Letter III.[63]

Of the InglismenOf his mother.Of the Erle of Argyle.Of the Erle of Bothwell.Of the ludgeing in Edinburgh.

[The memoranda in the middle of the letter constitute the "thing that is scriblit," for which pardon is asked in the lastsentence. The concluding words, from "Remember" to "Edinburgh," are instructions for the bearer.]

My Lord, gif the displesure of zour absence, of zour forzetfulnes, ye feir of danger sa promisit be everie ane to zour sa luifit persone, may gif me consolatioun, I leif it to zow to juge, seing the unhap that my cruell lot and continuall misadventure hes hitherto promysit me, following ye misfortunes and feiris as weill of lait, as of ane lang tyme by-past, the quhilk ye do knaw. Bot for all that, I will in na wise accuse zow, nouther of zour lytill cair, and leist of all of zour promeis brokin, or of ye cauldnes of zour wryting, sen I am ellis sa far maid zouris, yat yat quhilk pleisis zow is acceptabill to me; and mythochtis ar as willingly subdewit unto zouris, that I suppois yat all that cummis of zow proceidis not be ony of the causis forsaid, bot rather for sic {such} as be just and ressonabill, and sic as I desyre myself. Quhilk is the fynal order that ze promysit to tak for the suretie and honorabil service of ye only uphald of my lyfe. For quhilk alone I will preserve the same, and without the quhilk I desyre not bot suddane deith, and to testifie unto zow how lawly I submit me under zour commandementis, I have send zow, in signe of homage, be Paris, the ornament of the heid, quhilk is the chief gude of the uther memberis, inferring thairby that, be ye seising {placing} of zow in the possessioune of the spoile of that quhilk is principall, the remnant cannot be bot subject unto zow, and with consenting of the hart. In place thairof, sen I have ellis left it unto zow, I send unto zow ane sepulture of hard stane, collourit with blak, sawin with teiris and bones. The stane I compair to my hart, that as it is carvit in ane sure sepulture or harbor of zour commandementis, and above all, of zour name and memorie that ar thairin inclosit, as is my heart in this ring, never to cum furth, quhill deith grant unto yow to ane trophee of victorie of my banes, as the ring is fullit, in signe that yow haif maid ane full conqueis of me, of myne hart, and unto yat my banes be left unto yow in remembrance of your victorie and my acceptabill lufe and willing, for to be better bestowit than I merite. The ameling that is about is blak, quhilk signifyis the steidfastness of hir that sendis the same. The teiris are without number, sa ar the dreddowris to displeis yow, the teiris of yourabsence, the disdane that I cannot be in outward effect youris, as I am without fenzeitnes of hart and spreit, and of gude ressoun, thocht my meritis wer mekle greiter then of the maist profite that ever was, and sic as I desyre to be, and sall tak pane in conditiounis to imitate, for to be bestowit worthylie under your regiment. My only wealth ressaif thairfoir in als gude part ye same, as I have ressavit your marriage with extreme joy, the quhilk sall not part furth of my bosum, quhill yat marriage of our bodyis be maid in publict, as signe of all that I outher hope or desyris of blis in yis warld. Zit my hart feiring to displeis you as mekle in the reiding heirof, as I delite me in ye writing, I will mak end, efter that I have kissit zour handis with als greit affectioun as, I pray God (O ye only uphald of my lyfe) to gif yow lang and blissit lyfe, and to me zour gude favour, as the only gude yat I desyre, and to ye quhilk I pretend. I have schawin unto this beirer that quhilk I have leirnit, to quhome I remit me, knawand the credite that ze gaif him, as scho dois that will be for ever unto zow humbill and obedient lauchfull wyfe, that for ever dedicates unto zow hir hart, hir body, without ony change, as unto him that I have maid possessour of my hart, of quhilk ze may hald zow assurit, yat unto ye deith sall na wayis be changeit, for evill nor gude sall never mak me go from it.

The original French version of this letter is in the Record Office (State Papers, Mary Queen of Scots, vol. ii. p. 66). It is printed by Mr. Henderson, and by Hosack. No Latin or French version of it was printed in theDetectio.

I have walkit laiter thair up then I wald have done, gif it had not bene to draw sumthing out of him, quhilk this beirer will schaw zow; quhilk is the fairest commodity {i.e.the most suitable opportunity} that can be offerit to excuse zour affairis. I have promysit to bring him the morne. Put ordour to it, gif ze find it gude.

Now, Schir, I have brokin my promeis; becaus ze commandit me nouther to wryte nor send unto zow Zit I have not done this to offend zow, and gif ze knew the feir yat I have presently, ze wald not have sa mony contrary suspiciounis in your thocht; quhilk notwithstanding I treit and chereis, as proceeding from the thing in the warld that I maist desyre, and seikis fastest to haif, quhilk is zour gude grace; of the quhilk my behaviour sall assure me. As to me: I sall never dispair of it, and prayis zow, according to zour promeis, to discharge zour hart unto me, Utherwayis[65]I will think that my malhure, and the gude handling of hir that has not ye third part of the faithfull nor willing obedience unto zow that I beir, hes wyn, aganis my will, yat advantage over me, quhilk the second lufe of Jason wan; not that I will compair zow unto ane sa unhappy as he was, nor zitmyself to ane sa unpietifull ane woman as scho. Howbeit, ze caus me to be sumthing lyk unto hir in onything that tuichis zow, or yat may preserve and keip zow unto hir, to quhome only ze appertene; gif it be sa that I may appropriate that quhilk is wyn throch faithfull, zea only, lufiing of zow, as I do, and sall do all the dayis of my lyfe, for pane or evill that can cum thairof. In recompense of the quhilk, and of all the evillis quhilk ze have bene caus of to me, remember zow upon the place heir besyde.

I craif with that ze keip promeis to me the morne; but that we may meit togidder, and that ye gif na faith to suspiciounis without the certanetie of thame. And I craif na uther thing at God, but that ze may knaw that thing that is in my hart quhilk is zouris; and that he may preserve zow from all evill, at the leist sa lang as I have lyfe, quhilk I repute not precious unto me, except in sa far as it and I baith ar aggreabill unto zow. I am going to bed, and will bid zow gude nicht. Advertise me tymely in the morning how ze have fairin; for I will be in pane unto I get worde. Mak gude watch,[66]gif the burd eschaip out of the caige, or without hir mate. As ye turtur I sall remane alone for to lament the absence, how schort yat sa ever it be. This letter will do with ane gude hart, that thing quhilk I cannot do myself, gif it be not that I have feir that ze ar in sleiping, I durst not wryte this befoir Joseph, Bastiane, and Joachim, that did bot depart even quhen I began to wryte.

A French version of this letter is in the possession of the Marquis of Salisbury at Hatfield (cf.Calendar of Hatfield MSS.,I. 376-7) and has been printed by Mr. Henderson. ("Casket Letters," pp. 159-162.) It is here given in full, and the variations in the published Latin and French versions, and in the English translation at Halfield are indicated in the notes.

J'ay veillé plus tard la hault que je n'eusse fait si ce neust esté pour tirer ce que ce porteur vous dira que je treuve la plus belle commoditee pour excuser vostre affaire que se pourroit presenter. Je luy ay promise de le luy mener demain si vous le trouves bon mettes y ordre. Or monsieur j'ay ja rompu ma promesse. Car vous ne mavyes comande de vous envoier ni escrire si ne le fais pour vous offencer et si vous scavyes la craint que j'en ay vous nauries tant des subçons contrairs que toutesfois je cheris comme procedant de la chose du mond que je desire et cherche le plus c'est votre bonne grace de laquelle mes deportemens m'asseureront et je n'en disesperay jamais tant que selon vostre promesse vous m'en dischargeres vostre cœur aultrement[65b]je penserais que mon malheur et le bien composer de cœux qui n'ont le troisiesme partie de la fidelité ni voluntair obéissance que je vous porte auront gaigné sur moy l'avantage de la seconde amye de Jason. Non que je vous compare a un si malheureus ni moy a une si impitoiable. Combien que vous men fassies un peu resentir en chose qui vous touschat ou pour vous preserver et garder a celle a qui seulle vous aparteines si lon se peult approprier ce que lon acquiert par bien et loyalment voire uniquement aymer comme je fais et fairay toute ma vie pour pein ou mal que m'en puisse avenir. En recompence de quoy et des tous les maulx dont vous maves este cause, souvenes vousdu lieu icy pres. Je ne demande que vous me tennes promesse de main mais que nous truvions et que nadjousties foy au subçons quaures sans nous en certifier, et je ne demande a Dieu si non que coignoissies tout ce que je ay au cœur qui est vostre et quil vous preserve de tout mal au moyns durant ma vie qui ne me sera chère qu'autant qu'elle et moy vous serons agreables. Je m'en vois coucher et vous donner le bon soir mandes moy demain comme vous seres porté a bon heur. Car j'enseray en pein et faites bon guet[66b]si l'oseau sortira de sa cagé ou sens son per comme la tourtre demeurera seulle a se lamenter de l'absence pour court quelle soit-ce que je ne puis faire ma lettre de bon cœur {fera} si ce nestoit qui je {qy} peur que soyes endormy. Car je nay ose escrire devant Joseph et Bastienne et Joachim qui ne sont que partis quand J'ay commence.

My hart, alace! must the foly of ane woman quhais unthankfulness toward me ze do sufficiently knaw, be occasioun of displesure unto zow, considering yat I culd not have remeidit thairunto without knawing it? And sen that I persavit it, I culd not tell it zow, for that[67]I knew not how to uther thing will I tak upon me to do ony thing without knawledge of zour will, quhilk I beseik zow let me understand; for I will follow it all my lyfe mair willingly than zow sall declair it to me; and gif ze do not send me word this nicht quhat ze will that I sall do, I will red myself of it, and hesard[68]to caus it to be interprysit and takin in hand, quhilk micht be hurtfull to that quhairunto baith we do tend. And quhen scho sall be maryit, I beseik zowgive me ane, or ellis I will tak sic as sall content zow for their conditiounis; bot as for thair toungis or faithfulness towart zow I will not answer. I beseik zow yat ane opinioun of uther persoun be not hurtfull in zour mynde to my constancie, Mistrust me; bot quhen I will put zow out of dout and cleir myselfe, refuse it not, my deir lufe, and suffer me to make zow sum prufe be my obedince, my faithfulness, constancie, and voluntarie subjectioun, quhilk I tak for the plesandest gude that I micht ressaif, gif ze will accept it; and mak na ceremonie at it, for ze culd do me na greiter outrage nor give mair mortall grief.

[There is a French version of this letter in the Record Office (State Papers, Mary Queen of Scots, vol. ii. p. 63). It has been printed by Malcolm Laing (vol. iv. p. 202), Hosack (vol. i. p. 230), and Mr. Henderson (p. 165). The following variations are taken from the Record Office version. The other published French version follows the Scots, as also does the Latin.]

Alace! my Lord, quhy is zour traist put in ane persoun sa unworthie, to mistraist that quhilk is haillely zouris? I am wod {wild}. Ze had promysitme that ze wald send me word every day quhat I suld do. Ye haif done nathing yairof. I advertisit yow weill to tak heid of zour fals brother-in-law {Huntly}. He come to me, and without schawing me ony thing from zow, tald me that ze had willit him to wryte to zow that that I suld say, and quhair and quhen ze suld cum to me, and that that ze suld do tuiching him; and thairupon hes preichit[69]unto me yat it was ane fulische interpryse, and that with myne honour I culd never marry zow, seing that being maryit ze did cary me away, and yat his folkis wad not suffer it, and that the Lordis wald unsay yameselvis, and wald deny that thay had said. To be schort, he is all contrarie. I tald him that seeing I was cum sa far, gif ze did not withdraw zour self of zour self, that na perswasioun, nor deith itself suld mak me fail of my promeis. As tuiching the place ze are too negligent, pardoun me, to remit zour self thairof unto me. Cheis it zour self, and send me word of it. And in the meane tyme I am seik; I will differ {defer} as tuiching the mater it is to lait. It was not lang of me yat ze have not thocht thairupon in time. And gif ze had not mair changeit zour mynd sen myne absence, then I have; ye suld not be now to ask sic resolving. Weill, thair wantis nathing of my part; and seing that zour negligence dois put us baith in the danger of ane fals brother, gif it succeedet not weill I will never ryse agane. I send this beirer unto zow, for I dar not traist zour brother with thir letteris, nor with the diligence. He sall tell zow in quhat stait I am, and judge ze quhat amendment yir new ceremonies[70]have brocht unto me. I wald Iwer deid, for I se all gais ill. Ze promysit uther maner of mater of zour foirseing, bot absence hes power over zow, quha haif twa stringis to zour bow. Dispatch the answer that I faill not, and put na traist in your brother for this interpryse, for he hes tald it, and is also all aganis it. God give zow gude nicht.

Of the place and ye tyme,[71]remit my self to zour brother and to zow. I will follow him, and will faill in nathing of my part. He finds mony difficulteis; I think he dois advertise zow thairof, and quhat he desyris for the handling of himself. As for the handling of myself, I hard it anis weill devysit.[72]

Methinkis that zour services, and the lang amitie, having ye gude will of ye Lordis, do weill deserve ane pardoun, gif above the dewtie of ane subject yowadvance yourself, not to constrane me,[73]bot to assure yourself of sic place neir unto me, that uther admonitiounis or forane {foreign} perswasiounis may not let {hinder} me from consenting to that, that ye hope your service sall mak yow ane day to attene; and to be schort, to mak yourself sure of the Lordis and fre to mary; and that ye are constranit for your suretie, and to be abill to serve me faithfully, to use ane humbil requeist, joynit to ane importune actioun.

And to be schort, excuse yourself, and perswade thame the maist ye can, yat ye ar constranit to mak persute aganis zour enemies. Ze sall say aneuch, gif the mater or ground do lyke yow, and mony fair wordis to Lethingtoun. Gif ye lyke not the deid, send me word, and leif not the blame of all unto me.

[Of this letter there is no version in the Record Office, the only other version being the published French translation].

My Lord, sen my letter written, zour brother in law yat was, come to me verray sad, and hes askit me my counsel, quhat he suld do efter to morne, becaus thair be mony folkis heir, and among utheris the Erle of Sudderland, quha wald rather die, considdering the gude thay have sa laitlie ressavit of me, than suffer me to be caryit away, thay conducting me; and that he feirit thair suld sum troubil happin of it:of the uther syde, that it suld be said that he wer unthankfull to have betrayit me. I tald him, that he suld have resolvit with zow upon all that, and that he suld avoyde, gif he culd, thay that were maist mistraistit.

He has resolvit to wryte thairof to zow be my opinioun; for he has abaschit me to se him sa unresolvit at the neid. I assure myself he will play the part of an honest man. Bot I have thocht gude to advertise zow of the feir he hes yat he suld be charget and accusit of tressoun to ye end yat, without mistraisting him, ze may be the mair circumspect, and that ze may have ye mair power. For we had zisterday mair then iii. c. hors of his and of Levingstoun's. For the honour of God, be accompanyit rather with mair then les; for that is the principal of my cair.

I go to wryte my dispatche, and pray God to send us ane happy enterview schortly. I wryte in haist, to the end ye may be advysit in tyme.

[There are no important variants in the only other version of this letter—the published French translation.]The following are theFrench versions of the first sentence of each letter, printed in the Scots translation, published in London in 1572 (p. 163).Letter I.Il semble qu' avecques vostre abscence soit joynt le oubly,[74]ceu qu'au partir vous me promistes de vos nouvelles. Et toutes foys je n'en puis apprendre, &c.Letter II.Estant party du lieu ou je avois laissé mon cœur il se peult aysément juger quelle estoit ma contenance, veu ce qui peult un corps sans cœur, qui à esté cause que jusques à la Disnée je n'ay pas tenu grand propos, aussi personne ne s'est voulu advancer jugeant bien qu'il n'y faisoit bon, &c.Letter III.Monsieur, si l'ennury de vostre absence, celuy devostre oubly, la crainte du danger, tant provué[75]d'un chacun à vostre tant aymée personne, &c.Letter IV.J'ay veillé plus tard la haut que je n'eusse fait, si ce n'eust esté pour tirer ce que ce porteur vous dira, que je trouve la plus belle commodité pour excuser vostre affaire qui ce purroit présenter, &c.Letter V.Mon cœur, helas! fault il que la follie d'une femme, dont vous cognoissez assez l'ingratitude vers moy, soit cause de vous donner desplaisir, &c.Letter VI.Monsieur, helas! pourquoy est vostre fiance mise en personne si indigne, pour soupconner ce qui est entierement vostre. J'enrage, vous m'aviez promis, &c.Letter VII.Du lieu et l'heure[76]je m'en rapporte à vostre frere et à vous. Je le suivray, et ne fauldray en rien de ma part. Il trouve beaucoup de difficultez, &c.Letter VIII.Monsieur, de puis ma lettre escrite vostre beau frere qui fust, est venu à moy fort triste, et m'a demandé mon conseil de ce qu'il feroit apres demain, &c.The slight variations in the other French versions are noted above. There are no Record Office or Hatfield versions of I., II., VII., and VIII., and there is no "Published French" version of III.

[There are no important variants in the only other version of this letter—the published French translation.]

The following are theFrench versions of the first sentence of each letter, printed in the Scots translation, published in London in 1572 (p. 163).

Letter I.Il semble qu' avecques vostre abscence soit joynt le oubly,[74]ceu qu'au partir vous me promistes de vos nouvelles. Et toutes foys je n'en puis apprendre, &c.

Letter II.Estant party du lieu ou je avois laissé mon cœur il se peult aysément juger quelle estoit ma contenance, veu ce qui peult un corps sans cœur, qui à esté cause que jusques à la Disnée je n'ay pas tenu grand propos, aussi personne ne s'est voulu advancer jugeant bien qu'il n'y faisoit bon, &c.

Letter III.Monsieur, si l'ennury de vostre absence, celuy devostre oubly, la crainte du danger, tant provué[75]d'un chacun à vostre tant aymée personne, &c.

Letter IV.J'ay veillé plus tard la haut que je n'eusse fait, si ce n'eust esté pour tirer ce que ce porteur vous dira, que je trouve la plus belle commodité pour excuser vostre affaire qui ce purroit présenter, &c.

Letter V.Mon cœur, helas! fault il que la follie d'une femme, dont vous cognoissez assez l'ingratitude vers moy, soit cause de vous donner desplaisir, &c.

Letter VI.Monsieur, helas! pourquoy est vostre fiance mise en personne si indigne, pour soupconner ce qui est entierement vostre. J'enrage, vous m'aviez promis, &c.

Letter VII.Du lieu et l'heure[76]je m'en rapporte à vostre frere et à vous. Je le suivray, et ne fauldray en rien de ma part. Il trouve beaucoup de difficultez, &c.

Letter VIII.Monsieur, de puis ma lettre escrite vostre beau frere qui fust, est venu à moy fort triste, et m'a demandé mon conseil de ce qu'il feroit apres demain, &c.

The slight variations in the other French versions are noted above. There are no Record Office or Hatfield versions of I., II., VII., and VIII., and there is no "Published French" version of III.

Henderson's Casket Letters.

The "divers fond ballads" referred to in the letter of Elizabeth's Commissioners of October 11th, 1568, consist of the following "sonnets" in French.The sonnets are printed from the English edition of Buchanan'sDetection(1571). The lines in italics are translated from the Scots by Professor York Powell.

The "divers fond ballads" referred to in the letter of Elizabeth's Commissioners of October 11th, 1568, consist of the following "sonnets" in French.

The sonnets are printed from the English edition of Buchanan'sDetection(1571). The lines in italics are translated from the Scots by Professor York Powell.

1. O Dieux ayez de moy compassion,Et m'enseignez quelle preuue certain{e}Ie puis donner qui ne luy semble vain{e}De mon amour & ferme affection.Las n'est il pas ia en possessionDu corps, du coeur qui ne refuse paineNy deshonneur, en[77]la vie incertaine,Offense de parentz, ne pire affliction?[78]Pour luy {tous mes} amis estime moins que rien,Et d{e mes} ennemis ie veux esperer bien.I'ay hazardé {pour luy} & nom & conscience:Ie veux pour luy au monde renoncer:Ie veux mourir pour le fair'[79]auancer.Que reste il plus pour prouuer ma constance?2. Entre ses mains & en son plein pouuoir,Je metz mon filz, mon honneur, & ma vie,Mon pais, mes[80]subjectz, mon ame assubiectieEst tout à luy, & n'ay autre voulloirPour mon obiect, que sans le deceuoirSuiure ie veux, malgré toute l'enuieQu'issir en peult, car ie n'ay autre envieQue de ma foy, luy faire apperceuoirQue pour tempeste ou bonnace qui faceIamais ne veux changer demeure ou place.Brief ie feray de ma foy telle preuue,Qu'il cognoistra sans faulte[81]ma constance,Non par mes pleurs ou fainte obeyssance,Come autres font,[82]mais par diuers espreuue.3. Elle pour son honneur vous doibt obeyssanceMoy vous obeyssant i'en puis receuoir blasmeN'estât, à mon regret, comme elle vostre femme.Et si n'aura pourtant en ce point preeminencePour son propre profit[83]elle vse de coustance,Car ce n'est peu d'honneur d'estre de voz biens dameEt moy pour vous aymer i'en puis receuoir blasmeEt ne luy veux ceder en toute l'obseruance:Elle de vostre mal n'à l'apprehensionMoy ie n'ay nul repos tant ie crains l'apparence:Par l'aduis des parentz, elle eut vostre accointanceMoy malgré tous les miens vous porte affection{Et neanmoins, mon cœur, vous doubtez ma constance}[84]Et de sa loyauté prenez ferme asseurance.4. Par vous mon coeur & par vostre allianceElle à remis sa maison en honneurElle à jouy par vous de[85]la grandeurDont tous les siens n'ayent nul asseuranceDe vous, mon bien, elle à eu l'ac coinstance,[86]Et à gaigné pour vn temps vostre coeur,Par vous elle à eu plaisir en bon heur,Et par vous a[87]honneur & reuerence,Et n'a perdu sinon la jouyssanceD'vn fascheux sot qu'elle aymoit cherement,Ie ne la playns d'aymer donc ardamment,Celuy qui n'à en sens, ny en vaillance,En beauté, en bonté, ny en constancePoint de seçond. Ie vis en ceste foy.[88]5. Quant vous l'amiez, elle vsoit de froideur.Sy vous souffriez pour s'amour passionQui vient d'aymer de trop d'affection,Son doy monstroit, a tristesse de coeurN'ayant plaisir de vostre grand ardeur.En ses habitz, monstroit sans fictionQu'elle n'auoit paour qu'imperfectionPeust l'effacer hors de ce loyal coeur.De vostre mort ie ne vis la peaur[89]Que meritoit tel mary & seigneur.Somme, de vous elle à eu tout son bienEt na prisé ne iamais estiméVn si grand heur sinon puis qu'il n'est sienEt maintenant dit l'auoir tant aymé.6. Et maintenant elle commence à voirQu'elle estoit bien de mauuais iugementDe n'estimer l'amour d'vn tel amantEt voudrait bien mon amy deceuoir,Par les escriptz tout fardez de scauoirQui pourtant n'est en son esprit croissantAins emprunté de quelque autheur luissantA faint tresbien vn ennoy[90]sans l'avoirEt toutesfois ses parolles fardeez,Ses pleurs, ses plaincts remplis de fictions.Et ses hautz cris & lamentationsOnt tant gaigné que par vous sont gardéezSes lettres {escriptes} ausquellez vous donnez foyEt si l'aymez & croyez plus que moy.7. Vous la croyez las trop ie l'apperçoyEt vous doutez de ma ferme constance,O mon seul bien & mon seul esperance,Et ne vous puis ie asseurer de ma foyVous m'estimez plus legier que le noy,[91]Et si n'auez en moy nul' asseurance,Et soupçonnez mon coeur sans apparence,Vous deffiant à trop grand tort de moy.Vous ignorez l'amour que ie vous porteVous soupçonnez qu'autre amour me trâsporte,Vous estimez mes parolles du vent,Vous depeignez de cire mon las coeurVous me pensez femme sans iugement,Et tout sela augmente mon ardeur.8. Mon amour croist & plus en plus croistraTant que je viure &[92]tiendray à grandeur,Tant seulement d'auoir part en ce coeurVers qui en fin mon amour paroistraSy tres à clair que iamais n'en doutra,{Pur luy je lutterai contre malheur}[93]Pour luy ie veux recercher la grandeur,Et feray tant qu'en vray cognoistera,Que ie n'ay bien, heur, ne contentement,Qu'a l'obeyr & servir loyaument.Pour luy iattendz toute bonne fortune,Pour luy ie veux garder sainté & viePour luy vertu de suyure i'ay enuie[94]Et sans changer me trouvera tout vne.9. Pour luy aussi ie jette mainte larme.Premier quand il se fist de ce corps {posses}seur,Duquel alors il n'auoit pas le coeur.Puis me donna vn autre dur alarmeQuand il versa de son sang mainte dragmeDont de grief il me vint telle[95]doleur,M'en pensay[96]oster la vie en frayeurDe perdre la{s} le seul rempar qui m'arme.Pour luy depuis iay mesprise l'honneurCe qui nous peult seul pouruoir de bonheur.Pour luy hazarde grandeur & conscience.Pour luy {tous mes} i'ay quité parentz, & amis,Et tous autres respectz sont apart mis.Brief de vous seul ie cherche l'alliance.10. De vous, ie dis, seul soustein de ma vieTant seulement ie cerche m'asseurer,Et si ose de moy tant presumerDe vous gaigner maugré toute l'enuie.Car c'est le seul desir de vostre {chere} amie,De vous seruir & loyaument aymer,Et tous malheurs moins que riens estimer,{Et} vostre volonté de mon mie{ux} suivie,[97]Vous cognoistrez avecque obeyssanceDe mon {loyal} deuoir n'omettant la scianceA quoy ie estudiray pour {tousiours} vous complaireSans aymer rien que vous, soubz {la} suiection.De qui ie veux sans nulle fictionVivre & mourir & à ce j'obtempere.11. Mon coeur, mon sang, mon ame, & mon soucy,{Las,} vous m'auez promis qu'aurons ce plaisirDe deuiser auecques vous à loysir,Toute la nuict, ou ie languis icyAyant le coeur d'extreme paour transy,Pour voir absent le but de mon desirCrainte d'oublir vn coup me vient {a} saisir:Et l'autre fois ie crains que rendurcieSoit contre moy vostre amiable coeurPar quelque dit d'un meschant rapporteur.Un autre fois ie crains quelque auentureQui par chemin detourne mon amant,Par vn fascheux & nouueau accident.Dieu detourne tout malheureux augure.12. Ne vous voyant selon qu'auez promisI'ay mis la main au papier pour escrireD'vn different que ié voulu transcrire,Ie ne scay pas quel sera vostre aduisMais ie scay bien qué mieux aymer scauraVous diriez bien que plus y gaignera.

2. Entre ses mains & en son plein pouuoir,Je metz mon filz, mon honneur, & ma vie,Mon pais, mes[80]subjectz, mon ame assubiectieEst tout à luy, & n'ay autre voulloirPour mon obiect, que sans le deceuoirSuiure ie veux, malgré toute l'enuieQu'issir en peult, car ie n'ay autre envieQue de ma foy, luy faire apperceuoirQue pour tempeste ou bonnace qui faceIamais ne veux changer demeure ou place.Brief ie feray de ma foy telle preuue,Qu'il cognoistra sans faulte[81]ma constance,Non par mes pleurs ou fainte obeyssance,Come autres font,[82]mais par diuers espreuue.

3. Elle pour son honneur vous doibt obeyssanceMoy vous obeyssant i'en puis receuoir blasmeN'estât, à mon regret, comme elle vostre femme.Et si n'aura pourtant en ce point preeminencePour son propre profit[83]elle vse de coustance,Car ce n'est peu d'honneur d'estre de voz biens dameEt moy pour vous aymer i'en puis receuoir blasmeEt ne luy veux ceder en toute l'obseruance:Elle de vostre mal n'à l'apprehensionMoy ie n'ay nul repos tant ie crains l'apparence:Par l'aduis des parentz, elle eut vostre accointanceMoy malgré tous les miens vous porte affection{Et neanmoins, mon cœur, vous doubtez ma constance}[84]Et de sa loyauté prenez ferme asseurance.

4. Par vous mon coeur & par vostre allianceElle à remis sa maison en honneurElle à jouy par vous de[85]la grandeurDont tous les siens n'ayent nul asseuranceDe vous, mon bien, elle à eu l'ac coinstance,[86]Et à gaigné pour vn temps vostre coeur,Par vous elle à eu plaisir en bon heur,Et par vous a[87]honneur & reuerence,Et n'a perdu sinon la jouyssanceD'vn fascheux sot qu'elle aymoit cherement,Ie ne la playns d'aymer donc ardamment,Celuy qui n'à en sens, ny en vaillance,En beauté, en bonté, ny en constancePoint de seçond. Ie vis en ceste foy.[88]

5. Quant vous l'amiez, elle vsoit de froideur.Sy vous souffriez pour s'amour passionQui vient d'aymer de trop d'affection,Son doy monstroit, a tristesse de coeurN'ayant plaisir de vostre grand ardeur.En ses habitz, monstroit sans fictionQu'elle n'auoit paour qu'imperfectionPeust l'effacer hors de ce loyal coeur.De vostre mort ie ne vis la peaur[89]Que meritoit tel mary & seigneur.Somme, de vous elle à eu tout son bienEt na prisé ne iamais estiméVn si grand heur sinon puis qu'il n'est sienEt maintenant dit l'auoir tant aymé.

6. Et maintenant elle commence à voirQu'elle estoit bien de mauuais iugementDe n'estimer l'amour d'vn tel amantEt voudrait bien mon amy deceuoir,Par les escriptz tout fardez de scauoirQui pourtant n'est en son esprit croissantAins emprunté de quelque autheur luissantA faint tresbien vn ennoy[90]sans l'avoirEt toutesfois ses parolles fardeez,Ses pleurs, ses plaincts remplis de fictions.Et ses hautz cris & lamentationsOnt tant gaigné que par vous sont gardéezSes lettres {escriptes} ausquellez vous donnez foyEt si l'aymez & croyez plus que moy.

7. Vous la croyez las trop ie l'apperçoyEt vous doutez de ma ferme constance,O mon seul bien & mon seul esperance,Et ne vous puis ie asseurer de ma foyVous m'estimez plus legier que le noy,[91]Et si n'auez en moy nul' asseurance,Et soupçonnez mon coeur sans apparence,Vous deffiant à trop grand tort de moy.Vous ignorez l'amour que ie vous porteVous soupçonnez qu'autre amour me trâsporte,Vous estimez mes parolles du vent,Vous depeignez de cire mon las coeurVous me pensez femme sans iugement,Et tout sela augmente mon ardeur.

8. Mon amour croist & plus en plus croistraTant que je viure &[92]tiendray à grandeur,Tant seulement d'auoir part en ce coeurVers qui en fin mon amour paroistraSy tres à clair que iamais n'en doutra,{Pur luy je lutterai contre malheur}[93]Pour luy ie veux recercher la grandeur,Et feray tant qu'en vray cognoistera,Que ie n'ay bien, heur, ne contentement,Qu'a l'obeyr & servir loyaument.Pour luy iattendz toute bonne fortune,Pour luy ie veux garder sainté & viePour luy vertu de suyure i'ay enuie[94]Et sans changer me trouvera tout vne.

9. Pour luy aussi ie jette mainte larme.Premier quand il se fist de ce corps {posses}seur,Duquel alors il n'auoit pas le coeur.Puis me donna vn autre dur alarmeQuand il versa de son sang mainte dragmeDont de grief il me vint telle[95]doleur,M'en pensay[96]oster la vie en frayeurDe perdre la{s} le seul rempar qui m'arme.Pour luy depuis iay mesprise l'honneurCe qui nous peult seul pouruoir de bonheur.Pour luy hazarde grandeur & conscience.Pour luy {tous mes} i'ay quité parentz, & amis,Et tous autres respectz sont apart mis.Brief de vous seul ie cherche l'alliance.

10. De vous, ie dis, seul soustein de ma vieTant seulement ie cerche m'asseurer,Et si ose de moy tant presumerDe vous gaigner maugré toute l'enuie.Car c'est le seul desir de vostre {chere} amie,De vous seruir & loyaument aymer,Et tous malheurs moins que riens estimer,{Et} vostre volonté de mon mie{ux} suivie,[97]Vous cognoistrez avecque obeyssanceDe mon {loyal} deuoir n'omettant la scianceA quoy ie estudiray pour {tousiours} vous complaireSans aymer rien que vous, soubz {la} suiection.De qui ie veux sans nulle fictionVivre & mourir & à ce j'obtempere.

11. Mon coeur, mon sang, mon ame, & mon soucy,{Las,} vous m'auez promis qu'aurons ce plaisirDe deuiser auecques vous à loysir,Toute la nuict, ou ie languis icyAyant le coeur d'extreme paour transy,Pour voir absent le but de mon desirCrainte d'oublir vn coup me vient {a} saisir:Et l'autre fois ie crains que rendurcieSoit contre moy vostre amiable coeurPar quelque dit d'un meschant rapporteur.Un autre fois ie crains quelque auentureQui par chemin detourne mon amant,Par vn fascheux & nouueau accident.Dieu detourne tout malheureux augure.

12. Ne vous voyant selon qu'auez promisI'ay mis la main au papier pour escrireD'vn different que ié voulu transcrire,Ie ne scay pas quel sera vostre aduisMais ie scay bien qué mieux aymer scauraVous diriez bien que plus y gaignera.

Goodall, vol. ii. p. 54, from Cot. Lib. Calig., C. i.

At Seton, the 5th day of April, the year of God, 1567, the right excellent, right high and mightyPrincess, Mary, by the grace of God, Queen of Scots, ... in the presence of the Eternal God, faithfully, and on the word of a Prince, by these presents, takes the said James, Earl Bothwell, as her lawful husband, and promises and obliges her Highness, that how soon the process of divorce, intended betwixt the said Earl Bothwell and Dame Jane Gordon, now his pretended spouse, be ended by the order of the laws, her Majesty shall, God willing, thereafter shortly marry and take the said Earl to her husband.... He presently takes her Majesty as his lawful spouse, in the presence of God, and promises and obliges him ... that in all diligence possible, he shall prosecute and set forward the said process of divorce already begun and intended betwix him and the said Dame Gordon, his pretended spouse....

Marie, R.James, Earl Bothwell.

Here note, that this contract was made the v of April, within viii weeks after the murder of the King, which was slain the x of February before; also it was made vii days before Bothwell was acquitted, by corrupt judgment, of the said murder. Also it appears by the words of the contract itself, that it was made before sentence of divorce betwixt Bothwell and his former wife, and also in very truth was made before any suit of divorce intended or begun between him and his former wife, though some words in this contract seem to say otherwise, which is thus proved; for this contract is dated the v of April, and it plainly appears by the judicial acts, ... wherein iscontained the whole process of the divorce between the said Earl and Dame Jane Gordon his wife, that the one of the same processes was intended and begun the xxvi day of April, and the other the xxvii.—Buchanan's "Detection."

Nous Marie, par la grace de Dieu, Royne d'Ecosse, douaryere de France, &c., promettous fidellement et de bonne foy, et sans contraynte, à Jaques Hepburn, Comte de Boduel, de n'avoir jamais autre espoulx et mary que luy, et de le prendre pour tel toute et quant fois qu'il m'en requerira, quoy que parents, amys ou autres, y soient contrayres. Et puis que Dieu a pris mon feu mary Henry Stuart dit Darnley et que par ce moien je sois libre, n'estant sous obeissance de pere, ni de mere, des mayntenant je proteste que, lui estant en mesme liberté, je seray preste, et d'accomplir les ceremonies requises an mariage; que je lui promets devant Dieu, que j'en prantz a tesmoignasge, et la presente, signee de ma mayn: ecrit ce—

Marie, R.

[This contract merely promises to marry Bothwell, without constraint, and refers to the writer's freedom from the necessity of any one's permission, since Darnley's death. It contains no reference to the divorce.]

MORTON'S DECLARATION

Henderson's Casket Letters, pp. 113-116, from fol. 216, Add. MSS. 32,091, Brit. Mus.

The trew declaration and report of me, James, Earl of Morton, how a certain silver box overgiltcontaining diverse missive writings, sonnets, contracts, and obligations for marriage betwix the Queen mother to our sovereign lord, and James sometime Earl Bothwell, was found and used.

Upon Thursday the xix of June, 1567, I dined at Edinburgh, the Laird of Lethington, secretary, with me. At time of my dinner a certain man came to me, and in secret manner showed me that three servants of the Earl Bothwell, viz. Mr. Thomas Hepburn, parson of Auldhamesokkes, John Cockburn, brother to the laird of Skirling, and George Dalgleish were come to the town, and passed into the castle. Upon which advertisement I on the sudden sent my cousin Mr. Archibald Douglas and Robert Douglas, his brother, and James Johnston of Westerrall, with others my servants, to the number of xvi or thereby, toward the castle to make search for the said persons, and, if possible were, to apprehend them. According to which my direction, my servants passed, and at the first missing the forenamed three persons for that they were departed forth of the castle before their coming, my men then parting into several companies upon knowledge that the others whom they sought were separated, Mr. Archibald Douglas sought for Mr. Thomas Hepburn and found him not, but got his horse, James Johnston sought for John Cockburn and apprehended him, Robert Douglas seeking for George Dalgleish. After he had almost given over his search and inquisition a good fellow understanding his purpose came to him offering for a mean piece of money to reveal where George Dalgleish was. Thesaid Robert satisfying him that gave the intelligence for his pains, passed to the Potterrow beside Edinburgh, and there apprehended the said George, with divers evidences and letters in parchment, viz. Earl Bothwell's infeftments of Liddesdale, of the Lordship of Dunbar and of Orkney and Shetland, and divers others, which all with the said George himself, the said Robert brought and presented to me. And the said George being examined of the cause of his direction to the castle of Edinburgh, and which letters and evidents he brought forth of the same, alleged he was sent only to visit {examine} the Lord Bothwell, his master's clothing, and he had not more letters nor evidents than these which were apprehended with him. But his report being found suspicious and his gesture and behaviour ministering cause of mistrust seeing the gravity of the action that was in hand, it was resolved by common assent of the noblemen convened, that the said George Dalgleish should be surely kept that night, and upon the morn should be had to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh and there be put in the iron and torments for furthering of the declaration of the truth, wherein being set, upon Friday the xx day of the said month of June before any rigorous demeaning of his person, fearing the pain, and moved of conscience, he called for my cousin Mr. Archibald Douglas, who coming, the said George desired that Robert Douglas should be sent with him, and he should show and bring to light that which he had. So being taken forth from the irons, he passed with the said Robert to the Potterrow, and there, under the sceit {seat} of a bed took forth the said silverbox, which he had brought forth of the castle the day before, locked, and brought the same to me at viii hours at night, and because it was late I kept it all that night. Upon the morn, viz., Saturday, the xxi of June, in presence of the Earls of Atholl, Mar, Glencairn, myself, the Lords Home, Sempill, Sanquhar, the Master of Graham, and the Secretary, and Laird of Tullibardine, Comptroller, and the said Mr. Archibald Douglas, the said box was broken open because we wanted the key, and the letters within contained sighted {i.e.examined} and immediately thereafter delivered again into my hand and custody. Since which time, I have observed and kept the same box, and all letters, missives, contracts, sonnets, and divers writings contained therein fairly without alteration changing adding or diminishing of anything found or received in the said box. This I testify and declare to be undoubted truth.

This is the copy of that which was given to Mr. Secretary Cecil upon Thursday the 8th of December 1568.

This is the true copy of the declaration made and presented by the Earl of Morton to the Commissioners and Council of England sitting in Westminster for the time, upon Thursday being the 29 of December 1568.

Subscribed with his hand thus,Morton.

BUCHANAN'S DESCRIPTION

Translated from the History, book xviii. c. 51.

It happened that, about the same time, Bothwell sent one of his confidential servants to the castle ofEdinburgh, to bring to him the silver casket, covered with inscriptions, which had once belonged to the French king, Francis. In it were letters of the Queen, almost all written with her own hand, in which both the King's murder and the whole sequel were plainly discernible; and in almost every letter there was an injunction to burn it. But Bothwell, who knew the Queen's inconstancy, of which he had recently seen many instances, preserved the letters, so that, in any disagreement, he might use their testimony, and prove himself not the author of the crime, but only an accomplice. This casket Sir Robert Balfour gave to Bothwell's servant to take away; but first he told the leaders of the opposite party what had been sent, and the agent and the destination.... It was captured....

Goodall, vol. ii. p. 243, from Cott. Lib. Calig. i. 165.

... She {the Queen} caused take down the said new black bed {in Darnley's room}, saying it would be soiled with the bath, and in the place thereof set up an old purple bed, ... and the said keys that were delivered into the hands of Archibald Beton remained still in the hands of him, and others that awaited upon the Queen, and never were delivered again to the King's servants; for she set up a green bed for herself in the said low chamber, wherein she lay the said two nights, and promised also to have bidden {remained} there upon the Sunday at night. But after she had tarried long and entertained theKing very familiarly, she took purpose (as it had been on the sudden), and departed as she spake to give the masque to Bastien who that night was married {to} her servant, namely the said Archibald Beton and one Paris, Frenchman, having the keys of her chamber, wherein her bed stood in, as also of the passage that passed toward the garden.... The Queen being departed toward Holyrood-house, the King within the space of one hour passed to bed, and in the chamber with him lay umquhill {i.e.the late} William Taylor. The deponent and Edward Symonds lay in the little gallery, that went direct to the south out of the King's chamber, ... and beside them lay William Taylor's boy, who never knew of anything till the house wherein they lay was falling about them....

Back to Index Next