe Iustice of the Common Bench Roger Manwood Knight Chiefe Baron of our Exchequer Thomas Gawdy Knight one of our Iustices of the Kings Bench And William Peryam one of the Iustices of our Bench Greeting c. And not to set it downe verbatim After the recapitulation of the Act made the last yeere these words follow When after the end of the Session of Parlament viz after the first day of Iune in the XXVII yeare of our reigne diuers things haue beene compassed and deuised tending to the hurt of our Royall Person as well by Mary daughter and heire of Iames the fift lately King of Scotland and commonly called Queene of Scotland and Dowager of France pretending title vnto the Crowne of this Realme of England as by diuers other persons with the priuity of the same Mary as it is giuen vs to vnderstand and for that we intend and determine that the said Act should be executed rightly and effectually in all things and by all things according to the tenour of the said Act and that all the offences aforesaid in the aforesaid Act as it is said mentioned and the circumstances of the same should be examined and sentence and iudgement thereupon giuen according to the tenor and effect of the said Act We giue vnto you and to the greater part of you full and ample power faculty and authority according to the tenour of the said Act to examine all and singular things compassed and deuised tending to the hurt of our Royall Person with the priuity of the said Mary and all the circumstances of the same and all the aforesaid offences whatsoeuer mentioned in the said Act as it is said and all circumstances of the same offences and of euery one of them And moreouer according to the tenour of the said Act to giue sentence and iudgement euen as the matter shall appeare vnto you vpon good proofe And therefore we command you to proceed diligently vpon the aforesaid things in the forme aforesaid at certaine daies and places which you or the greater part of you shall appoint and prouide for this purpose c. The most of these came to Fodringhay Castle in Northamptonshire on the xj day of October where the Queene of Scotland was then kept On the next day the Commissioners sent vnto her Sir Walter Mildmay Sir Amyas Powlet and Edward Barker a publike Notary who deliuered into her hands the letters of Queene ELIZABETH which when she had read ouer she with a Princely countenance and quiet minde said I am much aggrieued that the Queene my most deare sister is wrong informed of me and that I who haue so straitly beene kept so many yeeres and being now lame after I haue offered so many equall and faire conditions for my liberty haue laine so long time neglected Although I haue fully forewarned her of many dangers yet I was not beleeued but was alwaies despised although I am most neere to her in bloud When the Association was made and when it was confirmed in the Parlament I foresaw that whatsoeuer danger befell either by forraine Princes abroad or any harebraine fellowes at home or for the cause of Religion I should pay deare for the same I hauing so many deadly enemies at the Court I may take it in euill part and I haue cause for it that a league was made with my sonne without my priuity or knowledge but such like things I pretermit But to come vnto these letters It seemeth strange vnto me that the Queene commandeth me as if I were her subiect to come vnto a triall I am an absolute Queene neither will I doe or commit any thing which may empaire or wrong the Royall Maiestie of Kings and Princes of my place and ranke or my sonne My minde is not so deiected neither will I yeeld and sinke downe vnder calamity I referre my selfe vnto those things which I protested before Bromly and the Lord De la Ware The lawes and statutes of England are to me vtterly vnknowne I am destitute of counsellours I tell you plaine I know not who may be my Peeres my papers and notes of remembrances are taken from me there is none that dare pleade or speake in my cause I am free from all offence against the Queene neither am I to be called in question but vpon mine owne word or writing which can neuer be brought against me But yet I cannot deny but that I haue commended my selfe and my cause to forraine Princes On the next day returned vnto her in the name of the Commissioners Powlet and Barker who shewed this answer put into writing and they asked her if she persisted in the same After she had heard it distinctly read she commended it as truly and rightly conceiued and said she would persist in the same But said she I did not remember one thing which I wish may be put in Whâ—reas the Queene hath written I am subiect and liable vnto the lawes of England and am to be iudged by them because I liued vnder the protection of them I answer That I came into England to aske and craue aid and helpe from which time I haue beene kept and deteined in prison and could not enioy the protection and benefit of the lawes of England and hitherto I could not vnderstand by any body what the lawes of England were In the afternoone many chosen out of the Commissioners with men skilfull in the Canon and Ciuill lawes came vnto her but the Chancellor and the Treasurer declared their authority out of the letters patents and shewed her that neither captiuity nor the prerogatiue of
Royall Maiesty could exempt her from answering in this kingdome and mildly he admonished her to heare the obiections made against her if not they threatned they both might and would proceed against her by the authority of the law She answered That she was not a subiect and had rather die a thousand times than acknowledge her selfe a subiect since that by acknowledging it she should doe preiudice and wrong vnto the highnesse of the Maiestie of Kings and withall should confesse her selfe to be bound vnto all the lawes of England euen in matters of Religion Neuerthelesse she was ready to answer vnto all things in a full and free Parlament since that she is ignorant if onely for a fashion and a shew this assembly was appointed against her already condemned with their fore-iudgements therefore she closely admonisheth them to looke vnto their consciences and to remember that the Theater of the whole world was farre more spacious than the kingdome of England Lastly she began to complaine of the iniuries done vnto her and the Treasurer to rehearse the benefits of Queene ELIZABETH bestowed vpon her viz. that shee had punished many who did impugne the right she challenged vnto England and had hindered that she was not condemned by the Estates of the Realme for the pursuing the mariage with the Duke of Norfolke the rebellion in the North and other things which things when she seemed to make slight of they went away After a few houres by Powlet and the Solicitor they shewed the heads of the letters Paâ—ents and the names of the Commissioners that shee might see that they were to deale formally and in good fashion vprightly and not according to the quiâ—kes of law and extraordinarily She made no exception against the Commissioners but a bitter one against the new or late Act vpon which al the authority of the Commissioners depended that is to wit that it was vniustly deuised purposely against her that there was no example of the like proceeding and that shee would neuer submit her selfe to triall vpon that Act. She asked by what law they would proceed against her If by the Ciuill or Canoâ— lawes she said the expounders were to be sent for to Pauy or Poytiers and other outlandish Vniuersities since that fit men were not to be found in England Moreouer she added that it was euident by plaine words in the letters that she was accounted guiltie of the fault although she was not heard and therefore shee had no reason to appeare before them and she required to be satisfied of many scruples in these letters which she had noted confusedly and in haste by her selfe alone but shee would not deliuer them in writing for that it did not beseeme a King or Prince to play the scribe About this matter those Commissioners selected came to her againe vnto whom she signified that shee did not vnderstand the meaning of these words Since she is in the protection of the Queene The Chancellor answered This to be apparant enough to any one of vnderstanding but yet it is not the duty of Subiects to expound what the Queene meant neither were they made Commissioners for that cause Then she requested that the protestation which she had made in former times to bee shewed and to be allowed It was answered that it was neuer allowed neither that it was to be allowed now for that it was a wrong to the Crowne of England Shee asked by what authoritie they would proceed It was answered by the authority of the letters Patents and the law of England But you said shee make lawes as you list vnto which it is no reason why I should submit my selfe since that the Englishmen in former times refused to submit themselues vnto the Salicke law of the Frenchmen But if they proceeded by the law of England they should bring a president for their doings since that that law for the most part consisted vpon examples and customes But if by the Canon Law then no other men ought to expound the same but the makers of them It was answered that they would proceed neither by the Ciuill nor Canon lawes but by the lawes of England But yet that by the Ciuill and Canon lawes it might be shewed that shee ought to appeare before them if she did not refuse to heare this neither did she refuse to heare but as in way of communication but not by way of Iustice or triall Hereupon she fell into other speeches viz. that she neuer compassed or deuised any thing to hurt or kill the Queene that she had beene offended at the wrongs and indignities done to her that she should bee a stumbling blocke if she were discourteously vsed That she did by Nauus offer her labour and best meanes for the reuocation of the Popes Bull That she would haue defended her innocency by letters neither was this permitted And to conclude that all her offices of good will for this twenty yeeres haue beene reiected with such like small digressions her going on further they called backe and bade her to say in plaine termes whether shee would answer before the Commissioners Shee replied That this their authority was giuen to them by the new act made to ensnare her That she could not endure the Lawes of the Queene which she vpon good reason suspected That shee hauing beene hitherto of good courage would not now wrong her ancestors the Kings of Scotland by acknowledging that shee is a subiect of the Crowne of England for this is no other thing than openly to confesse them thereby to haue beene rebels and traitors Yet that she refused not to answer so she be not reduced vnto the ranke of a subiect and that she had rather die a thousand times than to answer as a Criminall offender Vnto these speeches Hatton the Vice-Chamberlaine of the Queene said You are accused but not condemned to haue conspired to kill our Lady and anointed Queene You say you are a Queene Be it so But the Royall estate of a Queene doth not exempt you from answering vnto such a crime as this is neither by the Ciuill nor Canon law nor by the law of Nations nor by the law of Nature For all Iustice would be of no force yea be vtterly ouerthrowne if faults of such nature should be committed without punishment If you bee innocent you doe wrong to your credit by flying from triall You protest your selfe to be innocent but Queene ELIZABETH is of another minde and not without cause but truly to her great griefe Therefore to examine your innocency shee hath sent with authoritie most honourable most wise and most vpright men who with equity and with fauour are to heare you and they will reioyce from their heart if you cleare your selfe of this crime Beleeue me the Queene her selfe will be very glad who said to mee at my departure that there could not a thing haue happened more grieuous vnto her than that you are charged with this fault Wherefore laying
that may be hurt and dammage to my most deare sister vnwitting to mee let them bee punished for their inconsiderate boldnesse I certainly know if they were here present they would in this cause acquite mee of this fault And if I had my papers here I could answer vnto these things in particular Amongst those things the Treasurer obiected that she had determined to send her sonne into Spaine and to assigne ouer vnto the Spaniard the right that shee challenged in the Kingdome of England Vnto whom shee answered That she had no Realme that she could giue away but yet it was lawfull to giue away her owne things at her will and pleasure When the Alphabets of Cyphers conueyed vnto Babington the Lord Lodouick and to the Lord of Fernihurst were obiected vnto her out of the testimonie of Curlus shee denied not but that she had set downe more and among the rest that for the Lord Lodouick at such time as shee commended him and another vnto the dignitie of a Cardinall and as shee hoped without offence forasmuch that it was no lesse lawfull for her to haue commerce of letters and treat of her affaires with men of her Religion as it was for the Queene with the professors of the other Religion Then they pressed her thicker with the agreeing testimonies of Nauus and Curlus repeated againe and shee also repeated her former answers or else repulsed them with precise denials protesting againe that shee neither knew Babington nor Ballard Among these speeches when the Treasurer put in his verdict saying that she knew well Morgan who secretly sent Parry to kill the Queene and had giuen him an annuall pension she replied she knew that Morgan had lost for her cause all that he had and therefore she was bound in honour to releeue him and that shee was not bound to reuenge an iniurie done by a well deseruing friend vnto the Queene but yet that shee had terrified him from making any such attempts But yet pensions said shee were giuen out of England vnto Patricke Grey and to the Scots that were mine enemies as likewise to my sonne The Treasurer answered At such time as the reuenues of the Kingdome of Scotland were much diminished and impaired by the negligence of the Viceroyes the Queene gaue some liberalitie vnto the King your sonne her most neere allied Cousin Afterward was shewed the contents of the Letters vnto Inglefield and to the Lord Paget and vnto Bernardino de Mendoza concerning forraine aid And when to those shee had made answer These things touch not nor concerne the death of the Queene if so be that strangers desired and laboured to deliuer her it was not to be obiected against her and that she had sundry times signified vnto the Queene that she would seeke for her libertie The matter was adiourned vnto the next day On the next day she repeated againe her former protestation and requested that it might be recorded and a copie thereof deliuered vnto her lamenting that the most reasonable conditions which she had propounded oftentimes vnto the Queene were alwaies reiected yea when she promised to giue her sonne and the sonne of the Duke of Guise for hostages that the Queene or the kingdome of England should take no harme by her That she saw long ere now that all waies of libertie were stopped but now that shee is most basely vsed to haue her honour and estimation called into question before Petifoggers and Lawyers who draw euery circumstance into consequences by their quiddities and trickes since that anointed and consecrated Princes are not subiect nor vnder the same lawes that priuate men are Moreouer when they haue authoritie and commission giuen them of examining Things tending to the hurt of the Queens Person yet notwithstanding the cause is so handled and letters wrested that the Religion which she professeth and the immunitie and maiestie of forraine Princes and the priuate commerces betweene Princes are called into question and she below her Royall dignitie is brought to the barre as it were to be arraigned and to no other purpose but that she may be wholly excluded from the fauour of the Queene and from her right in the Succession when she appeared voluntarily to confute all obiections lest shee might seeme to haue beene slacke in the defence of her honour and credit Shee also called to their memorie how ELIZABETH her selfe had beene drawne into question for the conspiracie of Wyat when yet she was most innocent Religiously affirming that although she wished the good and welfare of Catholikes yet she would not haue it to be done by the death and bloud of any one That she had rather play the part of Hester than of Iudith make intercession vnto God for the people rather than to take away the life of the meanest of the people And then appealing vnto the Maiestie of God and vnto the Princes that were allied vnto her and repeating againe her protestation she requested that there might be another assembly about this matter and that shee might haue a Lawyer assigned vnto her and that since she was a Prince that they would giue credit to the word of a Prince for it was extreme folly to stand vnto their iudgement whom she most plainly saw to be armed with fore-iudgements against her Vnto these speeches the Treasurer said Since that I beare a twofold person the one of a Delegate or Commissioner and the other of a Counsellor First take of me a few things as from a Commissioner Your Protestation is recorded and the copie thereof shall be deliuered vnto you Wee haue authoritie giuen vs vnder the Queenes owne hand and the great Seale of England from the which there is no appellation neither come we with a fore-iudgement but to iudge according to the rule and square of Iustice The Lawyers aime at no other thing but that the truth may appeare how farre forth you haue offended against the Queens person We haue ful power giuen vs to heare and examine the matter yea in your absence yet we desire to haue you present lest we should seeme to diminish your honour or credit neither haue we thought to object vnto you any thing but that you haue done or attempted against the Queenes person The letters are read for no other purpose but to lay open the practise against the Queene and other things pertaining thereunto and are so mingled with other things that they cannot be separated And therefore the whole letters and not parcels taken out of sundrie places of them are read for as much as circumstances doe giue credit vnto the things of which you dealt with Babington Shee interrupting him said That the circumstances might be proued but not the deed that her integritie depended not vpon the credit and memory of her Secretaries though shee knew them honest but yet if they haue confessed something out of feare of the racke hope of reward and of impunitie it is not to be admitted and receiued out
of iust causes which shee may declare in another place that the minds of men are carried away by sundrie kinds of affections that they would neuer haue confessed such things but either for gaine or vpon some hope that letters may be directed vnto others than vnto whom they are written and that many things which she had not dictated had many times beene inserted if her papers had not beene taken away and that shee had a Secretarie she could with more ease confute their obiections But nothing said the Treasurer shall be obiected but from the nine and twentieth day of Iune neither will the papers doe any good since the Secretaries and Babington himselfe without torture haue affirmed you to haue sent letters vnto Babington which thing although you deny let the Commissioners iudge whether more credit is to be giuen vnto their affirmation or your deniall But to come to the matter As a Counsellour I tell you this you haue made many propositions about your libertie at sundrie times that nothing came thereof was long of you or of the Scots and not of our Queene for the Noble-men of Scotland absolutely denied to deliuer the King for hostage And when last of all there was a treatie for your deliuery Parry was sent secretly by Morgan to kill the Queene Ah said shee you are my professed enemie Yea rather replied he I am an enemie to the enemies of Queene ELIZABETH but enough of these things Let vs therefore proceed vnto proofes when shee denied to heare Yet we will heare said he and I also said she in another place and will defend my selfe Now were read againe the letters vnto Charles Paget in which shee told him there was no other way for the Spaniard to bring the Netherlands into subiection than by placing a Prince in England who might doe him good the letters vnto the Lord Paget to hasten aid and forces to inuade England the letters of Cardinall Allan in which he saluted her as his high and soueraigne Ladie and signified that the businesse was commended vnto the care of the Prince of Parma As these were in reading she interrupted them saying That Babington and her Secretaries accuse her to excuse themselues that shee neuer heard of the six Ruffians that the other things were not to the matter that shee esteemed Allan to bee a reuerend Prelate that shee did acknowledge no other head of the Church than the Pope of Rome that she was not ignorant in what regard and estimation shee was with him and with forraine Princes nor could shee hinder it if they in their letters called her Queene that her Secretaries since they did against their office faith and fidelitie confirmed by oath vnto her deserued no credit that there was no credit to be giuen to them that were once forsworne though they swore againe by all the oathes of God neither that they did thinke themselues tied with any oath whatsoeuer in conscience since that they haue sworne vnto her before that loyaltie and secrecie neither for that they were not subiects of England that Nauus had written oftentimes otherwise than she had dictated and that Curlus had written all whatsoeuer Nauus had bidden but that she would maintaine and vphold their faults in all things but those that might blemish her honour Perhaps also these fellowes did confesse to doe themselues a benefit whilst they might thinke not to hurt her with whom as with a Queene they thought mildnesse should be vsed that shee heard nothing of Ballard but of one Hallard who had offered his seruice which yet she had refused for that shee had heard that the same man had beene belonging to Walsingham Afterward when the notes out of the letters vnto Mendoza which Curlus had acknowledged that hee wrote out in a priuate character were read before her and she was vrged out of them as if shee had compassed to transfer the right in the Kingdome vnto the Spaniard and that Allan and Parsons staied now at Rome for that purpose and intent Shee complaining that her seruants had broken their fidelitie confirmed by oath answered When I being in prison and languished with care A without hope of libertie and there was not any more hope left of euer bringing to passe those things which very many expected of me in my sicknesse and declining age Many thought it sit that the Succession of the Realme of England should be established in the Spaniard or in a Catholike English-man and a booke was brought to proue the right of the Spaniard which being not admitted by me I offended many But all my hope in England being now desperate I am resolued not to reiect forraine helpe The Sollicitor admonished the Commissioners secretly what might become of them their Honours goods and posteritie if the Kingdome should be so transferred but the Treasurer shewed them that the Kingdome of England could not be transferred but to descend by the right of succession according to the Lawes Shee requested that shee might be heard in a full and open Parlament or that shee her selfe might speake to the Queene whom she hoped would haue respect vnto a Queene and the Counsellors And then rising from her seat with a cheerefull countenance she spoke a few words aside with the Treasurer Hatton Walsingham and the Earle of Warwicke These things being done the Assembly or meeting was adiourned vnto the fiue and twentieth day of October in the Starre-chamber at Westminster Thus much of this matter out of the Commentaries of Edward Barker principall Register to the Queenes Maiestie and of Thomas Wheeler a Notarie publike Register of the Audience of Canterburie and of other credible persons that were present And in this manner the Queene thought good to haue her tried although the Lawyers who are so curious in the examining of words and following of formes rather than in the expounding of the Lawes themselues that according to their forme of law she was to be called to triall in the Countie of Stafford and to be brought to hold vp her hand at the barre publikely before the Bench and to be tried by twelue men saying this indeed was a sweet and goodly forme of iudgment against a Prince But to auoid and put away such absurdities shee thought it better to referre so great a cause vnto the Noblemen of the Land and Realme and to the Iudges and this scarce sufficeth when as said shee all mens eies are cast vpon vs Princes as being set aloft as on a high scaffold so that in vs euen the least blemish or spot is seene afarre off so that we are carefully to prouide that we doe nothing vnworthy of our selues But to returne where I left At that day met all the Commissioners but the Earles of Shrewsbury and Warwicke who were then sicke and after that Nauus and Curlus had affirmed and confirmed before them that euery and singular the letters and copies of letters which were produced before to bee most true vpon their oathes