day sent him a Countermand but he then acquainted her Majesty that the Commission was already made and pass'd the Seal at which the Queen appear'd angry and blam'd him for his haste And indeed he had Communicated the business to several of the Council and perswaded them who were apt enough to believe what they desired that the Queen Commanded that it should be put in Execution without delay And so having obtain'd such Warrant and Commission they without her Majesties privity sent down one Beal with Authority directed to the Earls of Shrewsbury Kent Darby and others to see her Executed Which was perform'd accordingly The Manner and Circumstances whereof the Reader may find in the ensuing Narrative She was put to Death the 18th of February 1587. in the Six and fortieth year of her Age and 18th of her Confinement her Body being Honourably Buried in the Cathedeal of Peterborough and from thence afterwards removed by her Son King Jame's and laid under a Royal Monument in King Henry the Seventh's Chappel at Westminster Variously was this Action censur'd and I shall only say That though the Physick was violent and extraordinary yet it wrought a Cure and preserv'd the Body-politick from those Domestick Paroxisms of Treason and Rebellion that before daily disturb'd and endanger'd it for we do not find after that any or at least very few Conspiracies carried on against the Queens Life or the Government though she lived afterwards between 14 and 15 years For the Spanish Invasion though it happened two years after was not only a thing Foreign but Contriv'd and Design'd before the Queen of Scots Death And as for the Proceedings against the Earl of Arundel the Crimes for which he was prosecuted had their Rise likewise in precedent times For first having been questioned and confined to his House and then set at Liberty he attempted to fly beyond Sea and therefore was Committed to the Tower not only for the same but likewise for Harbouring Priests and Corresponding with Allen and Parsons the Jesuits was fined 10000 Marks and afterwards continuing his Disloyal practises was for the Reasons in the following Papers specified Condemned though by the Queens mercy Reprieved and dyed naturally in the Tower in the year 1595. Two things further I must Remark 1. What a strange Bias and almost prodigious Influence Popery has even on the best dispositions prevailing so far with this unfortunate Earl that even contrary to Nature it self and yet bate but his Religion he is Represented as a good-Natur'd man He rejoyced with hopes of the Ruine of his Countrey 2ly That if you look over the Lists of the Lords Commissionated in these Transactions you will find them to be of great and ancient Houses and though some of their Families have almost ever since been of the Roman perswasion yet they were then so well satisfied with the Proceedings that we meet not with One Voice pronouncing a Not Guilty in all the three Tryals History is one of the best Tutors of Policy whereby the Ingenious will easily perceive how far former Occurrences hold parallel with or may be considered in relation to Modern Affairs THE Reader may be pleas'd to correct the Errata's p. 2. instead of 1588. the year of the Marriage of the Queen of Scots should be 1558. And in other places the Names Gray for Grey Perian for Periam and some other literal mistakes and faults by the Context may easily be rectified or pardoned The whole Discourse of the Duke of Norfolks Arraignement the 17th day of January Anno 1571. in the 14th year of the Raign of our Soveraigne Lady Queen Elizabeth c. FIrst the O yes was made by Littleton a Serjeant at Arms and then Proclamation Cryer Lo. Steward was made as followeth viz. My Lords grace the Queens Majesties Commissioner High Steward of England doth Charge every man to keep silence and hear the Queens Majesties Commission Read The same Commission was read by Mr. Sands Clarke of the Crown of the Kings Bench the Test whereof was the 14th day of February Anno Elizabethoe Sands Reg. 14th then was a large White Rod delivered to my Lord Steward by Garter Principal King at Armes who held the same a while Lo. Steward Garter Norris Serjeant at Armes Call of the Court. and after delivered it to Mr. Norris the Great Vsher who held the same all the time of the Arraignement Then was called Thomas Edwards Serjeant at Armes and willed to return his Writ which being returned was read Then was called all the Earls Vicounts and Barons summoned to appear there that day and every one to answer to their Names the Earls and Lords that sate there that day were these following viz. Earles Vicount Lords 1. Reginald Gray Earl of Kent 2. William Somerset Earl of Worcester 3. Thomas Ratlife Earl of Sussex 4. Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington 5. Ambrose Dudly Earl of Warwick 6. Francis Russel Earl of Bedford 7. William Herbert Earl of Penbroke 8. Robert Dudly Earl of Leicester 9. Edward Seymor Earl of Hartford 10. Walter Devereux Vicount Hereford 11. Edward Fynes Lord Clinton 12. William Howard Lord of Effingham 13. William Cecil Lord Burleigh 14. Arthur Gray Lord Wilton 15. James Blunt Lord Mountjoy 16. William Lord Sands 17. Thomas Lord Wentworth 18. William Lord Borrough 19. Lewis Lord Mordant 20. John Pawlet Lord S. John 21. Robert Lord Rich. 22. Roger Lord North. 23. Edward Lord Chandois 24. Oliver Lord S. John of Bletsoe 25. Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst 26. Lord De-La-Ware Nine Earls One Vicount and Sixteen Lords in all Twenty Six Then was Robert Catlin Chief Justice of England Commanded to return his Precept upon the peril should follow thereof which was returned and read Then was called the Lieutenant of the Tower to return his Lieutenant Duke Precept and to bring forth his Prisoner Thomas Duke of Norfolke Then was the Duke brought to the Bar being held between Sir Owin Hopton on the right hand and Sir Peter Carew on the left hand And next unto Sir Peter stood one holding the Axe of the Tower with the Edge from Axe of the Tower the Duke The Duke immediately at his comming to the Bar viewed all the Lords both on the Right hand and on the left hand of the Lord Steward Then the Lieutenant delivered in the Precept which was Read And then was Proclamation made that every man should keep silence And Mr. Sands spake to the Prisoner in this manner Thomas Duke of Norfolke Proclamation Sands late of Hemming Hall in the County of Norfolke hold up thy Hand which done he Read the Indictment the Effect whereof was That the 26th day of September in the 11th year of the Queens Majesties Reign and before and after he did Traiterously compact and imagine to deprive and destroy and to put to Death our Sovereign Lady the Queen and to raise Rebellion to subvert the Common-Wealth and so stir up Forraigners to invade the
about the Scaffold went a Rail half a Yard high round covered with black Cotton so was her Stool the Boards and the Block and a Pillow to kneel upon There did sit upon the Scaffold the two Earls the Sheriff stood and the two Executiones When they were placed Mr. Beale Clerk of the Council did read her Majesties Commission aforesaid under the great Seal after which the Dean of Peterborough by direction of the Lords being provided began to speak unto her for her better preparation to die as a penitent Christian in the true faith of Christ But when he began his exhortation she staid him immediately refusing to hear him and said she had nothing to do with him nor he with her for she was settled in the Catholick Roman Faith which she would die in Then the Earl of Kent willed Mr. Dean to pray for her that if it might stand with Gods Will she might have her heart lightned with the true knowledg of God and die therein which was pronounced by him accordingly and followed of the beholders All which while she having a Crucifix of white bone between her hands prayed in Latin very loud prayer being ended she kneeled down and prayed to this effect for Christs afflicted Church and an end of their troubles for her Son for the Queens Majesty that she might prosper and serve God and confessed that she hoped to be saved only by the blood of Jesus Christ at the foot of whose Crucifix she would shed her blood that God would avert his plagues from this Island that God would give her grace and forgiveness of her sins Then she rose up and was by both the Executioners disrobed She said she was not wont to be undressed by such Grooms and desired to have two of her Gentlewomen to unrobe her the which was granted and being stripped into her Petticoat which being done she kissed her women and willed them not to cry for her but to rejoice and lifted up her hand and blessed them and also her men not standing far off Then she kneeled down most resolutely without all fear of death and after one of her women had knit a Kerchew before her eyes she spake aloud the Psalm in Latin In te Domine confido non confundor in eternum Justitia tua libera me Then lay she down and stretched out her body and her neck upon the Block she cryed In manus tuus Domine c. and so received two stroaks The people cryed God save the Queen and so perish all Papists and her Majesties enemies All things were taken from the Executioners and not suffered to have so much as the Aprons before they were washed the Blood and Cloaths and whatsoever was bloody was burned in the fire made in the Chimney in the Hall and by the Scaffold The whole discourse of the Arraignment of Philip Howard Earl of Arundel the 18th day of April 1589. and in the 31st year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth FRom the outward Bar in the Kings-Bench was there a Court made of Thirty Foot square within which was a Table of Twelve Foot square The form of the Scaffold covered with Green Cloth and in the same Court were Benches to sit upon covered with Green Say in the midst of the same Court at the upper end was placed a Cloth of State with a Chair and Cushion for the Lord Steward from the midst of the same Court to the midst of the Hall was built a Gallery for the Prisoner to come upon to the Court in length One Hundred and Ten Foot and in breadth Fifteen Foot and in height from the ground Six Foot railed round about and going down with Seven Steps Between Eight and Nine of the Clock in the morning the Earl of Derby Earl of Derby Lord Steward Lord Steward his Grace entered the Hall attended on by divers Noblemen and Officers Four Serjeants at Arms with their Maces waiting before him next before his Grace the Earl of Oxford Lord great Chamberlain of England My Lord of Derby's Grace being seated in his Chair of State every Nobleman was placed in his degree by Garter King of Heraults At his Graces feet did sit Mr. Winckefield one of her Majesties Gentlemen-Ushers holding a long white Wand in his hand being accompanied with Mr. Norris Serjeant of the Garter Before them did sit Mr. Sands Clerk of the Crown of the Kings-Bench Opposite against my Lord's Grace did sit the Queens Majesties Learned Council viz. 1. Sejeant Puckering 2. Serjeant Shettleworth 3. Mr. Popham the Queens Attorney-General 4. Mr. Edgerton the Queens Solicitor The Names of the Commissioners on the right hand sitting upon a lower Bench under the Lords of the Jury 1. SIR Francis Knowles Knight Treasurer of the Houshold Commissioners on the right hand 2. Sir James Acrofte Knight Controler of the Houshold 3. Sir John Parrat one of her Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council 4. Mr. Woolley Secretary of the Latin tongue of the Privy-Council 5. John Fortescue Master of the Wardrobe and of the Privy-Council 6. Dr. Dale one of the Masters of Request to her Majesty 7. William Fleetwood Serjeant at Law and Recorder of London 8. Mr. Rockby Master of Requests and Master of St. Katherines The Names of the Comissioners on the left hand 9. THE Lord Chief Justice of England 10. The Master of the Rolls Commissioners on the left hand 11. The Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. 12. The Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer 13. Justice Perryman of the Common Pleas. 14. Justice Gamdy of the Kings Bench. The Serjeant at Arms usually attendant on the Lord Chancellor named Roger Wood was commanded to make on O Yes Three times Roger Wood. Cryer Then Mr. Sands Clerk of the Crown read the Commission And Sir Francis Knowles Knight gave up the Verdict of the great Assize Verdict Then was called Mathew Spencer Serjeant at Arms to return his Precept which was returned and read After that the Noblemen and Peers of the Jury for his Tryal were severally called by their Names as followeth 1. William Lord Burleigh Lord Treasurer of England 2. Edward of Oxford Lord great Chamberlain of England 3. William Lord Marquess of Winchester 4. Henry Earl of Kent 5. Henry Earl of Sussex 6. Henry Earl of Pembrook 7. Edward Earl of Hartford 8. Henry Earl of Lincoln 9. Henry Lord Hundsdon Lord Chamberlain of her Majesties Houshold 10. Peregrin Lord Willoby and Earsby 11. Lord Morley 12. Lord Cobham 13. Arthur Lord Gray 14. Lord Darcy of the North. 15. Lord Sands 16. Lord Wentworth 17. Lord Willoughby of Parham 18. Lord North. 19. Lord Rich. 20. Lord St. John of Bletsoe 21. Lord Buckhurst 22. Lord De La Ware 23. Lord Norris Then the Lieftenant of the Tower was called to return his Precept and to bring forth his Prisoner Philip Earl of Arundel The Earl came into Lieftenant the Hall being in a wrought Velvet Gown furred about with
procure the Estates of Scotland to confirm them by publick Authority 7. The King himself also should ratifie them by Oath and by writing 8. And that Hostages should be given But these Consultations proved Abortive the Scots rejecting them and besides Queen Elizabeth had notice that Holt an English Jesuit was sesecretly sent into Scotland not without the Scottish Queens privity as was suggested to use means there for an Invasion of England And indeed the Queen of Scots was too much addicted to and influenced by the Jesuites and their Councils who as they made use of her name to colour their traiterous designs against Queen Elizabeth and therefore gave out as if they had acted out of pure zeal to the Family of the Stuarts as many of them will boast to this very day yet 't is plain that in all these stirs they really minded nothing but their own Interest for when they met with so many disappointments in their Plots to bring the said Scottish Queen before her time to the English Crown and withal despaired of turning her Son King James to their Religion they presently began to start variety of new Titles witness Parsons alias Doleman's Book of Succession and other Pamphlets by them flung abroad about those times Nay 't is more than suspected that as they egg'd on the Scottish Queen to ill practises against Queen Elizabeth so when they had done imitating their Father the Devil who first tempts and then accuses they betray'd her too by making a secret discovery of those very Conspiracies in which they themselves had engag'd her and so were treacherously instrumental to hasten her death hoping to take off Queen Elizabeth and put by King James and play a new Game more for their advantage with some other Pretender as will more fully appear by and by But to return in the mean time to our History King James being as you heard in little better Condition than that of a Prisoner to Earl Gowry and his Confederates or at least esteeming himself as such on a sudden with a small Company conveyed himself to the Castle of St. Andrews being then about 18 years of Age to whom several of the Nobility with armed Troops repaired and then he began to exercise his Royal Authority of himself and declared in a great Assembly of the States the Force before upon him to have been traiterously imposed yet thought it most safe not to proceed with Rigour against his Surprizers only advising them to depart the Court and promised them pardon if they would ask it within a time limited which they declining fled some into England and others into other parts only Gowry attempting a new Conspiracy soon after lost his life It was now the year 1584. And in England divers lewd Books were spread by the Jesuits and other Popish Factors asserting that Princes Excommunicated as Queen Elizabeth for sometime before had been by the Pope were not to have any Allegiance paid unto them but ought to be deposed c. These Seeds soon ripen'd into rank fruits of Treason and Rebellion and had so far intoxicated one Sommervile a Popish Gentleman that coming privately to Court and full of rage against all Protestants he with his drawn Sword assaulted several persons and being apprehended declared like a stout Roman Champion that he would murder the Queen with his own hands whereupon he and one Arden an ancient Warwick-shire Gentleman his Father in Law were executed but Hall a Priest that excited them to this madness got a Reprieve Likewise one Throgmorton eldest Son of John Throgmorton Chief Justice of Chester was discovered by intercepted Letters directed to the Queen of Scots to have entertain'd Treasonable correspondencies with Popish Princes beyond the Seas and chiefly with the Guises who had resolv'd to invade England and free the Queen of Scots And for raising of money to carry on the work here one Paget under the counterfeit name of Mope was sent into Sussex where the Forreiners were first to Land and to facilitate their purposes he had prepar'd two Catalogues found in his Chests one of the names and descriptions of all the Ports of England the other of the Nobilitry and Gentry that favoured the Romish Religion and that he had communicated all this to Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador then in England whereupon he was condemned and though he had twice confess'd the fact yet like our Modern Popish Traitors at the Gallows he stoutly deny'd all and would needs be thought to dye as innocent as the child unborn However Mendoza having thus violated and forfeited the Priviledg of an Ambassador was commanded forthwith to depart with shame at which the Spanish Court being dissatisfied the Queen sent over Sir William Wade to justify the Action But the King of Spain not admitting him into his presence but slightingly putting him off to his Ministers he in disdain refus'd to communicate it at all and so returned home unheard whereby a greater animosity arose between the two Crowns Nor were the Popish party less busy in fomenting disturbances in Ireland where Dr. Saunders that had wrote several Pestilent Books having drawn in the Earl of Desmond to Rebellion and finding him defeated and his Head sent into England died miserably of famine as he roamed up and down the Mountains guilty and desperate as Cain fearing each man he met would deservedly slay him Likewise about the same time Providence was pleas'd in a wonderful manner to make a discovery of some other practises in agitation against Queen Elizabeth for one Creighton a Scottish Jesuit sailing in a small Vessel from the Low-Countries to Scotland certain Sea-rovers of Holland which then was revolted and at enmity with the rest of the Subjects of the Spanish King happening to come up with them took the said Ship and though the Jesuit to conceal his Instructions and mischievous errand tore several of his Papers to pieces and flung them over-board yet the wind miraculously as he himself confest afterwards drove them back again and cast them upon the Deck which the Hollanders perceiving and imagining that they might be of consequence gather'd them up carefully and sent them to England where by the great skill and industry of Sir William Wade they were so join'd together again that the Contents were legible and the Conspiracies on foot detected The good Subjects of England finding their Country in this danger from abroad and the life of their Queen whereon the safety of their Religion and Liberties did seem at that juncture wholly under God to depend daily attempted by various Plots and Machinations at home all carried on by Papists out of a prospect of a Popish Successor did think fit of their own accord solemnly to oblige themselves each to other for her safety and to revenge her death on any that should occasion it which agreement they call'd an Association and was entred into by abundance of persons of all ranks and conditions throughout the Nation The Tenor whereof was
the Duke was one of the Commissioners for the hearing of the Cause betwixt the late Scottish Queen and the Lords of Scotland at which time the Duke took an Oath to deal directly therein and to weigh uprightly both the occasions and answers wherein notwitstanding he dealt indirectly and partially thereby committing Perjury and disclosing the Queens Secrets if he will deny it then we will prove it Then said the Duke The Case hath divers parts cleane out of the Compass of Treason Then said Mr. Barnham I require Duke Barnham Duke knowledge if he knew the Claiming of the Crown The Duke did here digress and answered not directly Wherefore the Lord Steward said Lord Steward Your Lordship must answer directly And after upon the urging of Barnham and the Queens Attorney The Duke confessed the Claim but not the Continuance Then Barnham shewed the continuance by her Refusal Barnham hitherto to acknowledge the Queens Majesty to be Lawful Queen and that she hath not yet Renounced her Claim and yet you have so far dealt with her as being the Queens Commissioner to hear the matters you opened to her the occasions you gave her instructions how she might deal that the matters might not come to light and you conferred with the Bishop of Rosse about the same for proof whereof was shewed the Examination of Rosse taken the Sixth day of November 1571 declaring that the Duke uttered Bishop of Rosse unto him all that he understood of the matter and promised what help he could but he spoke nothing of the Marriage but referred all to Liddington who caused the Duke to stay the Conference and shewed her good will And how he was sent to accompany the Earl of Murrey and to convey the Scottish Queens Letters away and to counterfeit others and this was proved by a Letter of the Bishop of Rosses to the Scottish Queen where he shewed that the Duke did Advertise him that he went about to discredit the Scottish Queen with the people of England that he might be the less able to attempt any thing against the Queen of England To this matter the Duke answered at large That Liddington onely moved the Marriage unto him which he at that time refused and that he Duke told the Bishop of Rosse that he could not deal to take up the matter and therefore to what end should he utter any thing to him he only shewed it would only turn to his dishonour and that he should never be able to win it out And then he prayed that Rosse might be brought presently before him Then was shewed a Letter of the Bishop of Rosses wherein it was contained that whereas it was appointed that the Earl of Murrey should have been murthered in the North going from Hampton Court to Scotland Now because the Duke had communed with the Earl of Murrey at Hampton Court touching the same matter and had his Assent thereunto the murther should be stayed There was also a Letter of the Dukes shewed moving the marriage at that time and that it should be for the benefit of the whole Island And yet the Duke when the Rumour was spread that he went about to marry the Scottish Queen as one seeming to be much offended therewith came to the Queen and shewed her thereof and found much fault with the said Rumour and said he misliked her for her former Life And that the whole Revenue of the Crown of Scotland the Charges Deducted was not so good as his living in England and that he thought himself as good a Prince in his bowling Alley at Norwich as if he were King of Scotland All this was affirmed by Mr. Barnham That he heard the Queens Majesty her self speak it and by the Dukes Examination taken the Sixth Affirmations of Barnham day of November 1571. It is evident Also he said it was further shewed that at Tichfield he had special Commandment not to proceed in that Marriage any further and that contrary to that Commandment he had proceeded and yet the Duke himself had conceived an evil Opinion of her and had declared unto Banister that Banister he thought verily the Scotish Queen was privy to the murther of her Husband All these things were affirmed by Barnham to prove that the proceeding in this Marriage could be for no other cause but to Aspire to the Crown Then said the Duke This Year is very far fetched to prove the deprivation Duke of the Queen and the destruction of her Person Then said Mr. Barnham to come somewhat near it is not unknown that you have gone about to procure it by force and to have conspired to Barnham take the Tower this being true you must needs go about the distruction of the Queens person For the Jealousie of a Kingdom is such as will not suffer them to live that would hinder the same And at the same time the Duke departed into Norfolk to levy a Force Also there was Read a Letter written by the Duke to the Scotish Queen that proved the Negotiating the said marriage And there was as also Read many ill Letters of the Scotish Queens sent to Bothwell whereby it could not be that he pretended the Marriage for love of the Queen of Scots but for the Crown of England As touching the taking of the Tower the Duke said that Owen Hopton Duke Owen Hopton Servant to a Noble man of the Realm Earl of Penbrook came to him and advised him to take the Tower which he disliked Then said Barnham why did you then afterwards Consult with the Earl of Penbrook touching the same matter Who discomforted you therein Then said the Duke what do you gather thereof Barnham said they use not to Cut Vines while they be green that would have Duke them grow again Barnham There was also shewed further That whereas the Queens Majesty desired to have the Scotish Queen and certain Castles in her Possession and the Rebels delivered unto her The Duke gave advise to the Scotish Queen to the contrary and against the Queen of England Also he was charged That he went about to procure the Scotish Queen to be stolen away and that after his Submission wherein he promis'd under his Hand and Seal never to deal in that matter of the Marriage again There was also shewed a Provision which he shewed to one Robert Hickford Hickford which was proved by the Examination of Hickford to whom he shewed the same terming it a foolish Gawd. Then said the Duke you may perceive I did not esteem of it when I Duke termed it a foolish Gawd. Then was brought forth one Candish who was Sworn in this manner The Evidence that you shall give to the Peers and Nobles here assembled Candish his Evidence shall be the Troth and the whole Troth so help you God and the Holy Contents of this Book The effect of his Evidence was That being at South-Hampton with the Duke and
Ireland c. To our trusty and well-beloved Cousins George Earl of Sbrewsbury Earl Marshal of England Henry Earl of Kent Henry Earl of Darby George Earl of Comberland and Henry Earl of Pembrook greeting c. Whereas sithence the Sentence given by you and others of our Council Nobility and Judges against the Queen of Scots by the name of Mary the Daughter of James the 5th late King of Scots commonly called the Queen of Scots and Dowager of France as to you is well known All the States in the last Parliament assembled did not only deliberately by great advice allow and approve the same Sentence as just and honourable but also with all humbleness and earnestness possible at sundry times require solicit and press us to direct such further execution against her Person as they did adjudg her to have daily deserved adding thereunto that the forbearing thereof was and would be daily certain and undoubted danger not only unto our own life but also unto themselves their posterity and the publick estate of this Realm as well for the Cause of the Gospel and true Religion of Christ as for the Peace of the whole Realm whereupon we did although the same were with some delay of time publish the same sentence by our Proclamation yet hitherto have forborn to give direction for the further satisfaction of the aforesaid most earnest requests made by our said States of our Parliament whereby we do daily understand by all sorts of our loving subjects both of our Nobility and Councel and also of the wisest greatest and best devoted of all Subjects of inferiour degrees how greatly and deeply from the bottom of their hearts they are grieved and afflicted with daily yea hourly fears of our life and thereby consequently with a dreadful doubt and expectation of the ruin of the present happy and godly estate of this Realm if we should forbear the further final execution as it is deserved and neglect their general and continual requests prayers counsels and advices and thereupon contrary to our natural disposition in such case being overcome with the evident weight of their counsels and their daily intercessions importing such a necessity as appeareth directly tending to the safety not only of our self but also to the weal of our whole Realm We have condescended to suffer Justice to take place and for the execution thereof upon the special trusty experience and confidence which we have of your loyalties faithfulness and love both toward our Person and the safety thereof and also to your native Countries whereof you are most noble and principal members we do will and by Warrant hereof do Authorize you as soon as you shall have time convenient to repair to our Castle of Fotheringhay where the said Queen of Scots is in custody of our right trusty and faithful servant and Councellor Sir Amias Paulet Knight and then taking her into your charge to cause by your Commandment execution to be done upon her Person in the presence of your selves and the aforesaid Sir Amias Paulet and of such other Officers of Justice as you shall command to attend upon you for that purpose and the same to be done in such manner and form and at such time and place and by such persons as to five four or three of you shall be thought by your discretions convenient notwithstanding any Law Statute or Ordinance to the contrary And these our Letters Patents sealed with our great Seal of England shall be to you and every of you and to all persons that shall be present or that shall be by you commanded to do any thing appertaining to the aforesaid execution a full sufficient Warrant and discharge for ever And further we are also pleased and contented and hereby we do will command and authorise our Chancellor of England at the requests of you all and every of you the duplicate of our Letters Patents to be to all purposes made dated and sealed with our great Seal of England as these presents now are In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Yeoven at our Mannor of Greenwich the 1st day of February in the 29th year of our Reign First After she was brought down by the Sheriff to the place prepared in the Hall for that purpose by the commandment of the Earls of Shrewsbury Octavo die Feb. 1586. and Kent her Majesties Commission aforesaid was openly read Then according to a direction given to Dr. Fletcher Dean of Peterborough he was willed to use some short and pithy Speech which might tend to admonish her of the nearness of her end and the only means of salvation in Christ Jesus As soon as he began to speak she interrupted him saying she was a Catholick and that it was but a folly being so resolutely determined as she was to move her otherwise and that our prayers could do her little good On Wednesday the 8th of February 1586. there assembled at the Castle of Fotheringhay the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent with divers Knights The Assembly of the Lords at the death of the Queen of Scots and Gentlemen Justices of Peace in the Counties there and about Eight of the Clock the Earls and the Sheriff of the Shire went up to the Scottish Queen whom they found praying on her knees with her Gentlewomen and men and the Sheriff remembring her the time was at hand she rose up and said she was ready then was she led by the arms from her Chamber unto the Chamber of Presence where with many exhortations to fear God and live in obedience kissing her women and giving her hand to her men to kiss praying them all not to sorrow but to rejoice and pray for her she was brought down the Stairs by two Souldiers and being below and looking back she said she was evil attended and besought the Lords that she might for womanhood sake have two of her women to wait upon her they said they were only withheld for that it was feared by their passionate crying they would much disquiet her spirit and disturb the execution then she said I will promise for them they will do neither so two whom she willed were brought in to her Then she spake much to Melin her man and charged him as he would answer before God to deliver her Speeches and Messages to her Son in such sort as she did deliver them All which tended to will him to govern wisely and in the fear of God to take heed to whom he betook his chiefest trust and not to give occasions to be evil thought on by the Queen of England her good Sister And to certifie him she died a true Scot true French and true Catholick And about 10 of the Clock she was brought into the great Hall where in the midst of the Hall and against the Chimney in which was a great fire was a Scaffold set up of two Foot high and Twelve Foot broad having two Steps to come up
person and conservation of my life done I protest to God before I heard it or ever thought of such a matter until a great number of hands with many obligations were shewed me which as I do acknowledg as a perfect argument of your true hearts and great zeal to my safety so shall my bond be stronger tied to greater care for all your good But forasmuch as this matter is rare weighty and of great consequence I think you do not look for any present resolution the rather for that as it is not my manner in matters of farless moment to give speedy answer without due consideration so in this of such importance I think it very requisite with earnest prayers to beseech the Divine Majesty so to illuminate my understanding and inspire me with his grace as I may determine that which shall serve to the establishment of his Church preservation of your Estates and the prosperity of this Commonwealth under my charge wherein for that I know delay is dangerous you shall have with all conveniency our resolution delivered by our Message Soon after this her Majesty sent to both Houses earnestly charging them to consider of some expedients whereby she might spare the Scottish Queen and yet preserve her own Life and State who having severally in their respective Houses and jointly at several Conferences debated the same concluded Nemine contra dicente That there was no other effectual means or expedient could be sound out for continuance of the Christian Religion I use herein their own words quiet of the Realm and safety of her Majesties Person than that which was contained in their former Petition Which was back't by another Speech of the Speaker of the Commons assigning by the direction of the House these Reasons for such their resolution viz. That if her Majesty should be safe without taking away the life of the Scottish Queen the same were most probably by one of these means following viz. 1. That happily she might be reclaimed and become a Repentant-Convert assigning her Majesties great mercy and favours in remitting her heinous offences and by her Loyalty hereafter perform the fruits of such Conversion 2. Or else by a more streight Guard be so kept as there should be no fear of the like attempts hereafter 3. Or that good assurance might be given by Oath Bonds or Hostages as cautions for her good and loyal demeanour from henceforth 4. Or lastly by Banishment the Realm might be voided of her Person and thereby the perils further removed that grow to her Majesty by her Presence All which being duly pondered did yet appear so light in all their Judgments that they durst not advise any security to rest in any no not in all of them For 1. Touching her Conversion it was considered That if Piety or Duty could have restrained her from such heinous Attempts there was cause enough ministred to her on her Majesties behalf when she not only protected her against the violence of her own Subjects who pursued her to death by Justice but covered her Honour when the same by publick Fame was touched and the very Heinous and Capital Crimes objected against her before certain Commissary Delegates assigned to examine the same and spared her Life when for her former Conspiracies and Confederacies with the Northern Rebels Her Highness was with great Instance pressed by both Houses in the 14th year of her Majesties Reign to do like justice upon her as is now desired and as her Treasonable practises then had most justly deserved And whereas the Penalty of this Act sufficiently notified unto her should have terrified her from so wicked attempts she hath nevertheless insisted in her former practises as a person obdurate in Malice against her Majesty and irrecoverable so as there was no probable hope of any Conversion but rather great doubt and fear of Relapse forasmuch as she stood obstinately in the denial of matter most evidently proved and now most justly sentenced against her and was not entred into the first part of Repentance the Recognition of her offence and so much the farther off from the true fruits that should accompany the same 2. As for a surer Guard and more strait Imprisonment it was resolved That there was no security therein nor yet in the two other means propounded of Bonds and Hostages For asmuch as the same means that should be practised to take her Majesties Life away which God forbid would aptly serve both for the Delivery of her Person and Release of the Bonds and Hostages that should be given for Cautions in that behalf which being unhappily atchieved and to our irrepairable loss who should sue the Bonds or detain the Hostages or being detained what proportion was there in Bonds or Hostages whatsoever to countervail the value of so precious and inestimable a Jewel as her Majesty is to this Realm 3. But she will solemnly vow and take an Oath that she will not attempt any thing to the hurt of her Majesties Person She hath already sundry times falsified her Word her Writing and her Oath and holdeth it for an Article of Religion That Faith is not to be holden with Hereticks of which sort she accounteth your Majesty and all the professers of the Gospel to be and therefore have we little reason to trust her in that whereof she maketh so small a conscience 4. As for Banishment that were a stop à malo in pejus to set her at liberty a thing so greatly desired and thirsted for by her Adherents and by some Princes her Allies who sought her Enlargement chiefly to make her a Head to set up against her Majesty in time of Invasion And therefore her Majesties Death being so earnestly sought for Advancement of this Competitor Her Highness could not remain in quietness or security if the Scottish Queen should longer continue her Life Yet notwithstanding all these Applications and Reasons the Queen suspended her Resolution and Answered this second Address with a Reserv'd Speech which at once express'd her Love and Tenderness to her Kinswoman and her Regards to the safety of her People protesting That she was so far from Cruelty that for her own Life she would not touch Hers and that her Care had not been so much how to preserve her self as both which she was sorry was become so hard or rather impossible and therefore concluded That as she conceived their Consultations Wise Honourable and Consciencious so she desired for the present to suspend her positive Answer c. So far was this Pious Queen perplext in this Affair that she abandon'd the Comforts of Society and would oft sit solitary without speaking a word to any But at last delivered to Davison one of her Secretaries a Warrant signed with her own hand for the Issuing a Commission under the Great Seal of England for the Queen of Scots Execution that it might be ready upon any Imminent danger yet charging him not to acquaint any therewith And the very next