The Case of Mary Queen of Scots and of Elizabeth Queen of England, Legally, Briefly and Historically Stated

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Preface

I promisepD in “ The Love Letters to Both- ‘well to prove that Elizabeth was unkind, cruel, and unmerciful to Mary; and in this volume J ‘redeem my pledge. '

{ Because I fairly and honestly gave the advocacy for and against the lovely Queen of Scots, I was charged in a periodical work, that purports to give a fair and ¢mpartéal review of new publications, with having joined the Queen's enemies! It would be lost time and labour to jattempt to convince any person to the contrary, who could arrive at such a conclusion, after having ‘read my Preface and Introduction to the Love 'Letters.. To such persons let this Volume speak for me !—whilst I treat them with contempt.

In this Work I have selected proofs from @ host of Authors, that Elizabeth was either directly in ;person, Or indirectly through her Ambassadors, the primum mobile of all thé intrigues, plots, and vi PREFACE.

I plans, which led to involve Mary, first in difficulties, then in dangers, and, subsequetitly, in ruin. ‘The following Case, I presume, will reconcile me to those readers who consider me an enemy of Mary, or a distorter of truth.

CASE: OF MARY QUEEN OF’SCOTS: BRIEFLY STATED, QUERIED, AND ANSWERED,

Driven from her throne by Rebels, and deeply distressed, she’ took refuge in the territory of a friendly Princess, who was hearly related’ to her; and, in fact, $hie was her Heir Apparent in the Succession sand she was by the said Princess detained, at first as a prisoner; and, subsequently, put to death, contrary to the:

laws of courtesy, of riature, and of hospitality. ~' The following questions occur, of course; Was the;

friendly Princess, in whose realm the Queen of Scots took refuge, justified by any known law of states or nations? No!—Are there any cases on English historical record, in point with that of Mary Queen of Scots? None in point!—But since the Conquest, there are two cases mentioned in the History of England, recording the fact of two Princes having been detained, by friendly powers, when’ necessarily Passing through their territories !

"PREFACE. Vil

State the cases: The first is that of the brave Richard, King of England, who was detained by the reigning Duke of Austria, until ransomed, on his return from the Holy Land: the second is that of the Prince of Scotland, who was detained by Henry IV. King of England, after having been driven on the coast of England by a violent storm!

Were these cases precedents for the conduct of Elizabeth towards the Queen of Scots? I should think not; for they severally called forth the indignation of Europe at the time; and J cannot conceive that such violations of hospitality and the supreme law of nature, could be in accordance with the spirit and temper of the more refined nations of Europe in the time of Queen Elizabeth—an age of chivalry, and the dawn of true philosophy.

But were there no political causes for the detention of Mary by Elizabeth? To short-sighted politicians there were such causes, arising from prejudices which in the present, or in any enlightened age, would occasion no obstacles—as in the late cases of the exiled Families of Orange and of Bourbon—because England . then, had already the means to triumph over the Catholic League, which was done the year after the murder of Mary, by the defeat of the Armada; and, if Mary bad been allowed to return to France, which she requested, after she found that her Son was

Vil PREFACE.

legally and firmly seated on the throne of his ancestots,there could have arisen no danger to England— inasmuch as the union of the Protestants of England and Scotland, -would then have. been too formidable, as they have.since proved, for any efforts of the Continental Catholic Powers to disturb or destroy.

‘Then Mary cannot be justly considered blameable for the intestine plots and conspiracies of the Catholics, which occurred in England during a ‘great part of Elizabeth’s reign? Most certainly not!—for Elizabeth, by her detention'‘of Mary, must have foreseen, or.-been less. wise, than she is represented to have been, that while: the Queen of Scots continued ‘in. England,.a declared victim to the Popish religion; she would ‘naturally be not only an object of lively: commiseration and pity, but also a rallying point for, the Catholic standard... 4 4 1: a . Then it follows, as a matter of course, that Mary: must have been much more hardly treated, than she deserved to have been, treated by the Queen,of Eng-. land? Assuredly so!—There can be but one rational, opinion on the subject !.. Lord Burleigh’s Vindication. of the Counsellors of the English Queen; recorded in... Murdin’s State Papers, will only militate against the propriety of the advice which went, to. detain Mary in England after James VI. was. publicly crowhed in Scotland. The influence of the Queen. Mothér, Ca-

PREFACE. ix therine de Medicis, in France; her hatred of the House of Lorraine and of Mary; and the feeble efforts of her Son, after Mary was sentenced to die—prove beyond the shadow of a doubt, the infallibility of the foregoing conclusion.

_ Itis an old and established maxim of the Laws of : England, that a person cannot take advantage of his own wrong act |—volenti non fit injuria. Now it is - ‘clear to all, and follows as a matter of course; that Elizabeth burst this bond of her country’s laws, when she sentenced Mary to death: for she it was who had done wrong from first’ to last, by a dangerous and unjust detention of Mary.in England! And she it was,.who, by so detaining the Scottish Queen, made herself (by consequence), the origin of all the plots, dangers, and results, to her and kingdom, which she afterwards | so unjustly visited with vengeance on the head of her lovely prisoner.

Mary fell by the executioner !—Elizabeth, in consequence, will not cease to fall, high as. she stands by prejudices, ‘when she: is written of by the Historian, who traces effects to their causes. :Groundless fears ~o{ shadows; in’ the first instance{ introduced jealousy ;: joalousy, in the second, -led her to cruelty; ‘and cruclty | in the third instance,’ led her to murder::

bed — ‘HUGH CAMPBELL. .

x . PREFACE.

‘Such are my opinions, and such were my opinions, when I published “The Love Letters of Mary Queen of Scots;” notwithstanding all that the shallow reader of that volume may think to the contrary !

Had I published “‘The Love Letters” without the advocacy ‘pro and con, I had then been justly chargeable with partiality ; but, my object was and is, in that and ‘this volume, to clear up the obscurity in which the true history of Mary is involved by prejudiced ‘writers; so that the most simple-minded, may understand the facts which have been heretofore confined 'to the studies of historians and antiquaries.

My object is now attained. ‘‘ The Love Letters - of Mary,” and “ The Case of Mary Queen of Scots, and of Elizabeth Queen of England,” embrace an extensive view of all the public and private events which occurred to the Queen of Scots, from — the moment of her Janding in Scotland, until the time of her barbarous decollation at Fotheringay-castle. |

Consequently, I might as justly entitle my two volumes, “ The Spirit of the Life of Mary Queen

PREFACE. xi

_-of Scots,” as, owing to circumstances, “The Love Letters of Mary,” and ‘“‘ The Case of Mary Queen of Scots, and of Elizabeth Queen of England ;” to complete which volumes, without egotism, I may truly say,

« J have sipped the sweet from every flower’— and, after having read the ortginals on which modern historians founded their more elegant narratives, I have merely adopted their descriptions, where faithfully and historically given, rather than risk my own narration, which would have been more liable to suspicion ; and, probably, less elegant in composition.

Vi Middle Temple, Feb, 1825.

Contents

Introduction ......00- eee. eaneass page Xvii

; CHAP. I.

Of the House of Lorraine, and its bad Counsele to Marys Mother, the Queen Regent, and the Consequences— The Earl of Glencairn, and Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudon, chosen by the Scottish Protestants to represent the Impropriety of the Queen Regent’s Conduct—Her imprudent Answer, and Bloody Determination .......-++ page 1

Chap. II

. Of eens of the Scottish Crown, said to have been made y Mary whalst under the influence of her Uncle the Cardinal of Lorraine, in France ....0.++++. pete 1}

CHAP. II. :

Of Mary's return from France, and supposed Origin of the Discord between her and Elizabeth, who refuses her a safe Conduct—Mary escapes from the English Fleet sent to intercept her, and arrives in Scotland—State of that Kingdom ....0...ce.eene ale Were eT ee a

Chap. IV

Of Mary’s Claim to the English Crown—Elizabeth supports the Scottish Protestants during Mary’s stay in France—Her Brother, James Stuart Earl of Murray, and George Buchanan, his Tutor—Her Ideas of a Marriage with Lord Darnley her Cousin ........--06 27

Chap. V

Proposed Interview between Mary and Elizabeth—Mary solicited to marry into the Hotse of Austria—subsequently by several other Princes—The Views of Elizabeth ; and of Mary’s Subjects on that occasion .... 33 xiv CONTENTS.

Chap. VI

Negotiations with regard to the Queen’s Marrtage—Elizabeth recommends Leicester to Mary for an Husband—Mary offended—Elizabeth’e Views in recommending him— Mary thinks of Lord Darnley—-Elizabeth secretly pleased —Elizabeth and Mary each dissemble about the Marriage —Darnley arrives, and is beloved by Mary, who soon marries him—Of Rizzio’s Rise—Darnley esteems him —Elizabeth angry at the Match—Approved of by France

Elizabeth intrigues cosssccccscccees eoeees page 39

CHAP, VII.

Birth of King James—Darnley hated by Mary, and Both- : well loved—Elizabeth perplexed about Mary’s successful Pretenstone to the Succession, among the English—Elizabeth soothes and gains her Parliament—Mary intrigues

in favour of Popery—Her extreme Hatred of the King Ce a 65

Chap. VII

Secret Association of the Confederate Lords with Queen _Elizabeth, against Mary— Murray’s design to kill Darnley—His Insurrection, and Banishment~-An Outline of his Character ..s0.ccceseccvssecvececseses 18

CHAP... TX. . ’

Battle of Langside, and Mary's Flight to England-—Eliza- ' beth deliberates about the manner of treating her—Resolves to detain her in England—-Letter of Mary to Elizabeth on the subject—Letter from Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Murray, the Queen's Enemy ....0000+++0++ 9%

CHAP. X.

Mary caught in the Snare laid for her by Elizabeth, who takes advantage of Mary’s offer to vindicate her Conduct -—Mary greatly offended by Elizabeth's Conduct— Mary suspects her, and demands a. Personal Interview—-Mary accused by Murray of the Murder of her Husband—Is treated with greater rigour. by ‘Elizabeth, ‘who secretly” Supports Murray, and hates Mary vuce.seseeeos 102 |

CONTENTS. XV

CHAP. XI.

Of the Earl of Murray— Buchanan's Writangs—Of Murray, and his Intrigues with the Court of France, and with

’ Elizabeth—Attempts to usurp the Crown after the Queen's Marriage— His Conduct while Mary’s Prime Minister— Hw more open attempts to seize the Crown—Elizabeth still intriguing—Conduet of the Conspirators after their Disappointment at the Kerk of Beith— Murray again appears. in Scotland— His Murder—And his Character by another Hand—Elizabeth’s Grief on the occasion—And cruel trifling with Mary’s Feelings .......- page 117

CHAP. XII.

The Massacre of Paris, and its evil Consequences to Mary— Plots against Elizabeth—A severe Statute, which proved fatal to Mary in the end—She quarrels with her Son James—Critical situation of Elizabeth—Her Prudence, and vigorous Conduct—Resolves to punish Mary, and gain the King, her Son—Proposes a League with Scotland, which 1s adopted by that Country .....- goee 175 CHAP. XIII.

Of Sir James Melvill, his Life and Character ...... 188

CHAP. XIV.

Of the Love Letters—And the great Industry and Care of Elizabeth and Cecil in their Publication—Cruelty, in refusing Mary Copies, or sights of the Originals—Supposed to have been Forged—And serious Charges against the Queen of England, for encowraging the supposed Forgers sess -sseeeee ee ee eee wees 194

CHAP, XV.

OF the Duke of Norfolk, a new Lover of Mary—Conceals his

Love from Elizabeth—Gains the Consent of the English Nobles sub rosa— Discovered and defeated by Elizabeth— More Plots against the English Queen, who resolves to Sive up Mary to her Enemies in Scotland—Another Plot —Marriage proposed to Elizabeth by Catherine de Medicts, ” favour of her Son the Duke of Anjou—Elizabeth declares open Hostility to Mary’s Party—League between Englav and France Ce aweeesrerrnereerey Seeees 229

CONTENTS.

xvi CHAP. XVI.

Of Buchanan’s Forgeries—Death ; and Regret for his Calumnies heaped on Mary .......... Pee re page 248

. CHAP. XVII.

Of Queen Elizabeth—Anecdotes from Sir Robert Naunton— Elizabeth’s Vanity, and Maiden Resolves—Of her Gallants—Of the celebrated Letter from Mary to Elizabeth, regarding the Countess of Shrewsbury’s Gossip—Of Walsingham’s Treachery—Of Lady Shrewsbury—Part of a Letter from Elizabeth to Mary—Melville flatters Elizabeth—His Detail of her Manners—Her loose Conduct—Her Favourites—Of Raleigh’s Venus and Diana

‘ in her Siaty-first Year—Her Love to Simier, and the Duke of Anjou, his Master—Anecdotes .....-.++- 258

CHAP. XVIII.

Most Affecting Letter from Mary to Elizabeth, intended for Posterity—Mary appeals to God, and reviews Elizabeth’s Breach of Faith, and Cruelty ..-.e+++++»+ 305:

CHAP. XIX.

Of the Babington Conspiracy—TIs discovered by Walsingham—Conspirators seized and punished—Mary implicated—All England indignant against Mary in consequence— Elizabeth determined to proceed to the utmost

- Extremities against her—Her Domestics and Papers seized—Elizabeth determines to try Mary publiclyThe Trial at Fotheringay—Mary at first refuses, then: consents to plead—The- Accusation against her—Her Defence—The Sentence—Is confirmed by Parliament, which demands Execution—Elizabeth dissembles—France and James interpose to save his Mother’s Life— Warrant for Mary's Execution signed—~Mary’s Behaviour at her Death—Her Character—Her Death lamented by Eliza. bel: Sieve Gsvisiet Nawdaasad's eAssoaaee oo ddeeges 922

CHAP. XX.

Of Davison. the Secretary, and his Apology for the part he had in the signing - of. the Death- Warrant—Elizabeth condemned by his Detail of the Proceedings thereon 867

Introduction

By way of Introduction, the Editor judges it not improper to give a few outlines of the ancient history of Scotland, leading to a connected view of the principal facts and characters: concerned in those transactions which give rise to the following case.

Mary Stuart, the lineal descendant of a long race of kings, was the only daughter of James King of Scotland, -the fifth of that name, and Mary of Lorraine, daughter of René Duke of Guise. Her misfortunes may be said to have begun at her birth, by the death of her father, who died five days after that event, leaving her and his kingdom in the midst of an ocean of storms and tempests which threatened them on every hand.

The government of ‘this kingdom was from very remote . pntiquity. monarchical and hereditary. As the feudal system - was introduced very early among a fierce and brave race of men, addictéd to war, and fond of signalizing themselves in the field under the banners of their chieftains; these - officers,, who were possessed of large estates, descendant in their families, and-of a numerous vassalage, were, when ~ united, at all’ ‘times -more’ powerful than their monarch : hence a perpetual Jealousy subsisted between the ene, and Nobles.

James the Fifth, “the father of Queen Mary, a high- Spirited Pa nce; endued with many, accomplishments, and peloved by’ his people, formed a- plan for, lessening the

ower of the nobles. He began by ingratiating himself with ihe clergy, who at that time formed one of the three xviii INTRODUCTION.

estates of the kingdom; and, by the liberality of the ancient Scottish monarchs, were possessed of great revenues anriexed to the church. James repaired his fortresses, filled them with men, arms, and ammunition. He then, by degrees, began to restrain the insolence of some of the nobility, and, under various pretexts, to call them to account.

The Earl of Angus, the head of the. ancient and potent family of Douglas, was attainted for treason, and the Earl of Bothwell was banished into, France for holding a treasonable correspondence with the King of England. By these and other examples, the resentment of the nobility. was awakened, which soon showed itself in a very extraordinary manner.

‘Henry the Eighth, King of England, having declared war against James his nephew, this last having summoned his chieftains to attend his‘ standard in defence of the kingdom, they’ obeyed, arid.‘marched to repel the.English ‘army, which had entered Scotland.’ These, through scarcity , of provisions and the inclemency of the season, being obliged to retire before the Scots; James, at the head of his army, feading them.on to thé attack, his nobles, with their vassals, followed him, until they saw the ‘enemy repass the limits of the kingdom, beyond which; to the great mortification of the King, ‘they refused to advance astep: Oni the return of the season, James again: called together an army, ‘with design, in his turn, to invade the English territories, and gave the command to Oliver Sinclair, - as general. On this the army, by ‘the influetice' of their ‘chieftains, not ‘only refused to’ follow him, but on the. first attack, surrendered _without a stroke to the English. This ‘suprising event diseovered to the King the disaffection: of his Barons, who: ia all probability were gained over to the interest of the Eng’ lish monarch, and his own inability. to reduce them to’ obedience. A’ conflict of passions took place in his breast, and impaired his healthand the sudden death of his two sons

INTRODUCTION. xix happening at this time, these concurring disasters brought this high-spirited Prince to.an early grave. He died at the, age of thirty-three years, leaving behind him, one infant daughter, Mary, the heiress of his crown. a.

James, with a few failings, had much merit in his slempis to reform the manners of his kingdom, and to enact good laws.” The courts of justice, which were unfixed and arbi+ trary, he made permanent and regular. He established the Supreme Court of Session, under the name of The College of Justice, and encouraged learning’ and arts, in which he was himself well skilled, particularly in poetry and architecture. Most.of the royal palaces were repaired’ by him ; so that it is said few kings in Europe were more elegantly lodged than King James. V.. Of his poetry. there are, according to tradition, some remains, which are esteemed by his countrymen.

On the death of: James V. the kingdom was divided by faction: the clergy, from ‘their concurrence in the King’s measures, were detested by the nobility, who now assumed the. ascendant. The Queen-Mother, a woman of ‘prudence and fine parts, at first wisely took no part in government, put: studied, to ingratiate ‘herself with all, The -nobility unanimously made choice of the Duke of Chatelherault, the. next heir to the crown, to be regent of the kingdom during the infancy of the Queen.

The new opinions with regard to religion, first introduced. by Luther into Germany, had before this time got footing in England: King Henry the Eighth’s love for Anne Boleyn, is well known to have been his motive for quarrelling with the. Pope, who refused his sanction .to the King’s divorce With Queen Catherine, and .to his- marriage with Anne. Henry, on this, renounced the. Pope’s authority, declared himself the head of the English church, and gave encouragement to the new, or reformed religion. Henry, at the same time, ratified another passion—avarice, By aboxX INTRODUCTION.

lishing the abbeys and monasteries, throughout ‘his king dom, he Aecanio master'of an immense treasure, which for ages | had been accumulated in those sanctuaries. Some time before the death of ‘James, Henry his uncle had proposed an interview and conference with him at York;. but this was prevented by the Scottish. Clergy, wha, afraid of the consequence, had influence with James, to keep him steady to the Catholic religion. Many of the nobility, on the other hand, from their hatred of the Clergy, but still more from a yiew of sharing in their rich ,benefices,,and,in, the spoils of. the religious foundations, which, on the King’s, death, and-while his infant daughter was under age, they. looked upon as a proper opportunity to lay hold of, became: converts to the new, religion., Cardinal Beaton, Primate of, Scotland, who; had long been ptime minister to Jamesy foreseeing the growth of the new. opinions, had, by ,many Severe examples, in vain endeavoured to put. a: stop, to, its ‘progress. The purity of the principles, and simplicity in the worship of the. Protestant religion, the unshaken, firmness of its converts, shown in the-midst of torments, served only to disseminate and establish their principles, while it-excited, in the populace rage, and hatred against the Cardinal and.

Popish Clergy. . t i a “ths Many divines, is’ in. the late reign had, ,on account of, their principles, fled the kingdom, and taken refuge at, Ges. neva, ;where they had become disciples of Calvin, pow came over, to Scotland, and professed and taught ,his doc. trines.. Their hatred, against’ the tyrannic Cardinal, whom they considered as the author of their persecution, prompted, a few-desperate fanatics to assault his,castle of St, Andrew’ssr where they. barbarously murdered: him. - His: death .was, a, fatal -blow: to: the Catholic religion, -which:,in him lost.its, chief support ;. for,:althongh-the Regent, Duke: of ChateJhe-. rault, . adhered: to that religion, -yet he wanted the parts, and; firmness of the primate. Such was the unsettled state-of

INTDODUCTION. a the kingdom with regard to religion, after the death of King James V. :

With regard to the political state of Stotland, we must go back to a few traces of its more ancient history, in order to throw light upon the present era. The Scottish monarchs, besides what propérly was the kingdom of Scotland; had, from a very remote antiquity, been in possession of some of the northern provinces of England; such as ‘part of Northumberland and Cumberland, which they held as fiefs, and did homage for them to the English crown. Upon pretext of this partial homage, the English monarchs at different eras made pretensions to the sovereignty of the kingdom of Scotland; as its superiors, or lords paramount. The Scots, ever jealous of their. liberty and independence, constantly rejected with disdain, this absurd and ill-founded claim. The many obstinate wars between the English and Scots, which this claim occasioned, are well known in the histories:

of both kingdoms,

The policy and arms of Edward 1. though they embroilede the country for many years, were effectually resisted ‘by the’ patriotic efforts and heroism of its defenders: and this prince, while he transmitted’ upon his death-bed, an empty claim of sovereignty over Scotland to his feeble successor, left him’. a legacy front which he derived nothing but dishonour. The defeat of the English by King Robert-Bruce at Bannock-: burn, and their total extirpation from ‘the kingdom, lulled: asleep for a considerable time those chimerical pretensions: and ‘they were afterwards solemnly renounced, with the consent’ of ‘parliament, by: the high-spirited: Edward IL" who, éven in his treaty. with his captive David II. -eonsi-~ dered the nation. as free, ‘and the Sovereign as an independent Prince. Thus matters remained till the accession of Henry VIII, who after many ‘years: attentpted to revive this antiquated claim; and endeavoured by force of atms to: accomplish the ‘entire conquest of Sone “This design, xxii INTRODUCTION.

however, he found himself soon obliged to abandon. The Scots were now united; their martial spirit and bravery, the situation of the country, and the assistance they might’ derive from France, with which they kept a perpetual league, convinced Henry of the improbability of his suc- - ceeding in his scheme by force of arms. He followed another plan: the people he could not subdue, he chose to divide. By gold he found means to corrupt and gain ‘over to his interest some of the Scottish nobility, who formed a faction which divided and embroiled the kingdom: We have already _ seen its effect in some strong instatices in’ the latter part of the reign of James V. particularly: their misbehaviour at olway Moss. Now, by the same tieans, that faction was. ye and kept up in the infancy of his daughter Queen Mary. This base policy, followed out by Elizabeth, the. daughter of Henry, through the whole unfortunate reign of yucen Mary, we shall see traced in the’ fdllowing statement, which finally brought that Princess to the scaffold. To this corrupt party were now joined several of the héads of the reformed, who, under the pretence of religion, had not only the view of disturbing and perplexing government, t likewise that of sharing in the spoils of the church, Which they successfully laboured to overturn. The infancy: f the Queen, and the weakness of the regent Duke of Chathera opened a new view to the politic King Henry. y making an overture of marriage between his son Ed= ward and the infant Queen, he flattered himself ‘with the hopes of uniting the two kingdoms under his sway. Finding, however; -his proposal not relished by the patriot Scots, who through it foresaw an end to the independency of their country, he prepared to enforce his scheme by invading Scotland with a numerous army—when death put a stop to his career.

The Duke of Somerset being named Bratheies during the non-ege’ of the young Edward VI, followed out the scheme

INTRODUCTION. Xxiii

’ ‘of the late King. With a great army he suddenly invaded Scotland; and coming to an engagement with the Scots at

. Pinkey, gave them a great defeat. From this success, however, the English derived no advantage; the Scots, by their defeat, became united, and exasperated against the English; and to put an end.at once to any future attempt of a marriage With their young Queen, by the address of the Queen- Mother, Mary of Lorraine, an embassy was sent to Henry IT. of France, soliciting his assistance against the English, with an offer of the infant Queen in marriage to the Dauphin Francis, hisson. From the ancient league between France and Scotland, which had subsisted from the time of Charlemagne, reciprocal advantages were derived to each nation. The offer now made, of their Queen in marriage, was with joy accepted by the King of France; in consequence of" which, the infant Mary was, at the age of ‘six years, sent over to that kingdom, where she acquired every accom- ‘plishment, in the most polite court in Europe, that could adorn a princess,—TYTLER.

N.B. Her marriage with Francis, and her subsequent

widowhood followed, after she had sat with her husband some time on the French throne. During that period, it is supposed she gave offence to the Queen-Mother, Catherine de Medicis, who never after forgave her; but actually annoyed herso much, as to induce Mary reluctantly to embark for Scotland.

ELIZABETH:

- CHAP. I.

2Of the House of Lorraine, and its bad Counsels to Mary's '_ Mother, the Queen Regent, and the Consequences—The { Earl of Glencairn, and Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudon, « chosen by the Scottish Protestants to represent the Improj priety of the Queen Regent’s Conduct—Her imprudent 1 Answer, and Bloody Determination. { :

. T HIS chapter may fairly be called a commencement, or first link in the chain of evidence, to show the grounds on which Elizabeth acted all through the tragedy.

The ambition of the Princes of Lorraine had been.

no less successful than daring; but all their schemes

yvere distinguished iby being vast and. unbounded.

Though strangers at, the court of France, their eminent

qualities had raised them,.in a short time, to an height of power superior to that of all other subjects, and had placed them on a level even with the princes fof ithe blood :themselyes. The church, the army, the

‘yevenue, were under ‘their direction. Nothing but the

“royal. dignity ‘remained unattained, — and they were

‘elevated to @ near alliance with it, by the marriage of

“We Queen of Scots to the Dauphin. In order to grati fy’ 7 , . B | their own vanity, and to render their niece more worthy

the heir of France, they set on foot her claim to the

Crown of England, which was founded on pretences, not unplausible.

The tragical amours and marriages of Henry VIII. are known to all the world. Moved by the:caprices of his love, or of his resentment; that impatient and arbitrary monarch had divorced or beheaded ‘four of the six Queens whom he married. In order to gratify him, both his daughters had been declared illegitimate by act of parliament; and yet, with that fantastic inconsistence which distinguishes his character, he,\in his last will, whereby he was empowered to settle the order of succession, called both of them to the throne upon the death of their brother Edward} and,'at thé same time, passing by the posterity of his eldest sisteT

Margaret Queen of Scotland, he appointed the line of "succession to continue in the descendants of hiS younger sister, the Duchess of Suffolk. .

In consequence of: this destination,::the:validitY whereof was admitted by the English, DutmeVer re* cognised, by foreigners, Mary had reigned, in England>

_withiout thé least ‘complaint of ‘ieighbouritlg princeS- _ But the same’causes which facilitated her accession 1° ’ the throne, were obstacles ‘to’ thé elevation’ of ‘het sister Elizabeth, ‘and! rendered ‘hév'possession of: it precarious ''and insecure. ‘Rome4rembted ‘fornthe Catholic faith; under' a Protestant Queen of such‘emi' nent abilities. The same superstitions fear’ alarmee the Court of'Spain.' And Franee beheld ‘with ‘indignation, @ throne; to which'the Queen of Scots ‘could form so many ‘pretensions, ' occupiéd by: a rival; . whose birth, in the Opinion -of all good Catholics,.éxeldded ' her from ay legal right of succession.’ ‘The impotent

_AND ELIZABETH. g hatred of the Roman Pontiff, or the, slow councils _ Of Philip IL. would have produced no sudden or for; " midable effect. The ardent and impetuous ambition of the Princes of Lorraine, who at that time governed the Court of France, was more decisive, and. more to be dreaded. Instigated by them, Henry, soon after the death of Mary, persuaded his daughter-in-law and her ‘husband, to assume the title of King and Queen of England. They affected to publish this to all Europe. They used that style and appellation in public papers, some of which still remain. The arms of England were engraved on theiy coin and plate, and borne: by them on. all occasions. No. preparations, © however, were made ,to, support this impolitic, and premature claim., .Elizabeth was ,already, seated on her throne ; she possessed.all the, intrepidity of spirit, and .all the arts.of policy,, which were necessary for maintaining ;that station. England.was. growing into reputation for naval power. The maring, of France had deen utterly, neglected ; and. Scotland remained the only avenue: by which tthe territories of Elizabeth could be approached. , It was on that. side, therefore, that the Princes of Lorraine determined :to make their attack; and by using the name and pretensions of the Scottish. Queen, they, hoped, toi.rouse,the English Catholics, formidable at, that. time by their zeal and ‘ numbers, and, exasperated, to, the: utmost against” Elizabeth, on account ofthe change which she had Made. in the national: religion., a4