Arundell James Kennedy Esdaile

Camden’s Account of Queen Elizabeth’s Part in it.

Source.—Camden: Annales, 1615 (English edition, 1625), sub anno.

From this attempt[41] such as were the sworne enemies of the Queene of Scotland, and sought to do her hurt, tooke occasion hereby to hasten her death; knowing that in extreame danger of safetie, Feare leaveth no place for Mercy, and tooke order (the more to terrifie the Queene of England) to spread rumorous speeches daily, and false and fearefull exclamations all over the Land; to wit:

That the Spanish Fleet was already landed at Milford Haven; That the Scots were come upon their borders; That the Guise was in Essex with a mighty Armie; That the Queene of Scots had broken prison, raysed a great troope of Souldiers, and began to make a Rebellion in the North; That there were new plots in hand, for murthering the Queene, and to burne the Citie of London; yea, That the Queene of England was dead, and such like:

which in those that are crafty and fearefull (by a natural desire) are nourished, and encreased; and Princes (credulous by curiositie) will soon lend their eares thereunto.

By such divulged horrors, and fearefull arguments, they brought her Majestie into such trouble and perplexitie of minde, that she signed the Letters of Warrant to her deadly Sentence, and was perswaded most of all to it by Patricke Gray Scottishman, whom the King of Scotland had sent to disswade the Queene of England, from putting his mother to death; who many times put these words into her eares: Mortua non mordet: Being dead, she will byte no more.

And notwithstanding, as she was naturally slow to anger, she had this custome, that she never would enter unadvisedly, or without premeditation, into any action: so she began to weighe in her minde, whether it were better to put her to death, or to let her live. From putting her to death she was disswaded,

By her owne naturall clemency, not to use cruelty to her who was a Princesse, and her next kinswoman; from the feare that she had, Histories should make her infamous to posterities, and from the dangers which might fall upon her, as from the part of the King of Scotland, who then was the next in succession to the Crowne of England; so also from the Catholick Princes, and from desperate people, who would attempt anything.

From pardoning of her likewise, she foresaw no lesse danger to ensue:

Her Courtiers propounded also to her domesticall examples, because that that which is warranted by president,[42] is the more tolerable: As

Neyther did the Courtiers only suggest these and the like to the Queene; but diverse fiery-tongued Preachers also, tooke occasion to exercise (with all asperity of spirit) the heate of their desires, in hastning on her death. Sundry also of the vulgar sort were of the same temper, according as their affections or humours carried them away with hope or feare.

Amidst these sad-afflicting thoughts of minde (which so troubled the Queene of England’s perplexed heart, as that she delighted to be all alone, and to sit solitary by her selve, neyther looking up, nor uttering any speech; yet would suddenly many times, breake out into these words, and sighing, say, Aut Petere Aut Percute,[43] and withall, also a kinde of Emblem: Prevent the Stroke by Striking) shee delivered Secretarie Davison letters under her hand and seale, wherein hee was commanded to make ready a Warrant, under the great seal of England, for the execution of the Qu. of Scotland, and to keepe it private, not acquainting any therewith, lest happely in this turbulent time of feare, some sudden violent danger might happen. But the morrow after (some sudden affright mixing it selfe with her pensive thoughts and meditations of minde), changing her former purpose, she recommanded Davison (by Killegray) to dispatch his Warrant. Davison, going to her, told her it was ready, and sealed. Whereat she grew very angry, saying, He was too hasty. But for all this, he forbore not to publish the matter, and to impart it to the Councell; who (beleeving that willingly, which they desired earnestly) were easily perswaded, that the Queene had given commandment for the execution; and (unknowne to her) sent presently away Beale (who, out of a fervour of zeale which he bore to religion) was more eagerly bent against the Queene of Scotland, than any other and with him two executioners, and letters Patents, whereby authoritie was granted to the Earles of Shrewesbury, Kent, Derby, Cumberland and others, to proceed in this execution. And although the Queene had told Davison at that time, that shee had a purpose to deale otherwise with the Queene of Scotland; yet, for all that, he did not stay or recall Beale....

* * * * *

So soone as report (the messenger of this death) had brought the newes thereof to Queene Elizabeth, who not so much as thought of any such matter, she tooke it most impatiently: her speech and countenance, at once failed her: through the extremitie of her grievous discontent, shee became quite comfortlesse and disconsolate; and attired her selfe in mourning weedes, bitterly lamenting, and sheading many brinish tears from the compassionate rivers of her eyes. Shee sharply rebuked her Councell, and chased them out of her sight, commanding they should be questioned. And as for William Davison, he was brought into the Starre-Chamber to be tryed. And as soone as her passionate anguish and excesse of sorrow suffered her to write, she suddenly addrest (by sir Robert Carey) to the King of Scotland, this Letter following, of her owne hand-writing:

Whilest Sir Robert Carey was on the way with these letters, William Davison was brought into the Starr-Chamber before certain Commissioners, to wit, Sir Cristopher Wray Lo: chiefe Justice of the K. Bench, who for that time was likewise made Lord Keeper of the Privy Seale; the Arch Bishops of Canterbury and Yorke, the Earles of Worcester, Cumberland, and Lincolne; the Lords Gray and Lumley, Sir James Crofts Comptroller of the Queens house, Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellour of the Exchequer, Sir Gilbert Gerard Master of the Rolls, Edm. Anderson chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of the Exchequer. In the presence of these, Sir Francis Popham, the Qu. Atturney generall, accused William Davison of contempt against her Majestie, of the breach of his allegeance; the neglect and omission of his dutie; for that the queene of England, out of her royall clemency—being unwilling that the queene of Scotland (although she stood condemned) should be put to death, for certain causes best knowne to her selfe, such as were not to bee sounded into by any others, nor could be drawne from her, eyther by the importunate urging of the States of the land, or by her Councell: notwithstanding shee had commanded the Warrant for her execution to be drawne (for the preventing of some eminent perills) the which she committed to the said William Davisons trust and taciturnitie; he, being a sworne Secretary, forgetfull of his faith and obedience (contemning her Majesties command) had imparted the same to the Councell, and brought her to execution, without the knowledge or privitie of her Majestie.