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HISTORIE 
 
 OF 
 
 S^wart, Qa-eefl of Scots. 
 
3H)e i^olprooD Series;. 
 
 ^r. 
 
 fll>ar)2 Stuavt 
 
 QUEEN OF SCOTS, 
 
 TO HER ESCAPE FROM LOCH 
 LEVEN INTO ENGLAND. 
 
 W. STRANGEVAGE. 
 1624. 
 
 Edinburgh : 
 E. & G. GOLDSMID. 
 
 1891, 
 
 111. 
 
 HISTORIE 
 
 OF 
 
 BY 
 
ii O O 
 
 -1 'h ^-J* 
 
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 
 
2 The Epistle JDedicaiorie, 
 
 those Heroick acts to Hue 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 vertue. 
 
 For these causes, (most renowned 
 Soueraigne) when I considered Plutarke, 
 laying aside the studie of Philosophie, to 
 thinke the time well imploied in writing 
 the Hues 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 milHon 
 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 Ances- 
 tors and predecessors : 
 
 For these reasons I presumed to pre- 
 sent vnto your Highnesse this Treatise of 
 
The Epistle Dedicatorie, 3 
 
 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 r^proofe 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, 
 Aspiee 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 
 
 PEEFACE 
 
 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, w^ho 
 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 
 
The Preface. 
 
 5 
 
 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 of triumph, and to yeeld them- 
 selues vnto the triumph of 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 Hues 
 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 eclipseth 
 
6 
 
 Tht Preface, 
 
 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 lames the fift, 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 
 1 541. 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 
 
The Preface, 
 
 7 
 
 Ha77iiltons and the Earle of Lymiox 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 inchned vnto the French 
 King, at the age of six yeeres or there- 
 abouts, sent into Prance in the GalHes 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 English7?ien 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 
 Frafice, 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 sweet- 
 nesse of the humours of the countrey, and 
 
8 
 
 The Preface, 
 
 in the end by the singular grace of nature, 
 and carefulnesse of her friends and Kins- 
 folks, became with her age the fairest and 
 goodliest Princesse of our time. And 
 beside this her rare beauty, she had 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 manage 
 vnto their sonne, heire apparant of the 
 greatest kingdome in Europe : And so 
 
The Preface, 
 
 9 
 
 vpon the foure and twentieth day of Aprils 
 in the yeere of our Lord 1558. Francis 
 the Daulphin of France and Mary Stvart 
 Queene of Scotland^ were married in the 
 Church of Nostra Dama 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 solemn- 
 ized. 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 con- 
 tent vnto her husband, and therein vsed 
 not the ordinary care of a Princesse, but 
 more trauell and soUicitude than doe the 
 women of meane condition and qualitie 
 maried vnto great Princes, as also appeared 
 after his death (which befell not long 
 
lO 
 
 7 he Preface. 
 
 after) by her immeasurable mourning, not 
 being able to ftnde any consolation for her 
 sorrow in that place where she had lost that 
 which shee had loued better than her selfe, 
 so much that the amitieof 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 uniuersall 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 
 
The Preface. 
 
 IT 
 
 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 king- 
 dome : Vnto Ferdinand the Emperor was 
 sent Thomas Challenor with letters, 
 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 con- 
 sent 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 E?igland and Austria^ might not only 
 be conserued but also increased. Vnto 
 the King of Spaine^ being in his Low 
 countries, was sent the Lord Cobham with 
 instructions to the same purpose. 
 
 King Philip vnderstanding the decease 
 of Queene Marie his wife, fearing lest 
 
12 
 
 The Preface, 
 
 England^ Scotland, and Ireland, should 
 be adioyned vnto France by meanes of the 
 Queene of Scotlandh^x Title, delt seriously 
 with Queene Elizabeth by the Conde of 
 Feria^ whom he had sent before to visit 
 his sicke wife, and the then Lady Eliza- 
 beth 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 dis- 
 quieted the French King, who was also 
 fearefull that England and Spaine should 
 bee conioyned againe in one by mariage; 
 therefore hee 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 
 
The Preface. 
 
 13 
 
 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 Stibtng, 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 Steward 
 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 
 
i6 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 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 he 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 hous- 
 hold 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, 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 17 
 
 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 lawful! 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 
 
 B 
 
1 8 The Historie of 
 
 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 usurpation 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 the originall cause. For from hence 
 Queene Elizabeth was an open and pro- 
 fessed enemie to the Guises, and bare a 
 secret hate against her, which the craftie 
 mahce of men did so nourish, the emula- 
 tion increasing betweene them, and new 
 occasions arising daily, that they could 
 not be extinguishe d, but with her death. 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 19 
 
 Anno 1560. 
 
 Then followed the Treatie of Eden- 
 burgh, wherein amongst many other 
 things, it was agreed, that the King of 
 France and Queene Marie should leaue 
 off the bearing of the title and armes of 
 England and Ireland : but when the time 
 of confirming the same came, and Queene 
 Elizabeth sent into France to haue it 
 ratified (as shee had done) Throgmorton 
 the Legier Embassador could not bring 
 them to doe it by any meanes ; and 
 whilest the matters hung in suspence, and 
 rested vndetermined, Francis the second, 
 King of France, not being eighteene yeere 
 old, and in the second yeere of his reigne, 
 deceased, and left the Queene of Scots a 
 widow, whether to the greater griefe of 
 the Romanists, or ioy of the Prorestants 
 in Britaine, I cannot say. 
 
20 
 
 The Hisiorie of 
 
 Anno 1561. 
 
 Francis Earle of Bedford, was sent 
 into France, to deplore the death of King 
 Francis, and to gratulate Charles the 
 ninth, his successor, and by himselfe, and 
 together with Throgmorton the ordinarie 
 Embassador, he importuned the Queene 
 of Scots to confirme the treatie of Eden- 
 burgh, but in vaine, for she answered no 
 other thing, but that shee could not, nor 
 would not determine on so great a matter, 
 without the consent of the Nobilitie of 
 Scotland. 
 
 The Queene of Scots entending to 
 returne into Scotland, sent Monsieur 
 d'Oysell to request a safe conduct of 
 Queene Elizabeth for to passe by Sea, 
 and for d'Oysell, to passe thorow England. 
 Queene Elizabeth before a great multitude 
 of people, denied both the one, and the 
 other, for this cause, she said that she had 
 not ratified the treatie of Edenburgh, 
 which if she did, shee promised to shew 
 
Marie Queene of Scois, 2 1 
 
 all kindnesse that might bee expected 
 from a Queene, trom a Cousin, and from 
 a neighbour. The Queene of Scots being 
 vexed at this repulse, sent for Throg- 
 morton, with whom she had long speeches 
 about this matter, which I will briefly set 
 downe out of the letters of Throgmorton, 
 (though I shal make rehearsal of some 
 things already said) that the originall and 
 progresse of the priuie malice which was 
 betweene the greatest and wisest Princesses 
 of our time or age, may more euidently 
 appeare. Shee sending all the standers 
 by away, said thus to Throgmorton : 
 What is my womanly weaknesse, and how 
 farre the passion of my mind may carrie 
 me, I know not, yet it liketh me not to 
 haue so many witnesses of my weaknesse, 
 as your Ladie lately had when shee talked 
 with Monsieur d'Oysell my Embassador : 
 nothing grieueth me so much as that I 
 did aske those things which were not 
 needful! : by Gods fauour I can returne 
 into my Countrie, without asking her 
 
22 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 leaue, as I came hither in despight of her 
 brother Edward. Neither want I friends 
 which can and will bring me home, as 
 they brought me hither ; but I had rather 
 haue vsed her friendship, than of any 
 other. I haue often heard you say, that 
 the amitie betweene her and mee was 
 necessary to both our Kingdomes, yet it 
 seemeth that shee thinketh otherwise, or 
 else she had not giuen mee the repulse in 
 so small a matter : but perhaps shee 
 beareth more fauour vnto the Scots, which 
 rebell against me, than to me the Queene 
 of Scots, equall to her in princely royaltie, 
 her nearest kinswoman, and most certaine 
 heire vnto her. Doest thou thinke that that 
 good will and loue can be betweene my 
 rebellious subiects and her, that may bee 
 betweene her and me? What? Doth 
 shee thinke that I shall bee destitute of 
 friends ? Assuredly she hath driuen mee 
 to aske helpe of them of whom I would 
 not willingly. And they cannot wonder 
 enough for what purpose shee gaue aid 
 
Marie Que ene of Scots, 23 
 
 lately vnto my subiects, and now to hinder 
 the returne of mee a widow vnto my 
 subiects. I aske nothing of her but 
 amitie, I procure no trouble vnto her, nor 
 meddle not with the affaires of England. 
 But yet I am not ignorant that there bee 
 many in England who are not content 
 with the estate as it is now. Shee twitteth 
 me, and faith, that I haue small experience; 
 I confesse it : Age bringeth experience 
 with it; yet I am so old, that I can 
 behaue my selfe friendly, kindly, and 
 iustly toward my kinsfolks and friends, 
 and keepe my tongue from speaking any 
 thing, not beseeming a Queene and a 
 kinswoman. But by her leaue, I may say, 
 that as well as shee I am a Queene, neither 
 destitute of friends, and to beare no lesse 
 high minde than shee, and it may beseeme 
 vs to measure our selues with a certaine 
 equalitie: but I forbeare comparison, 
 which is little better than contention, and 
 wanteth not euill will. As for the treatie 
 of Edenburgh, it was made in the life of 
 
24 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 the King my husband, whom it was my 
 dutie to obey in all things, and since that 
 hee delaied the confirmation of the same, 
 let the blame remaine in him, and not in 
 me. 
 
 After his death, the Counsellors of 
 France left me to mine owne Counsellors, 
 neither would mine Vncles meddle with 
 the affaires of Scotland, because they 
 would not offend Queene Elizabeth, nor 
 the Scots. The Scots that be with me 
 be priuate men, nor such fit men that I 
 should aske counsell of them in such great 
 matters. As soone as I shall haue the 
 aduice of the Estates of my Realme, I 
 will make a reasonable answer; and I 
 will make all the haste I can home, to 
 giue it the sooner. But shee determineth 
 to stop my way, lest I should giue it, so 
 shee is the cause that I cannot satisfie 
 her ; or else shee would not bee satisfied 
 perhaps, for the intent that there may bee 
 no end of discord betweene vs. Shee 
 casteth often in my teeth, that I am a 
 
Alarie Queene of Scots, 25 
 
 young girle, as a reproach, and truly she 
 may iustly thinke mee an vnwise girle if 
 I dealt in these weightie affaires, without 
 the aduice of the Estates. A wife is not 
 bound, as I haue heard, with the deeds of 
 her husband, neither in her honour, nor 
 in conscience : but I doe not dispute this 
 thing, yet I may say this thing truly ; I 
 haue done nothing to my dearest sister, 
 which I would not haue done to my selfe; 
 I haue vsed all offices of courtesie and 
 kindred, but shee either beleeueth not, or 
 contemneth them : I would to God I 
 \vere so deare to her as I am neare of 
 bloud, for this were a pretious kinde of 
 kindred. God forgiue them that sow the 
 seeds of dissention betweene vs (if there 
 bee any such.) But thou who art an 
 Embassador, tell mee in good sooth, for 
 what cause she is displeased with me, 
 who neuer hurt her hitherto either in 
 word or deed. 
 
 To these speeches Throgmorton made 
 answer : I haue no commission to answer 
 
26 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 you, but to heare what your answer is, 
 about the confirmation of the treatie of 
 Edenburgh. But if it please you to heare 
 the cause 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 ; 
 ludge 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 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 27 
 
 I bore them : I am sure, Courtney 
 Marquesse of Exceter, and the Duchesse 
 ot 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 per- 
 swaded 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 courte- 
 ously 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 
 
28 
 
 The Histork of 
 
 Chasteau Cambresy, betweene England 
 and France, pcrtaineth 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 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 29 
 
 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, thougli shee doth not vouch- 
 safe to write backe vnto me, but by her 
 Secretarie : But I pray you my Lord 
 Embassador, doe the part of an Embassa- 
 dor, that is, rather mollifie than exasperate 
 the matter. 
 
 But yet Queene 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 confirma- 
 tion 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 Historie of 
 
 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 lames 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, per- 
 swaded 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 com- 
 mon 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 con- 
 serue amitie with her ; and requested that 
 a certaine forme of peace might bee made 
 betweene England and Scotland, and that 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 31 
 
 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 confirma- 
 tion of the treatie of Edenburgh, promised 
 by word, and by her hand writing : yet 
 she answered ; As concerning the succes- 
 sion, 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 consoli- 
 dated, for that vnto men established in 
 gouernment, their successors are alwaies 
 
32 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 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 lustice 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 Newtas, mildly will 
 her to confirme the treatie. Neither did 
 the other directly denie it, but insinuated, 
 that shse could not doe it, vntill shee had 
 set the affaires of Scotland in good order. 
 
 Anno 1562. 
 Margaret Countesse of Lynnox, Niece 
 
Marie Quee^ie of Scots, 
 
 33 
 
 to King Henry the eight by his eldest 
 sister, was deliuered as prisoner to Richard 
 Sackuill, and her husband the Earle of 
 Essex 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 Princesses should come vnto an enter- 
 uiew or conference : For, that the Queene 
 of Scotland required it, bred a suspition 
 that she did it for some commoditie or 
 benefit, and to espie some aduantage, 
 either to strengthen her right in England, 
 or else to giue a hope, and erect the minds 
 of the Papists in England, and her Cousens 
 
 c 
 
34 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 the Guises in France. On the other side, 
 others thought hereby a most firme amitie 
 might bee concluded betweene them, the 
 league betweene the French and the Scots 
 weakened by little and little, and the 
 Queene of Scots wonne by faire words 
 vnto the Religion of the Protestants. 
 Others noted, that out of such enteruiews 
 or conferences, grew the seeds rather of 
 emulation, than of loue, when one should 
 hate and repine at the ostentation of the 
 others brauerie, wealth and power, and 
 for that many times the presence and 
 view is not answerable vnto report and 
 opinion; and so of the comelinesse of the 
 body, of the beautie of the face, and of 
 the gifts of the minde : And that one 
 might have cause and occasion to finde 
 fault with the other. Neither did the 
 Queene of Scotland thinke it safe to 
 deliuer her selfe into the hands of Queene 
 Elizabeth, with whom she had contended 
 for the right of the Kingdome : It made 
 her to stagger, and to doubt in the matter. 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 
 
 35 
 
 and also to which side to indine and 
 sway, when shee heard that Queene Eliza- 
 beth stood openly for the Protestants in 
 France : whilest she considered (as shee 
 wrote herselfe) that shee came by her 
 father from the English bloud, and by 
 her mother from the French, that shee 
 was crowned Queene, and Dowager of 
 France, and the most rightful Heire of 
 England, and withall expected the King- 
 dome thereof : That shee was much in- 
 debted vnto her Vncles in France, which 
 had brought her vp, and that shee much 
 desired the loue of Queene Elizabeth. 
 
 Yet she feared, such w^as her piercing 
 vnderstanding, lest if shee ioined her selfe 
 with her in a very strict kinde of amitie, 
 she might procure the euill will of the 
 French King, be abandoned by her 
 Vncles, and lose her dowrie out of France, 
 by preferring the vncertaine friendship of 
 Queene EHzabeth (which, to vse her 
 owne words, passed not beyond the per- 
 son) before the certaine loue of the 
 
36 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 French. Hereupon the conference (which 
 had beene treated of many moneths, and 
 the Articles also drawne) came to nothing, 
 especially when shee by her letters did 
 vtterly refuse to come vnto the enteruiew, 
 except she might be designed heire appar- 
 ant of England by authoritie of Parlia- 
 ment, or else bee adopted by Queene 
 Elizabeth to be her daughter, to lay a 
 foundation of a most certaine peace and 
 vnion of both the Realmes, so often de- 
 sired, If these things were granted, she 
 promised to addict herself wholly to 
 Queene Elizabeth, yea, and not to respect 
 and regard her Vncles the Guises. Also 
 in these letters shee insinuated that shee 
 vrged these things the more vehemently, 
 for that shee had heard that many did 
 secretly deuise to set in another successor, 
 and that onely for the cause of Religion, 
 though shee did tolerate in Scotland the 
 Religion of the Protestants. 
 
 But when the Cardinall of Lorraine, at 
 the same time dealt with the Emperour 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 37 
 
 Ferdinand, that shee might marrie with 
 his Sonne Charles the Archduke, who 
 then sued vnto Q. Elizabeth for man- 
 age ; Queene Elizabeth threatned her by 
 Thomas Randolph, that if shee did con- 
 sent vnto the Cardinall (the mortall enemie 
 of England) about the manage, both that 
 the amitie betweene England and Scot- 
 land might be dissolued, and perhaps she 
 excluded from her hope of the Realme of 
 Englande : and if she would not misse 
 thereof, she in friendly manner willed her 
 to choose such a husband in England, in 
 whose choice shee might principally giue 
 her selfe content, and then giue satisfac- 
 tion to her owne Subiects, and also to the 
 English men, in the conseruation of the 
 peace, and make the way smoother and 
 plainer vnto her assured succession in 
 England, which cannot bee published and 
 made knowne vntil it was certainly knowne 
 whom she would take to her husband 
 
The Historic of 
 
 Anno 1563. 
 
 When in the heat of the ciuill warres of 
 France, the Duke of Guise, Vncle vnto 
 the Q. of Scotland, was slaine, her dowrie 
 out of France was not paid, Hamilton 
 D. of Chasteauleroy was depriued of his 
 Duchie, and the Scots were displaced 
 from the Captainship of the Guard, which 
 things she tooke in very euill part : The 
 Cardinall of Lorraine, another of her 
 Vncles, fearing lest hereupon she leaning 
 the French, should cleaue vnto the amitie 
 of England, he proposed againe by Crocus, 
 the mariage with Charles d' Austria, offer- 
 ing to her the Countie of Tyrole for her 
 dowrie. Shee acquainted Queene Eliza- 
 beth with the matter, who by Randolph 
 gaue her those former admonitions about 
 the choosing of a husband (as I haue 
 said before) and then in plainer terms 
 commended Robert Dudley (whose wife 
 being the heire of Robert, was killed a 
 good while since, by falling downe a paire 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 
 
 39 
 
 of staires) and promised that if shee would 
 marrie him, she should be declared by 
 the authoritie of Parliament, sister, or 
 daughter, and heire apparant of England, 
 if she died without issue. As soone as 
 the Queene mother and her Vncles heard 
 this by Foixius the P>ench Embassador 
 in England, they did so disdaine the 
 mariage with Dudley, as altogether vn- 
 equall and vnworthy to match in a royall 
 stocke and Hnage, as they promised not 
 onely to pay her dowrie, but also to 
 restore vnto the Scots all their former 
 liberties, and more large also, if she would 
 persist firmely in the friendship of France, 
 and refuse the mariage offered vnto her : 
 and also they suggested and put in her 
 head, that Queene Elizabeth did propose 
 this mariage, not seriously, but colour- 
 ably, as though shee had assigned Dudley 
 for her owne husband : And that there 
 was no cause why she should put any 
 trust or confidence in the authoritie of a 
 Parliament, since that in England one 
 
40 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 Parliament may repeale that which another 
 hath enacted. Moreouer, that the pur- 
 poses of the English men were no other, 
 but by one meanes or other to keepe her 
 alwaies from mariage. But yet she referred 
 this matter vnto conference, being wonder- 
 fully vexed and troubled at home, when 
 Murrey cast into prison the Archbishop 
 of Saint Andrews, because he abstained 
 not from saying Masse, vnto whom shee 
 hardly got pardon, with shedding of teares. 
 And the hot spirited Ministers of the 
 Church, bolstered by the authoritie of 
 Murrey, offered violence (without any 
 controlment) vnto a Priest who had said 
 Masse in the Court (which was permitted 
 by the law). Neither was shee able to 
 represse the tumultuous persons, though 
 shee applied all her minde about the good 
 of the common wealth, by granting a 
 generall pardon, increasing the fees or 
 wages of the ludges, by making whole- 
 some Lawes, as making Adulterie to bee 
 death, and sitting her selfe in iudgement 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 41 
 
 thereby to make by Law the highest equall 
 with the lowest. 
 
 Anno 1564. 
 
 In this yeere Queene Elizabeth created 
 Robert Dudley Master of her Horse, a 
 man in high fauour with her, in whom she 
 had in her secret purpose appointed hus- 
 band for the Queene of Scotland, that he 
 might be more worthy of that match : 
 Baron of Denbigh, giuing vnto him Den- 
 bigh, with the demeasnes, and the next 
 day Earle of Lycester, 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. Dudley aduanced 
 to these honours, to purchase fauour and 
 grace with the Queene of Scotland, vnto 
 whom he made suit in mariage, studied 
 
42 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 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 en- 
 deuoured 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 al- 
 waies 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 dis- 
 pute : but the wiser and the richer men, 
 were troubled with nothing more, while in 
 the controuersie of Religion the hot 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 
 
 43 
 
 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 Ro- 
 manists, 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 
 
44 T^he Historie of 
 
 from his natiue Countrie nov/ 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 lames the second. King of 
 Scotland, bore vnto lames Hamilton, 
 lames the first of this stock, Earle of 
 Arran, and Marie his daughter, wife vnto 
 Matthew Stewart Earle of Lennox, the 
 first of this Christian name. lames Earle 
 of Arran, his first wife being diuorced, 
 and yet liuing, married lenet Beton, Aunt 
 to Cardinall Beton, by whom he had 
 lames D. of Chasteauleroy, whom his ad- 
 ueursaries hereupon accounted a Bastard. 
 Marie sister to the Earle of Arran, bore 
 vnto Matthew, lohn Earle of Lennox, who 
 being slaine by the Hamiltons, at such 
 time as he would haue restored lames the 
 fourth to his libertie, left this second 
 Matthew Stewart (of whom we speake) 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 45 
 
 Earle of Lennox, most deare to lames 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 he 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 Car- 
 dinall 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 him- 
 selfe 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 
 
46 
 
 The Hisiorie of 
 
 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 Dun- 
 britton, the He of Butha, and the Castle 
 of Rothsay, which peeces being couragi- 
 ously 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 upon 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 lames 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 Eng- 
 land, and well beloued of the English 
 Nation, should marrie with some of the 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 
 
 47 
 
 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 Scot- 
 land 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 
 EHzabeth, 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 Parhament 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 after- 
 ward come to passe, she willed her not to 
 
48 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 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 especially for 
 that cause) with more earnestnesse, to bee 
 her husband. 
 
 Ypon this occasion at Barwicke, in the 
 moneth of Nouember, there talked to- 
 gether about the mariage with Leicester, 
 the Earle of Bedford and Randolph, and 
 for her were Murrey and Lidington Com- 
 missioners. The English men promised 
 firme amitie, perpetuall peace, and certaine 
 hope of the succession, if shee would 
 marrie with Leicester, for vpon this con- 
 dition, Queene Elizabeth had promised 
 to declare her daughter adoptiue, or sister 
 by authoritie of Parliament. The Scots 
 stood hard to it, that it was not for the 
 dignitie of a Queene desired for wife by 
 Charles the sonne of the Emperor Ferdi- 
 nand, the King of France, the Prince of 
 Condy, and the Duke of Ferrara, to abase 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 49 
 
 her selfe vnto the manage of a new-made 
 Earle, and a subiect of England, vpon a 
 hope onely, and no dowrie being offered, 
 saying also it was neither honorable vnto 
 the Queene of England, to commend so 
 meane a husbande to so great a Princesse, 
 her next kinswoman ; but that this should 
 bee a most certain argument of loue, if 
 she would permit her at her owne choice 
 to elect her selfe a husband, who shall 
 keepe peace with England, and withall 
 assigne a good annuitie vnto her, and con- 
 firme the right of succession by the autho- 
 ritie of Parliament. In all this businesse 
 Queen Elizabeth earnestly desired, that 
 the succession of both the Kingdomes 
 might be established in the English Na- 
 tion, though she was slow in the same. 
 The Queene of Scotland (when the matter 
 had hung thus in talke for the space of 
 two years now determined to take Darly 
 vnto her husband, did suspect that Queene 
 Elizabeth did not deale sincerely with her, 
 but that she did propound this mariage 
 
 D 
 
so 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 for no other end and purpose, but that 
 shee might make the first choice of the 
 best suiter or wooer for her selfe, or else 
 might marrie with better excuse vnto 
 Leicester. But the Scottish Delegates 
 looking also for their own purposes, de- 
 termined by one way or other to thrust 
 some obstacle or other in any mariage, 
 that they might retain still their authoritie 
 with the Queene. Queene Elizabeth had 
 willed the Commissioners to hinder the 
 mariage with Darly; and Leicester him- 
 selfe, accounting himselfe most sure of 
 Queene Elizabeth, willed Bedford secretly 
 by his letters, not to vrge the matter much. 
 And vpon this hope it is thought he 
 fauored Darly in secret. 
 
 Anno 1565. 
 
 In the meane time Darly got leaue 
 with much adoe to goe into Scotland, 
 and to stay there three moneths, by the 
 earnest and hum.ble suit his mother made 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 5 1 
 
 vnto Queene Elizabeth, vnder the colour, 
 that he might bee present at the restoring 
 of his father : and so he came vnto Eden- 
 burgh, in the moneth of Februarie. He 
 was a young man, of personage most 
 worthy of an Empire, of a comely stature, 
 of a most milde nature, and sweet be- 
 hauiour. As soone as the Queene of 
 Scotland saw him, she fell in loue with 
 him, and to couer her loue she talked 
 now and then with Randolphe the English 
 Embassadour in Scotland, about the mari- 
 age with Leicester, and at the same time 
 sent to Rome for a dispensation, because 
 Darly and shee were so neere of kinne,. 
 that a dispensation was necessary by the 
 Canon Lawes. But when these things 
 came to light, shee sent Lidington vnto 
 Queene Elizabeth, that shee might marrie 
 with Darly by her consent, and not bee 
 kept any longer vnmaried vpon vaine 
 expectations. Queene Elizabeth pro- 
 pounded the matter to her priuie 
 Councell, who out of the secret sug- 
 
52 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 gestions of Murrey, easily beleeued, that 
 the purpose of the Queene of Scotland 
 tended by this mariage to strengthen, 
 and againe to claime the title, and 
 her right vnto the Realme of Eng- 
 land, and withall to deduce it vnto the 
 Romane Religion againe, and that many 
 would incline vnto them, vpon the cer- 
 taintie of their succession comming of this 
 mariage, and others out of the loue vnto 
 the Romane Religion, and forasmuch as 
 they vnderstood, that most of the Jus- 
 tices of Peace were addicted vnto it. To 
 preuent these things, they thought it most 
 necessarie, first to winne the Queenes 
 good will, to marrie speedily some hus- 
 band, that out of the certaintie of succes- 
 sion by her and her issue, and from none 
 other, the affaires and hopes of English 
 men might depend, for they feared that 
 if the Queene of Scotland maried first, 
 and had issue, the most of the people 
 would incline and bend toward her side, 
 because of the certaintie of the succession 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 
 
 55 
 
 and securitie. Secondly, that the pro- 
 fession of the Romane Religion should 
 bee infringed, or weakened, as much as 
 might be : and that of the reformed, dili- 
 gently aduanced and established ; this by 
 dealing more moderately with some hot 
 spirited Protestants about things indiffer- 
 ent ; and the other, by calling in the de- 
 priued Bishops vnto their prisons (for 
 they had beene dispersed into the Coun- 
 tries in the time of the great plague) by 
 giuing vnto the Bishops more ample 
 authoritie, to exercise the Ecclesiastical 
 lawes against that terrifying bugge of the 
 Premunire, (which the Lawyers obiected 
 against them) by suppressing bookes 
 comming from the Low-countries into 
 England, set out by Harding, and the 
 Diuines that were fled ouer the Seas, by 
 remouing away certaine Scottish Priests 
 that lurked in England ; by depriuing the 
 English fugitiues of their Ecclesiasticall 
 liuings, which they enioyed vntill this 
 time; by compelHng the Judges of the 
 
54 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 land, who for the most part were Papists, 
 to take the oath of Supremacie. But to 
 disturbe the mariage with Darly, it was 
 thought best to put them in feare, by 
 mustering Souldiers vpon the borders 
 toward Scotland, and by putting a greater 
 Garrison intoBarwicke: that theCountesse 
 of Lennox mother to Darly, and Charles 
 her Sonne should be committed vnto 
 Prison : the Earle of Lennox, and Darly 
 his Sonne, should be recalled out of Scot- 
 land, vpon paine to forfeit all their goods, 
 before that any league could bee made 
 by them with the Kings of France, or 
 Spaine : that the Scots enemies to the 
 mariage, should be maintained, and 
 Catharine Gray, with the Earle of Hert- 
 fort, should be receiued into some fauour, 
 of whom as of her competitor in the suc- 
 cession of the Kingdome, shee seemed 
 somewhat to bee afraid. And this was 
 all that they could deuise to hinder the 
 mariage. 
 
 Hereupon Nicholas Throgmorton is 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 
 
 55 
 
 sent vnto the Queene of Scotland ; who 
 should aduise her to deliberate long on 
 that which was to be done but once, that 
 repentance alwaies followed hastie mari- 
 age, and to commend instantly the mari- 
 age with Leicester, and that the mariage 
 with her Aunts sonne was contrary vnto 
 the Canon Law : for Queene Elizabeth 
 very much desired, that by her, some of 
 the English Nation might succeed in both 
 the Realmes : although some men there 
 were, that thought it would be best for Re- 
 ligion, and both the Realmes, if she died 
 without issue. She answered, the matter 
 could not bee recalled, and that Queene 
 Elizabeth had no cause to be angry, when 
 according to her counsell, she had chosen 
 not a stranger but an English man, and 
 one borne of the royall bloud of both the 
 Kingdomes, and the noblest man of birth 
 of all Brittaine. Lidington lying in Eng- 
 land, did often propose the mariage of the 
 Queene of Scotland vnto Leicester colour- 
 ably and also to the D. of Norfolke, as to 
 
56 
 
 The Hisiorie of 
 
 one more worthy of a Princesses marriage, 
 who at that time put off the same with 
 a modest refusall. 
 
 The Queene of England, to interpose 
 some impediment vnto this hastened 
 mariage, called backe Lennox and Darly, 
 as her 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, and insin- 
 uated, that it may be that he may be 
 profitable to his deare Countrie of Eng- 
 land : 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 Ard- 
 manoch, 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 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 
 
 57 
 
 to his owne priuate ambition (and under 
 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 plaineand 
 honest minde of the father, taking com- 
 passion 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 gouerment of Kings, could 
 not now endure any Kings, tooke it more 
 quietly. 
 
S8 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 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 trouble would 
 arise hereupon in Scotland, w^hich began 
 incontinently : for many Noblemen of 
 Scotland, as Hamilton and Murrey, chaf- 
 ing and 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 conser- 
 uation of Religion, displaied their banners 
 in manner of warre, to disturbe the mari- 
 age, so that the Queene was of necessitie 
 enforced to leuie forces, that the mariage 
 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, pro- 
 mised to them, could come ; but the 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 59 
 
 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 EHza- 
 beth alleadged, why shee admitted Murrey, 
 and the Scottish rebels into England, were, 
 for that the Queene of Scotland had re- 
 ceiued Taxley, Standen, and Welsh, Eng- 
 lish fugitiues, into Scotland, and receiued 
 0-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 
 manage, 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 hastie 
 mariage with the natiue subject of Eng- 
 
6o 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 land, without her consent, and withall, to 
 request that Lennox and Darly might be 
 sent back 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, pro- 
 mised 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 stran- 
 gers, or by any other means ; 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 Eng- 
 land, if at any time they should possess 
 the Kingdome of England ; yet vpon this 
 condition, that Queene Elizabeth would 
 fully performe this thing on her part 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 6 1 
 
 toward her and her husband : viz. by Par- 
 liament establish the succession of the 
 Crowne of England in her person, and her 
 lawfull issue, and if that failed, in Mar- 
 garet 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 manage 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 de- 
 mands, 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 wuth 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 
 
62 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 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 mala- 
 pert 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 lune the Queene of Scotland in 
 a happie houre, and to the perpetuall 
 felicitie of Britaine, was deliuered of her 
 Sonne lames (who is now the Monarch of 
 Britaine) which she signified forthwith 
 vnto Queen Elizabeth by lames Meluin. 
 Who although she was grieued at the 
 heart, that the honour to bee a mother 
 was borne away before her by her adver- 
 sarie, yet she sent Henry Killigrew incon- 
 tinently to congratulate with her for her 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 63 
 
 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 certain 
 theeues vpon the borders. 
 
 Shortly after the estates of the Realme 
 in the Parliament holden at London, 
 moued the Queen earnestly to marry, 
 and to set down and nominate her suc- 
 cessor : 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 of 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 God- 
 mother, sent the Earle of Bedford with a 
 
64 
 
 The His tor ie of 
 
 Font of massie gold for a gift, and com- 
 manded expresly, that neither hee nor 
 any English men that accompanied him, 
 should vouchsafe to call Darly by the 
 name of King. 
 
 That Ceremonie being finished, the 
 Earle of Bedford dealt with Queene of 
 Scotland about other things contained in 
 his commission : that is to wit. That the 
 domesticall contentions betweene her and 
 her husband might be compounded (for 
 some malicious sworne enemies to them 
 both, had craftily broken asunder that 
 most pleasant societie of life and loue be- 
 tweene them) and the treatie of Eden- 
 burgh ratified. This last thing she vtterly 
 denied, alleadging, that in the treatie was 
 much matter that might impeach and de- 
 rogate from her owne and her childrens 
 right vnto the Crowne of England. Yet 
 shee promised to send Commissioners 
 into England, who should talke about 
 the confirmation thereof, changing some 
 words, namely, that she should forbeare 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 65 
 
 to vse the title and armes of England, 
 whilest Queen Elizabeth liued, and her 
 children : As though it were meant in the 
 treatie, that shee should forbeare to vse 
 them for euer. And also should declare 
 vnto her, how iniuriously shee was vsed 
 by their villanous deuices, that abused the 
 simplicitie and credulitie of her husband, 
 more than was to bee suffered. And now 
 she being sickly and weake, in her letters 
 commended her young sonne vnto the 
 fidelitie and protection of Queen Eliza- 
 beth : in which letters (though she knew, 
 I vse the words of the letters, that she is 
 the vndoubted rightfuU heire of England, 
 after Queene Elizabeth ; and that many 
 imagine and deuise sundrie things against 
 the right) shee promised that shee would 
 not vrge any more any declaration of her 
 right, but that shee will help, assist, and 
 cleaue vnto her alwaies with all her power, 
 against all persons. 
 
 E 
 
66 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 Anno 1567. 
 
 Bvt before those Commissioners came 
 from the Queene of Scotland, and a 
 moneth or two after the Prince was Chris- 
 tened ; the King her husband in the one 
 and twentieth yeere of his age, in the 
 dead time of the night, by a hatefull and 
 abominable villanie (which all good men 
 doe detest) was strangled in his bed, and 
 cast into a garden, and the house blowne 
 vp with Gun-powder. A rumour forth- 
 with was diuulged in all Brittaine, and the 
 fault laid vpon Mourten, Murry, and their 
 confederates. And they insulting vpon 
 the weaknesse of her sex, laid it from 
 themselues vpon the Queene. What 
 George Buchanan hath written hereof, as 
 well in his Historie, as in a Pamphlet 
 called the Detection, is knowne to all men 
 by those printed bookes. But since hee, 
 carried away with partiall affection, and 
 wnth the gifts of Murrey, wrote in that 
 manner, those bookes were condemned 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 
 
 67 
 
 of falshood, by the Estates of the Realme 
 of Scotland, vnto whom more credit is to 
 bee giuen : And he himselfe lamented 
 and bewailed vnto the King (whose 
 Schoolemaster hee was) reprouing him- 
 selfe oftentimes (as I haue heard) that he 
 had written so spightfully against the 
 well-deseruing Queene : And at his death,, 
 wished that he might haue liued so long, 
 vntil hee might wipe out with a recanta- 
 tion, or with his bloud, the spots and 
 Staines hee had falsly laid on her. But 
 that (as hee said) would be to no purpose^ 
 since he should seeme to doat for old age. 
 Let it be lawfuU for me (that the other 
 part may also bee heard) in few words to 
 lay open all the matter as much as I can 
 vnderstand without any hate or loue, as 
 well out of the writings of other men 
 which w^ere set forth at that time, but 
 suppressed in fauour of Murrey, and vpon 
 hatred vnto the Queene Captiue in Eng- 
 land, as also out of the letters of Embas- 
 sadors, and of men of good credit. 
 
68 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 In the yeere of our Lord one thousand 
 five hundred fiftie and eight, at the mari- 
 age of Francis the Dolphin, and of Marie 
 Queene of Scotland, lames the Queenes 
 Bastard-brother, commonly called the 
 Prior of Saint Andrewes, disdaining that 
 Religious appellation, sued for a more 
 honourable title : which when she, by the 
 aduice of the Guises her Vncles, would 
 not grant, he returned into Scotland 
 much offended, and began to make 
 broiles vnder a goodly pretence of the 
 reformation of Religion, and assuring the 
 libertie of Scotland; and effected it so 
 farre, that Religion was changed in an 
 assembly of the Confederates, without 
 the Queenes priuitie : And the French 
 men were remoued out of Scotland by 
 the helpe of the English men they had 
 brought in : Francis the King of France 
 being deceased, he poasted into France, 
 vnto his sister, and laying from himselfe 
 whatsoeuer had been done in Scotland 
 against her profit or credit, calling God 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 
 
 69 
 
 to witnesse, solemnly promised to doe all 
 the kind offices which a sister could 
 expect at the hands of a brother. And 
 conceiuing also a hope, that she being 
 bred vp from her tender yeeres in the 
 delights of France, would not returne 
 into Scotland, dealt with the Guises, that 
 some one of the Scottish Nobilitie might 
 be named Regent of Scotland, and as 
 with his finger, shewed himselfe as the 
 fittest man. But when he was sent backe 
 into Scotland, with no other authoritie, 
 but onely with Letters Patents, wherein 
 the Queene gaue authoritie to assemble 
 the Nobilitie, and to aduise and conferre 
 about the good of the common wealth ; 
 hee being deiected and frustrate of his 
 hope, returning thorow England, in a 
 rage and furie put into their heads, that 
 if they desired or had a care of the pre- 
 seruation of Religion in Scotland, the 
 tranquilitie of England, and securitie of 
 Queen EHzabeth, they should hinder the 
 returne of the Queene of Scotland into 
 
70 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 Scotland, by one meanes or other. Yet 
 shee arriued safe in Scotland, passing by 
 the Engh'sh Fleet in a thicke mist, and 
 vsing her brother with all courtesie, com- 
 mended the gouernment of all the affaires 
 into his hands. 
 
 Yet these things did not cut off the 
 branches of his ambition, which daily 
 sprang out, both in words and deeds : 
 For neither could he containe himselfe, 
 but that oftentimes amongst his friends 
 he would lament, that the warlike Scottish 
 Nation, no lesse than that of the English 
 men, was subiected to the gouernment of 
 a woman, and out of the doctrine of 
 Knox (whom hee accounted as a Patri- 
 arke) hee would often discourse that 
 Kingdomes were due vnto vertue, not 
 vnto kindred : That women were to bee 
 excluded from the succession of King- 
 domes; and that their rule was mon- 
 strous. Hee dealt also with the Queene 
 by his friends, that she would substitute 
 5ome out of the familie of the Stewarts, 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 71 
 
 who if she died without issue, should suc- 
 ceed one after another in the Kingdome ; 
 and not to haue any regard whether they 
 were legitimate or illegitimate, hoping that 
 he should be one of them, being a Kings 
 Sonne, although illegitimate. But the 
 Queene, when she out of her wisdome 
 weighed, that such a substitution was a 
 thing contrary to the Lawes of the Land, 
 and would be a wrong vnto the right 
 heires, a most pernicious example, and 
 perillous also for the substitutes them- 
 selues, yea and a barre vnto her to keepe 
 her from mariage againe. She answered 
 mildly, that she would take deliberation 
 in the matter, and consult with the Estates 
 of the Realme about it. And to shew 
 her selfe courteous and bountifuU to her 
 brother, she created him Earle of Marre, 
 and afterward Earle of Murrey (because 
 Marre was in controuersie) and aduanced 
 him to an honourable mariage : All this 
 shee did, being all this while ignorant that 
 hee affected the Kingdome; (bragging 
 
72 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 that he was the lawfull sonne of lames the 
 fift.) And to make the way thereunto, 
 he through the fauour wherein hee stood 
 with the Queene, oppressed the most 
 noble familie of the Gordons, who had 
 very many vassals, tenants and retainers, 
 whom hee feared much, both in respect 
 of himselfe, and of their religion : And 
 banished from the Court the Duke of 
 Chasteaulroy (who was accounted the 
 next heire to the Crowne) imprisoned the 
 Earle of Arran his sonne, banished Both- 
 well into England, and put all them that 
 he thought might crosse him, out of office : 
 And he as a Guardian kept the Queene as 
 his V/ard, and at his command, being 
 most carefull and diligent to keepe her 
 from mariage. 
 
 And as soone as he vnderstood, that on 
 the one side the Emperour sued to her for 
 his brother, and the King of Spaine for 
 his sonne; he disswaded her vtterly from 
 them both; because (forsooth) the libertie 
 of Scotland would not, nor could not 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 73 
 
 endure a forraigne Prince. And whenso- 
 euer that gouernment descended vnto 
 women, that they maried no other hus- 
 bands, but of the Scottish Nation : But 
 afterwards, when all the Scots generally 
 wished to see her maried, and hee found 
 out that the Countesse of Lennox had so 
 prouidently wrought, that shee inclined 
 to marrie Darly ; hee also commended 
 him as a good husband for her, hoping 
 the young man, being of a soft nature, 
 would be ruled by him in all things. Yet 
 when hee saw the Queene to loue Darly 
 exceedingly, and he himselfe to grow out 
 of her fauour, hee repented him of his 
 counsell he had giuen, and willed Queene 
 Elizabeth to hinder her mariage by one 
 meanes or other. 
 
 The mariage being made vp, and Darly 
 proclaimed King, when the Queene re- 
 uoked the donations made to him and 
 others, against the Lawes in her minoritie ; 
 hee with other, put himselfe in armes 
 against the King ; alleadging, that the 
 
74 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 new King was an enemie vnto the Reli- 
 gion of the Protestants ; and that he was 
 maried without the consent of the Queene 
 of England. But hee fled into England 
 (as I have already said) neuer aduentur- 
 ing to fight : And being frustrate of all 
 hope of helpe from thence, hee dealt by 
 letters with Mourton, a profound subtill 
 man, who was as his other selfe, that since 
 the mariage could not bee dissolued, yet 
 that the loue betweene the parties might 
 be broken by some secret deuices : and a 
 fit occasion offered it selfe ; for she vpon 
 the arising of some priuate discontent, to 
 keepe vnder the swelling minde of the 
 young man, and to conserue her royall 
 authoritie whole to her selfe, had begunne 
 to set her husbands name last in the Pro- 
 clamations and Records, and to omit it 
 vtterly in the coine. 
 
 Mourton being a cunning man to 
 breed discontents, with his flattering 
 words crept into the Kings good liking 
 and opinion, and then perswaded him 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 75 
 
 to take vpon him the Crowne of the 
 Realme, yea, in despight of the Queene, 
 and to make himselfe free from the 
 gouernment of women; for that is the con- 
 dition of women, said he, to obey, and of 
 men to rule. By this counsel!, if it were 
 taken, he hoped not onely to draw away 
 the loue of the Queene, but of all the 
 Nobilitie and commons also from the 
 King, to estrange the Queene, and \sith 
 diuers slanders first heartened the King 
 to murther David Rizius a Piedmountoys, 
 lest that politike fellow should preuent 
 their purposes (this man was a Musitian 
 by profession, and came the last yeere 
 with Moret the Embassador of Sauoy; 
 and by the Queene for his wit and dex- 
 teritie receiued into her household and 
 fauor, and preferred to write her French 
 letters, and vnto her priuie Councell in 
 the absence of the Secretarie). Then 
 to estrange her loue the more, he per- 
 swaded the King to bee present at the 
 murder, with Ruthen and the rest, who 
 
76 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 rushing together with him into the Qeenes 
 dining Parlour, at supper time (shee sit- 
 ting at the table with the Countesse of 
 Argile) assaulted the fellow with their 
 naked swords, as he tasted the meat taken 
 from the Queenes table, at the Cupbord 
 (as the seruants of the priuie Chamber vse 
 to doe) before her face, being great with 
 childe, trembling with feare, setting a 
 Pistoll at her breast : so that shee was in 
 danger of abortion, and dragged him into 
 the vtter Chamber, where they most 
 cruelly killed him, and shut up the 
 Queene into a Parlour ; Mourton all this 
 while guarding all the passages. 
 
 This murther was committed the euen- 
 ing before the day appointed vnto Murrey 
 to appeare for his triall in the assembly of 
 the Estates for his rebellion, who came in 
 on the next day, when no body expected 
 him, and no man appeared against him 
 in that troublesome time : So that it may 
 seeme that the murder of Dauid was has- 
 tened of set purpose to procure the securi- 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 
 
 77 
 
 tie and safety of Murrey. Yet the Queene 
 at the earnest suit of the King, re- 
 ceiued him courteously, and continued in 
 brotherly loue towards him. But the 
 King when he considered the enormitie 
 of the offence (and seeing now the 
 Queene to bee very angry) repented his 
 rashnesse, and in humble manner sub- 
 mitted himself vnto her clemencie, weep- 
 ing and lamenting, and asking pardon, 
 did ingenuously confesse, that he com- 
 mitted that hainous offence by the 
 instigation of Murrey and Mourton : and 
 from thenceforth did so hate Murrey, (for 
 Mourton, Ruthen, and others, were fled 
 into England vpon the murther, with the 
 commendatorie letters of Murrey vnto 
 Bedford) that hee deuised, to kill him. 
 But when out of wrath and rashnesse, hee 
 could not conceale his purpose, nor (such 
 was his respect vnto the Queene his wife) 
 durst execute it ; he told her how profit- 
 able it would bee for the common-wealth, 
 and also for the securitie of the royall 
 
78 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 family, if Murrey were rid out of the way. 
 She detesting the thing, terrified him euen 
 with threats, from such enterprises, putting 
 him in hope of reconciliation. Yet hee 
 when hee saw, to his hearts griefe, the 
 Bastard to be of such power with the 
 Queene, out of his impatience hee plotted 
 the same matter with others; which when 
 it came to the eares of Murrey, to preuent 
 him, vnder colour of dutie, hee laieth 
 closer snares for the young man, vsing 
 Mourton (though absent) for his coun- 
 sellor. 
 
 They thought it requisite aboue all 
 things, vtterly to auert the Queenes minde 
 from the King ; and by flatterie to induce 
 Bothwell, lately reconciled vnto Murrey, 
 and in great fauour with the Queene, into 
 their societie, shewing him a hope to be 
 diuorced from his wife, and to marrie 
 with the Queene, as soone as she was 
 widow. And for the performance of these 
 things, and also to defend himself against 
 all persons, they bound themselues vnder 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 79 
 
 their hands and seales, being perswaded, 
 if the matter hit right, that they might by 
 one labour kill the King, vtterly discredit 
 the Queene amongst the Nobilitie and 
 Commons, vndoe Bothwell vtterly, and 
 bring the gouernment of all the affaires 
 vnto their hands. 
 
 Bothwell being a lewd minded man, 
 blinded with ambition, and therefore ven- 
 turous to attempt, quickly laid hold on 
 the hope offered vnto him, and villanously 
 committed the murther. But Murrey had 
 secretly gone home a prettie way off, 
 fifteene houres before, that hee might 
 no way be suspected ; and that hee 
 might from thence giue aid vnto the 
 Conspirators, when any need was, and 
 all the suspition might light vpon the 
 Queene. As soone as he returned vnto 
 the Court, both he and the Conspirators 
 commended vnto her Bothwell, as most 
 worthy of her loue, for the Nobilitie of 
 his famihe, his valour shewed against the 
 English, and his approued fidelitie. They 
 
8o 
 
 The Historie oj 
 
 put in her head, that she being alone and 
 solitaire, was not able to represse the 
 tumults that were raised, preuent secret 
 plots, and vphold the burthen and heauie 
 weight of the Kingdome. Therefore she 
 might doe well to take as a Companion of 
 her bed, counsell, and danger, the man 
 that could, would, and durst oppose him- 
 selfe against all trouble. And they draue 
 and enforced her so farre, that the feare- 
 full woman, daunted with two tragicall 
 murthers, and remembring the fidelitie 
 and constancie of Bothwell towards her 
 and her mother, and hauing no other 
 friend vnto whom to resort, but vnto her 
 brothers fidelitie, gaue her consent : Yet 
 vpon these conditions, that aboue all this, 
 prouision might be made for the safetie 
 little Sonne; and then, that Bothwell as 
 well might bee cleared from the murther 
 of the King, as also from the bond of his 
 former mariage. 
 
 What George Earle of Huntley, and 
 the Earle^of Argile, men of great Nobilitie 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 8i 
 
 in Scotland, did forthwith protest of this 
 matter, I thinke good to set downe in 
 this place, out of the originall, with their 
 owne hands, sent vnto Queene Elizabeth, 
 which I haue scene. Forasmuch as 
 Murrey and others, to cloake their rebel- 
 lion against the Queene (whose authorities 
 they usurpe ; doe slander her openly, as 
 priuie and consenting vnto her husbands 
 death : We doe publikely protest and 
 sweare these things. In the Moneth of 
 December, in the yeere of our Lord God 
 one thousand fiua hundred fiftie and six, 
 when the Queene lay at Cragmyller, 
 Murrey and Lidington did acknowledge 
 before us, That Mourton, Lyndsey, and 
 Ruthven killed Dauid Rizio, for no other 
 end, but to procure the safetie of Murrey, 
 who was to be attainted at the same time. 
 Therefore lest they should be vnthank- 
 full, they wished that Mourton and the 
 rest, banished for the death of Dauid, 
 might be brought home agauie : And this 
 they insinuated could not be done, except 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 the Queene were separated by a diuorce 
 from the King, which they promised to 
 effect, if we grant our consents. And 
 afterwards Murrey promised vnto me 
 George Earle of Huntley, the restitution 
 of my ancient Patrimonie, and perpetuall 
 fauour of the banished men, if I would 
 fauour the diuorce. Then they went vnto 
 Bothwell, that hee should consent there- 
 unto. Lastly, we came vnto the Queene, 
 and Lidington in all our names besought 
 her exceedingly to remit the sentence of 
 exile against Mourton, Lyndsey and 
 Ruthen : He exaggerated the faults and 
 crimes of the King with bitter words ; 
 and shewed, that it was much for the 
 good and benefit of the Queene and the 
 Common-wealth, that a diuorce were 
 speedily sued out : forasmuch as the King 
 and she could not Hue together with 
 securitie in Scotland. She answered, she 
 had rather depart into France, and liue 
 priuately for a time, vntill her husband 
 acknowledged his faults : for she would 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 
 
 83 
 
 haue nothing to be done that should be 
 wrong to her sonne, or dishonour vnto 
 her selfe. Hereunto Lidington repHed, 
 saying : Wee that are of your Councell 
 will prouide for that. But I command 
 you (said she) not to doe any thing which 
 may be a blemish to my honour, or a 
 staine to my conscience. Let things be 
 as they be, vntill God aboue doe remedie 
 it : That which you thinke may be good 
 for* mee, may proue euill. Vnto whom 
 Lidington said, Commit the matter vnto 
 vs, and you shall see nothing done but 
 that which is good, and that which shall 
 be allowed in the Parhament. Hereupon, 
 since that within a few daies after, the 
 King was most shamefully murdered ; 
 Wee out of the inward testimonie of our 
 conscience, are most assured, that Murrey 
 and Lidington were the authors and per- 
 swaders of this murder of the King, who- 
 soeuer were the actors of the same. Thus 
 much Huntley and Argile. 
 
 Now the Conspirators applied all their 
 
84 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 skill that Bothwell might be cleared of 
 killing the King : Therefore without 
 delay, the Parliament is summoned for no 
 other cause, and Proclamations are set 
 out to apprehend the persons suspected 
 for murdering the King. And when 
 Lennox, father to the murdered King, 
 accused and charged Bothwell as the 
 Regicide, and was very importunate that 
 Bothwell might bee brought to triall before 
 the Parliament began : This also was 
 granted ; and Lennox commanded to 
 come in with his accusation within twentie 
 daies. On which day, when hee heard 
 nothing from the Queene of England, and 
 could not bee present in the Citie full of 
 his enemies, without danger of his life ; 
 Bothwell was brought to the Barre, and 
 arraigned, and acquitted by the sentence 
 of the fudges : Mourton also vpholding 
 and maintaining his cause, and openly 
 taking his part. 
 
 This businesse being finished, the Con- 
 spirators wrought so, that the most of the 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 
 
 85 
 
 Nobilitie gaue their consent vnto the 
 manage, under their hands and seales^ 
 lest he (frustrated of the promised man- 
 age) should appeach them as contriuers 
 of the murder. But of this mariage of the 
 Queene with Both well (who was created 
 Duke of the Orkenies) the suspition in 
 creased with all men, that the Queene 
 was consenting to the Kings death : which 
 the Conspirators increased by letters sent 
 into all places, and in their secret meet- 
 ings at Dunkleden they conspired forth- 
 witli to kill Bothwell, and depriue the 
 Queene : Yet Murrey, that hee might 
 be thought cleere of this conspiracie,. 
 obtained leaue of the Queene (but hardly) 
 to traueil into France. And that he 
 might put all diffidence out of her head, 
 hee commended all his affaires and estate 
 in Scotland, vnto the Queene and Both- 
 well. Hee was scarce gone out of Eng- 
 land, but behold the same men which 
 had cleered and acquitted Bothwell from 
 the murder, and consented vnto the. 
 
86 The Historie of 
 
 marriage vnder their hands and seales, 
 took vp amies against Bothwell, as mean- 
 ing to apprehend him : And indeed they 
 secretly willed him to saue himselfe by 
 flight, for no other intent, but that hee 
 should not be taken, and discouer all their 
 plot, and withall, that they might lay hold 
 of his flight, as an argument or reason to 
 accuse the Queene of killing the King. 
 But shee being taken, they used her most 
 contumeliously, and in most vnseemely 
 fashion, and putting on her an old cloake, 
 thrust her into prison at Lochleuyn, vnder 
 the custodie of the mother of Murrey, who 
 had beene the Concubine of lames the 
 fift, who most malapertly insulted ouer the 
 calamitie of the imprisoned Queene, 
 boasting that shee her selfe was the 
 lawfull wife of lames the fift, and that her 
 Sonne Murrey was his lawfull issue. 
 
 As soone as Queene Elizabeth vnder- 
 stood these things, in her minde detesting 
 this barbarous insolencie of Subjects 
 (whom she called oftentimes Traitors, 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 87 
 
 Rebels, vnthankfull and cruell fellowes) 
 against a Princesse, her sister, and neigh- 
 bour ; She sent Nicholas Throgmorton 
 into Scotland, to expostulate with the con- 
 spirators for this insolence vsed against 
 their Queene, and to take some course 
 how to restore her into her former libertie, 
 and for the seuere punishment of the 
 murderers of the King ; and that the 
 young King might be sent into England, 
 that order might bee taken for his securi- 
 tie, and not sent into France. And what 
 I shall after declare (during his abode in 
 Scotland) take yee vpon the credit of his 
 letters, which is approued. 
 
 He found the most part in Scotland 
 incensed against the Queene, who in 
 plaine termes denied accesse vnto her, 
 both to him, and also to Villeroy and 
 Crocus the French Embassadors. Yet 
 could not the Conspirators agree among 
 themselues what to doe with her : Liding- 
 ton and a few others would haue her to 
 be restored vpon these conditions : That 
 
88 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 the murderers of the King should bee 
 punished according to Law ; The Princes 
 safetie prouided for; Bothwell diuorced, 
 and Religion established. Others would 
 haue her to bee banished for euer into 
 France, or into England : So as the King 
 of France or Queene of England, did giue 
 their words, that she should resigne the 
 Kingdome, and transferre all her autho- 
 ritie vnto her sonne and certaine Noble 
 men. Others were of opinion, that shee 
 should be arraigned publikely, and con- 
 demned v.nto perpetuall prison, and her 
 Sonne crowned King : Lastly, others 
 would haue her depriued both of her life 
 and Kingdome, by a publike execution. 
 And this Knox and some Ministers of 
 the Word, thundered out of their Pulpits. 
 
 On the other side, Throgmorton out of 
 the holy Scriptures brought many places 
 to proue, that obedience was to bee 
 yeelded vnto the higher powers, that carry 
 the sword : And wittily argued, that the 
 Queene was not subiect to the iudgement 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 89 
 
 of any but onely of the celestiall ludge : 
 That she could not be arraigned or 
 brought to triall before any ludge on the 
 earth : And that there is no Magistrate 
 had any authoritie in Scotland, which is 
 not deriued from the authoritie of the 
 Queene, and reuocable at her pleasure. 
 They opposed the peculiar Law of the 
 Kingdome, among the Scots, and that 
 in extraordinarie causes, extraordinarie 
 courses were to bee vsed : receiuing their 
 reasons from Buchanan, who at that time 
 by the perswasion of Murrey, wrote that 
 damned and hatefuU Dialogue, De iure 
 Regni apud Scotos : wherein is maintained, 
 that the people haue authoritie to create 
 and depriue Kings, against the truth of 
 the Scottish Histories. Yet ceased not 
 Throgmorton to make many earnest 
 motions for the restitution of the Queene, 
 and for accesse vnto her ; though Liding- 
 ton had answered him oftentimes, that 
 his accesse could not bee granted, since 
 it was denied vnto the French : That 
 
90 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 they must not displease the P'rench, to 
 please the Queene of England, whom 
 they had tried, did but serue her owne 
 turne, since for her owne good shee 
 hoped to expulse the French out of Scot- 
 land; and very lately shewed so little 
 fauour, and was so niggardly to the 
 Scottish men exiled for the killing of 
 Dauid Rizius. Moreouer, he was to 
 beware lest the Scots out of his impor- 
 tunitie should neglect the English men, 
 and incline vnto the friendship of the 
 French, and secretly aduised him with 
 the French Prouerbe, // perd le jeu^ qui 
 laisse la partie : That the English men 
 should not abandon the Scots their 
 friends. 
 
 Then in a long writing, which they 
 deliuered to Throgmorton, without any 
 subscription, they protested, that they 
 shut vp the Queene into that solitarie 
 place, for no other intent, but that they 
 might keep her asunder from Bothwell, 
 whom she loued unmeasurably, to worke 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 
 
 91 
 
 their confusion, untill that wilfull loue 
 towards him, and her womanly teene 
 towards them was asswaged ; and bade 
 him rest content with this answer, vntill 
 the rest of the Noblemen met. Yet euery 
 day they curbed her more of her libertie, 
 though she with abundance of teares, and 
 most humble requests, begged of them to 
 deale more mildly with her ; if not as the 
 Queene, yet as with a Kings daughter, 
 and mother to the Prince, whom she 
 made humble suit that she might see 
 oftentimes, but in vaine. But that I may 
 not insist vpon particular iniuries, at last 
 they spake her faire, and willed her to 
 giue ouer her gouernment, taking either 
 her sicknesse, or the troubles in gouern- 
 ment, for an excuse ; or, as other more 
 subtilly willed her, that the resignation 
 being made, she being then kept more 
 negligendy or carelesly, might make an 
 escape. When these tricks proued not, 
 they threatned openly to arraigne her of 
 incontinencie of life, of killing the King, 
 
92 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 and tyrannic ; namely, that she had vio- 
 lated the Lawes and right of the Land, to 
 wit, those which Randan and D'Oissell 
 had confirmed in the King of France and 
 her name. At length, terrifying her with 
 death, they compelled her to put her 
 hand vnto their Letters Patents, which 
 she neuer saw nor heard read; in the 
 beginning whereof, shee resigned her 
 Realme to her sonne some thirteene 
 moneths old : In the second branch 
 thereof, she appointed Murrey Regent, 
 during the minoritie of her sonne : In 
 the third, if Murrey refused the charge, 
 she named these new gouernours of her 
 sonne ; lames Duke of Chasteauleroy, 
 Matthew Earle of Lennox, Gilbert Earle 
 of Argile, lohn Earle of Atholl, lames 
 Earle of Mourton, Alexander Earle of 
 Glencarne, and lohn Earle of Marre. 
 And without delay she signified by Throg- 
 morton, vnto the Queene of England, 
 that she had resigned by coaction, and 
 had subscribed to the Cession or Resig- 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 93 
 
 nation against her will, by the counsell 
 and aduice of Throgmorton ; who had 
 perswaded her, that the Cession extorted 
 in the prison (which is a iust feare) was 
 vndoubtedly void and of no validitie. 
 But of these things you shall heare more 
 the next yeere, out of the accusations 
 and defences of both the parties, before 
 the Commissioners at Yorke. 
 
 On the fifth day after the resignation, 
 lames theQueenes young son was anointed 
 and crowned King, lohn Knox making the 
 Sermon : The Hamiltons putting in a pro- 
 testation, that it should be no preiudice 
 vnto the Duke of Chasteauleroy in the 
 right of succession against the familie of 
 Lennox. But gueene Elizabeth forbade 
 Throgmorton to be present thereat, that 
 shee might not bee thought to allow the 
 vniust abdication of the Queene, by the 
 presence of her Embassador. 
 
 On the twentieth day after the resigna- 
 tion. Murrey himselfe returned out of 
 France ; and the third day after, he with 
 
94 
 
 The Historic of 
 
 many of the Conspirators came vnto the 
 Queene, against whom hee laid many 
 hamous crimes, and perswaded her to 
 turne vnto God by true repentance, and 
 to aske mercie of him. She shewed her 
 selfe sorrowful! for the sinnes of her former 
 life, she confessed some things hee ob- 
 iected, others shee extenuated, others shee 
 excused by humane frailtie, and the most 
 matters shee vtterly denied. She required 
 him to take the gouernmient of the affaires 
 for her sonne, and required him earnestly 
 to spare her life, and her reputation. He 
 said, it lay not in his power, but it was to 
 be sought for of the States of the Realme ; 
 yet if shee desired to haue her life and 
 honour saued, hee prescribed these things 
 for her to keepe : That shee should not 
 trouble nor disturbe the tranquilitie of the 
 Realme ; That she should not steale out 
 of prison, not moue the Queene of Eng- 
 land, or the King of France, to vex Scot- 
 land with forraigne or ciuill warre ; That 
 she should not loue Bothwell any more, 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 95 
 
 or deuise to take reuenge on the enemies 
 of Bothwell. 
 
 The Regent being proclaimed, bound 
 himselfe by his hand and seale, to doe 
 nothing concerning peace or warre, the 
 person of the King or his mariage, or the 
 libertie of the Queene, wiihout the con- 
 sent of the Conspirators. Hee willed 
 Throgmorton by Lidington, not to intreat 
 any more for the Queene ; for that hee 
 and the rest had rather endure all things, 
 than that she being freed, should keepe 
 Bothwell companie, bring her sonne into 
 danger, her Countrie into trouble, and 
 also proscribe them. We know (said he) 
 what you English men can doe by warre : 
 You may waste our borders, and we may 
 yours; & we know assuredly, that the 
 French men in regard of our ancient 
 league, will not abandon and forsake vs. 
 He denied also Ligneroll the French Em- 
 bassador, to haue accesse vnto the Queene, 
 vntill Bothwell was taken ; and euery day 
 hee vsed the distressed Queene worse 
 
96 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 and worse, whereas shee had deserued 
 well at his hands, and contrary to his pro- 
 mise he had made vnto the King of 
 France. Thus much out of the Letters 
 of Throgmorton. 
 
 Shortly after, Murrey put to death lohn 
 Hepborne, Paris a French man, Daglish, 
 and the other seruants of Bothwell, who 
 had beene present at the Kings death : 
 But they (which Murrey little expected) 
 at the Gallowes protested before God and 
 the Angels, that they vnderstood by Both- 
 well, that Murrey and Mourton were the 
 authors of killing the King, and cleered 
 the Queene from all suspition ; as Both- 
 well himselfe prisoner in Denmarke all his 
 life time, and at his death, did with many 
 solemne oathes and religious protestations, 
 affirme, that the Queene was not priuie 
 nor consenting to it. And fourteene 
 yeeres after, when Mourton was to suffer 
 death, hee confessed, that Bothwell dealt 
 with him to consent vnto the murder of 
 the King, which when he vtterly denied, 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 97 
 
 except that the Queene did command it 
 vnder her hand : To that Bothwell did 
 answer, that could not be done, but that 
 the deed must bee done without her 
 knowledge. 
 
 This rash, precipitate and ouer-hastie 
 abdication or depriuation of the Queene, 
 and the ouerthwart stubbornnesse of the 
 Conspirators towards the Embassadors, 
 both Queene Elizabeth and the French 
 King tooke very hainously, as a thing 
 tending to the reproach of royall Maiestie, 
 and began to fauour the Hamiltons, who 
 stood for the Queene. Pasquier also 
 Embassador from the French King, dealt 
 with the Queene of England, that she 
 might be restored by force of armes ; but 
 shee thought it the better way to forbid 
 the Scots all trafficke in France and Eng- 
 land, vntill shee was deliuered ; and so 
 by that meanes the common people might 
 bee disioined from the Noblemen, who 
 (as it seemed) were vnited in the con- 
 spiracie against the Queene. 
 
 G 
 
98 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 Anno 1568. 
 
 In Scotland the captiue Queene vpon 
 the second day of May, escaped out of 
 prison in Lochleuin, by the meanes of 
 George Dowglas, whose brother had the 
 custodie of her, vnto the Castle of Hamil- 
 ton ; where, hearing the testimonie of 
 Robert Meluin and others, a sentence 
 Declaratorie was made by the whole con- 
 sent of all the Noblemen which were 
 there met, being very- many : That the 
 Resignation extorted by feare from the 
 Queene, was void from the beginning ; 
 and that the same was extorted, is con- 
 firmed by the oath of the Queene there 
 present. Hereupon such a multitude 
 came vnto her from all places in a day or 
 two, as shee had an armie of six thousand 
 valiant men, which yet Murrey easily put 
 to flight, because they were so fierce, and 
 would not bee ordered in the fight. The 
 fearefuU Queene, terrified with this vnfor- 
 4unate successe, betooke her selfe vnto 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 99 
 
 flight, riding that day threescore miles, and 
 afterwards, by iournies in the night, came 
 vnto the house of Maxwell, Lord Herris ; 
 and was more willing to commit her selfe 
 vnto the protection of Queen Elizabeth, 
 than to trust her owne subiects. Yet she 
 sent before one lohn Beton, vnto her 
 (with a Diamond, which she had before 
 receiued of her, as a token betweene them 
 of beneuolence) who should signifie vnto 
 her, that she would come vnto England, 
 and aske aid of her, if her subiects pur- 
 sued her any farther by warre : vnto whom 
 Queene Elizabeth promised very largely 
 all loue and sisterly kindnesse. But 
 before the messenger returned, she went 
 into a little Barke (her friends much dis- 
 swading her) with the Lords, Herris and 
 Fleming, and few other, and landed the 
 seuenteenth day of May at Worlington in 
 Cumberland, neere vnto the mouth of 
 the Riuer Derwent ; and the same day 
 wrote Letters in the French tongue, with 
 her owne hand, vnto Queene EHzabeth : 
 
100 
 
 The Historie of 
 
 Of the which the chiefe heads (since they 
 doe comprize a longer Historicall narra- 
 tion of the things done against her in 
 Scotland, than I haue declared) I thinke 
 good to set downe out of the original!, 
 which is in this manner. 
 
 You are not ignorant (my best sister) 
 how many of my Subiects, whom I haue 
 aduanced vnto great honour, haue con- 
 spired to oppresse and imprison mee, and 
 my husband : and how at your interces- 
 sion I receiued the same men into fauour, 
 whom I had expelled out of my King- 
 dome by force of amies. But yet these 
 men brake into my Chamber, and cruelly 
 killed my seruant, I being great with 
 childe, beholding it, and shut me vp in 
 prison. When I had againe forgiuen 
 them, behold, they laid vpon me a new 
 crime, which themselues had wrought, 
 and signed with ther owne hands \ and 
 shortly after were enranked in battell 
 against me in the field: but I trusting in 
 my innocencie, to auoid the shedding of 
 
Ma?'ie Queene of Scots, loi 
 
 bloud, put my selfe into their hands ; 
 forthwith they thrust me into prison, sent 
 away all my seruants, but one or two 
 maids, a Cooke, and a Physitian, enforced 
 me by threats and feare of death, to 
 resigne my Kingdome, and in the assembly 
 of the Estates called by their owne autho- 
 ritie, denied to heare me and my Agents, 
 spoiled me of all my goods, and kept me 
 from the speech of all men. Afterwards, 
 by Gods helpe, I escaped out of prison, 
 and accompanied with the flower of the 
 Nobles, who came ioifully vnto mee, from 
 all parts, I admonished mine enemies of 
 their duty and allegeance ; I offered them 
 pardon, and proposed that both parts 
 might bee heard in the assembly of the 
 Estates, that the Common-wealth might 
 not any longer be torne in sunder by 
 these intestine mischiefes. I sent two 
 messengers about this matter, they cast 
 them both into prison ; they proclaimed 
 them that assisted me Traitors, and com- 
 manded them forthwith to leaue mee, | 
 
I02 
 
 The Hhtorie of 
 
 requested that the Lord Boyd might talke 
 with them vnder a safe conduct, about a 
 composition ; but they also denied the 
 same vtterly. Yet I hoped they might 
 haue beene recalled to acknowleds^e their 
 dutie by your intercession. But when I 
 saw I was to vndergoe either death or 
 imprisonment, I intended to haue gone 
 vnto Dunbritton ; but they met mee in 
 armes vpon the way, and put my friends 
 vnto flight. I gat mee vnto the Lord 
 Herris, with whom I am come into your 
 Kingdome, vpon a certaine hope of your 
 approued beneuolence, that you will helpe 
 mee friendly, and by your example excite 
 others to doe the same. Therefore I 
 earnestly request you, that I may bee 
 brought vnto you speedily, for I am now 
 in great distresse, w^hich I will tell you 
 more at large, when it shall please you 
 to haue compassion on mee. God grant 
 you long and happy life, vnto me patience 
 and comfort, which I hope and pray I 
 may obtaine of him by your meanes. 
 
Marie Queene of Scots, 103 
 
 Queene Elizabeth in her Letters by 
 Francis Knowles, and others, comforted 
 her, and promised to protect her accord- 
 ing to the equitie of her cause, but denied 
 her to come to her presence, for that by 
 report she was charged with many crimes, 
 and commanded that she should be con- 
 ueied vnto Carlile, as vnto a safer place 
 (if her enemies attempted any thing 
 against her) by Lowder Lieutenant of the 
 place, and the power of the Gentlemen of 
 the Countrie. Shee hauing receiued this 
 answer, and the accesse denied, both by 
 her Letters, and also by Maxwell Lord 
 Herris, she earnestly besought her. That 
 shee might as well shew the iniuries re- 
 ceiued by her, as also cleare her selfe of 
 the crimes obiected against her in her pre- 
 sence : That it was most iust that Queene 
 Elizabeth her nearest kinswoman of bloud 
 should heare her in her presence, being 
 banished ; and also restore her vnto her 
 Kingdome, against those whom being 
 banished for their villanies committed. 
 
1 04 The Historie of 
 
 shee had restored vnto their estates, at 
 the intercession of Queen Eh'zabeth, and 
 that to her own destruction, except it 
 were speedily auerted. Therefore she 
 humbly requested, that either shee might 
 bee admitted to her speech, and holpen, 
 or that she might speedily bee permitted 
 with her leaue and fauour to depart out of 
 England, to craue help from some other 
 place, and not to be detained any longer 
 like a prisoner in the Castle of Carlile; for 
 forasmuch as shee en me voluntarily 
 England, trusting on her loue^ oftentimes 
 promised by Letters, Messengers, and 
 tokens. 
 
 Through these letters, and the words of 
 Herris, Queene Elizabeth seemed (f^r 
 who can reach into the secret cogitations 
 of Princes ? and wise people conceale to 
 ihemselues their owne purposes) from her 
 heart to haue compassion of this Princesse 
 her kinswoman, being in very great dis- 
 tresse ; who was taken by her Subiects 
 by force, thrust into prison, brought into 
 
Marie Queene of Scots. 105 
 
 danger of her life, condemned, and yet 
 neuer heard speake in her owne defence 
 which is neuer denied to a priuate man) 
 and had fled into England vnto her vpon 
 an assured hope of helpe and reliefe. 
 Moreouer, she was much moued, that the 
 distressed Queene had voluntarily offered, 
 to haue her cause argued and disputed 
 of before her, and had taken vpon her 
 to proue her aduersaries guiltie of all the 
 crimes whereof they had accused her, 
 who was innocent. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Bapst Library 
 
 Boston College 
 
 Chestnut Hill 67, Mass.