[2] For list of relics contained in the reliquary see Appendix, p. 272.

[3] Soon after these words were written my valued friend Father Stevenson was taken from us. He died on the evening of 8th February, the same day on which Queen Mary, whose honour he had done so much to maintain, suffered death, and I by a further coincidence finished the writing of this book.

[4] "Dedans une grande salle À laquelle on entroit immediatement de l'autre chambre de sa MajestÉ par une porte simple ... ils avoient dressÉ et tendu, au bout d'icelle, le dais de la Reyne, et, des deux costez, au dessous, le long de la paroy, estoient assis les seigneurs et toutte la noblesse sus nommÉe en la commission, estat et ordre que dessus; et au meilleu, quelques tables de long et les bancs oÙ estoient assis les commissairs et la justice sus nommÉe, chacun en leur ordre. Et au dessous, avoient dressÉ une barriÈre laissant une partie qui se levoit pour entrer et sortir, faisant separation comme d'un parquet auquel n'entroit personne que ceulx qui avoient affaire pour la commission, et avoient charge en icelle. Et en l'autre separation, en bas, estoient gentilshommes et servans des dits seigneurs de la commission, auditeurs et spectateurs."—From Bourgoing's Journal, Chantelauze, p. 513.

[5] Fotheringay, 23rd November 1586. Labanoff, tom. vi. pp. 447-454. Among Mary's last requests to her brother-in-law, Henri III., there is a passage referring also to Bourgoing. It runs thus: "Further, I beseech him to take my physician into his service, and to give credit to what he shall say, and to pay regard to my recommendation of him."

[6] Chantelauze, p. 467.

[7] Sir Thomas Gorges.

[8] Chantelauze, p. 469.

[9] Chantelauze, p. 476.

[10] Paulet to Walsingham, 27th August, Record Office.

[11] Chantelauze, p. 479.

[12] Probably the Mr. Bagot who is mentioned by Paulet.

[13] See also the Letter Books of Sir Amyas Paulet, pp. 288-292.

[14] Chantelauze, p. 490.

[15] Miss Strickland says that the Queen's passage through Burton is recorded by a Latin inscription engraved on a window at Hill Hall Castle.

[16] This conversation with Gorges is mentioned in Bourgoing's Journal alone. See Chantelauze, pp. 401, 402.

[17] "Beat down the castle in a fit of revenge."—ArchÆologia, xv. 221; Gough's Camden, ii. 181.

[18] It is a curious fact that the thistle is to be found growing near all the places in which Queen Mary resided or was imprisoned, both in England and Scotland.

[19] Bourgoing's Journal; see Chantelauze, p. 493.

[20] See Letter Books of Sir Amyas Paulet, p. 290; and Chantelauze, p. 495.

[21] See Letter Books of Sir Amyas Paulet, p. 295.

[22] The full list is given by Bourgoing; see Chantelauze, p. 496.

[23] See R.O., Mary Queen of Scots, vol. xx. No. 6, dated 6th October.

[24] Made at the time of the Sheffield Conferences.

[25] A curious note in Beale's hand (Yelverton MSS. 31,465) gives us the reason for Burleigh's "vehemence" against Mary at this moment. It runs as follows: "The Bishop of Glasgow, the Scottish Q.'s Ambassador in France, had written unto her how W. Cecill, son and heir to Sir Tho. Cecill, had been at Rome and reconciled. That there was good hope that the L. Treasurer, his grandfather, would do her what pleasure he could. Item, in another letter he advertised her how Sir Edward Stafford (?), Her Maj.'s Ambassador in France, had shewed unto him a letter from the L. Treasurer, whereby he presumed that the said L. Trr. did favour her. These letters came to the Q. Mty.'s knowledge, and the matter came to the L. Trr.'s knowledge, which for the purgation of himself to be nothing inclined that way, made him, as it is thought, more earnest against her."

[26] Chantelauze, pp. 505-508.

[27] Chantelauze, pp. 508-511.

[28] Egerton, pp. 86, 87.

[29] Chantelauze, p. 512.

[30] Ibid.

[31] Chantelauze, p. 513.

[32] It is interesting to compare Queen Mary's words with those of M. de SÈze in his defence of Louis XVI., 26th December 1792: "Je cherche parmis vous des juges, et je n'y vois que des accusateurs."

[33] Chantelauze, p. 515.

[34] Chantelauze, pp. 515, 516.

[35] See Appendix, p. 271.

[36] Chantelauze, p. 518.

[37] Chantelauze, p. 520.

[38] Chantelauze, pp. 522-527.

[39] Hosack, vol. ii. p. 426.

[40] Chantelauze, pp. 240, 241.

[41] See Appendix, p. 271.

[42] Chantelauze, p. 539.

[43] Walsingham, writing upon the same subject to Leicester, says: "We have received a secret counter-order, and have found ourselves constrained to adjourn our assembly upon some pretext. This accused creature seems to have been chosen by God for the punishment of our sins, as it appears the Queen is powerless to act against her as her safety demands."—See Hosack, vol. ii. p. 430; also Letter Books of Sir Amyas Paulet, p. 296.

[44] Chantelauze, pp. 539, 540.

[45] The Queen's words in the original French are too expressive to be omitted: "Sa MajestÉ dict que c'estoit manteau blanc, ou blanc manteau—mais qu'enfin estoit tout ung, quelque coulleur qu'ils luy en baillassent."—Chantelauze, pp. 540-545.

[46] Letter Books of Sir Amyas Paulet, pp. 300, 301.

[47] "Parlt. has pressed E. to proceed to the execution, adding thereto that the forbearing thereof was, and would be daily, a certain and undoubted danger not only to her own life but to themselves, their posterity and the public state of this realm, as well for the cause of the Gospel and the true religion of Christ, as for the peace of the whole realm. Greenwich, 1 Feb., 29 Eliz."—Yelverton MSS., f. 534.

[48] Hosack, pp. 430-433.

[49] Bourgoing omits to give the Dean's name.

[50] Chantelauze, pp. 548-550.

[51] Labanoff, vi. 466.

[52] Camden, ii.

[53] Letter Books, p. 311.

[54] See Labanoff, vi. 466. "When the So. Q.'s cloth of Estate was plucked down by Sir A. Paulet and Sir D. Drury, after signification given unto her to prepare herself to die by the L. Buckhurst and R.B., she mentioned the murder of K. Richard II., but Sir Drue answered that she needed not to fear it, for that she was in the charge of a Christian gentleman."—Note by Beale, Yelverton MSS., p. 529.

[55] A sad office was reserved for the cover of this table; it was afterwards used to enshroud the body of the Queen after her execution, as we may see by the following passage from BrantÔme: "Immediately after the execution, when the headsman had despoiled Mary's corpse, it was carried into a room adjoining that in which her maids of honour were confined; and they, looking through a crevice, saw the body of their mistress half covered by a piece of rough woollen stuff, which had been hastily taken from the billiard-table."

[56] Letter Books, p. 315.

[57] Chantelauze, pp. 293-295.

[58] Paulet to Mr. Secretary Davison, 28th November 1586. See Letter Books, p. 319.

[59] In consequence of the delays by which the members of Mary's household were kept in a state of quasi-imprisonment for months after their mistress's execution, these letters only reached their destination in the course of the following autumn.

[60] Labanoff, vi. 447.

[61] This passage, we believe, refers to Bourgoing, as before stated.

[62] Burleigh.

[63] Labanoff, vi. 456.

[64] The person referred to appears to have been Pierre Gorion, who took the letter to MendoÇa, and presented him likewise with an interesting memoir of his mistress. See Teulet, vi. 500.

[65] Elizabeth Curle and Jane Kennedy.

[66] Labanoff, vol. vi. p. 461.

[67] The Duke of Lorraine.

[68] Letter Books of Sir Amyas Paulet, p. 320.

[69] Letter Books, p. 323.

[70] The steward appointed by Elizabeth to serve Queen Mary.

[71] Paulet to Walsingham, The Letter Books, p. 325.

[72] Paulet to Burleigh, The Letter Books, p. 328.

[73] Bourgoing's Journal says that M. de PrÉau arrived on the 16th about four o'clock in the evening.

[74] Chantelauze, p. 552.

[75] See also letter, p. 338, Letter Books.

[76] Labanoff, vi. 474.

[77] Chantelauze, pp. 552-556.

[78] Letter Books, p. 338.

[79] Mary sent a ring to her cousin with this letter; Hosack, ii. 440.

[80] Chantelauze, p. 578.

[81] États, probably papers or accounts relating to her French estates.

[82] Her son. Here occur a few lines which, through errors of the copyist, are very unintelligible. See Chantelauze, pp. 579-581.

[83] Chantelauze, pp. 561-567.

[84] See Paulet's Letters, p. 351.

[85] This practice had probably been adopted by Mary from the French custom. M. de Chantelauze quotes the following from a court ceremonial of the reign of Louis XIV.: "La viande de sa Majeste sera portÉ en cette ordre, deux des gardes marcheront les premiers, ensuite l'huissier de Salle, le maÎtre d'hÔtel avec son bÂton," etc.

[86] Chantelauze, pp. 567-571.

[87] La Mort de la Royne d'Escosse, Paris, 1588; ap. Jebb, ii. 620.

[88] La Mort de la Royne d'Escosse, Paris, 1588; ap. Jebb, ii. 620.

[89] Teulet, v. 4.

[90] Brit. Mus. Harley MS., 290, No. 104.

[91] Hinder.

[92] Letter Books, p. 356.

[93] See Appendix, p. 265—"The Queen of Scots."

[94] Hosack, ii. 453. Chantelauze, pp. 368-371. Davison's defence. Life of Davison, by Sir Henry Nicolas, etc.

[95] Paulet's Letter Books, p. 359.

[96] Paulet's Letter Books, p. 361.

[97] "2 Feb. Davison sent word to R.B. (Robert Beale) at 11 o'clock at night to meet him at Walsin{m}'s house next morning.

"3 R.B. went, and Wm. shewed him the Com. signed, and that he had been appointed to carry it down. At a later time R.B. said unto Sir Ch. Hatton and Sec. Davison that he doubted not but that H.M. was resolved that the execution should be done, and the answer was that he needed not to doubt thereof, seeing the commission under her hand and the great seal of Eng., but that she would rather be therewith well pleased."—Yelverton MSS., f. 224—Report by Mr. Henry Talbot, third son of Earl of Shrewsbury.

[98] "Davison and R.B. on their arrival had a meeting with these,—the Treasurer, E. of Derby, E. of Leicester, Lds. Cobham, Hunsden, Chamberlain, Vice-chamberlain, and Wolley."—Yelverton MSS., f. 224—Talbot's Report.

[99] No officer of the Chancery knew of the sealing of the commission save the Chancellor and Davison.—Yelverton MSS., f. 224.

[100] See Chantelauze, pp. 371-379.

[101] "To divert attention from R.B. leaving London, a commission was given to him to go into Herts, Bedf., etc., to hear hues and cries."—Yelverton MSS., f. 224.

[102] Report sent up by Mr. Henry Talbot, third son of Earl of Shrewsbury. Yelverton MSS., f. 31.

[103] Yelverton MSS. 31, f. 529. See Queen Mary's words at chap. viii. p. 159.

[104] MSS. folio 525, Yelverton; Lord Calthorpe. Note in Beale's hand.

[105] MSS. folio 533. Lord Walsingham to Paulet by Digby, 3rd February.

[106] Beale's note continues thus: "Wherefore the speech delivered to the Sc. Queen the day before her death was, that the Earls had a message to deliver unto her from H. Mty., which she should understand by the commission under H. Mty's. hand and great seal openly shewed and read. And for that purpose the commission was also openly read upon the scaffold, and divers gentlemen's hands taken unto a declaration of the manner of her execution, the original wherof remaineth with the E. of Shrewsbury."

[107] Walsingham wrote to Paulet to this effect: "This will be brought by Beale along with the commission for the execution of your charge. R.B. cannot well arrive before Monday at 10 a.m. It is thought well that the two Earls should in some place meet unto you and have some conference touching the form of the excn. You may do well to think of some convenient place for the purpose. I send you a letter to the sheriff from my lords unsealed, to the end you may see what colour is used for his employment."

Walsingham's Memorial, see Appendix, p. 266.

[108] La Mort de la Royne, ap. Jebb, ii. 612.

[109] According to M. Kervyn de Lettenhove (Marie Stuart, ii. 329) Shrewsbury expressed himself with more sympathy, and with a return of his former friendliness for the Queen. "Madame," said he, "I would have greatly desired that another than I should announce to you such sad intelligence as that which I now bring on the part of the Queen of England, but he and I being both faithful servants, I could but obey the commandment she gave me. It is to admonish you to prepare yourself to undergo the sentence of death pronounced against you."

[110] Chantelauze, p. 572; La Mort, p. 613, where the document is given at length.

[111] "She seemed not to be in any Terror, for ought that appered by any of hir outward Gesture or Behaviour (other than marvelling shee should die), but rather with smiling Cheer and pleasing Countenance digested and accepted the sayde Admonition of Preparation to hir (as she sayde) unexpected Execution: saying that hir Death should be welcome unto hir, seeing hir Majestie was so resolved, and that that Soule were too too far unworthye the Fruition of the Joyes of Heaven for ever, whose Bodye would not in this World be content to endure the Stroake of the Executioner for a Moment. And that spoken, shee wept bitterlye and became silent."—"Execution of Mary Queen of Scots," R. Wingfield, Clarendon Hist. Soc.

[112] M. Chantelauze, p. 387.

[113] Chantelauze, p. 573.

[114] La Mort de la Royne, p. 621; Chantelauze, p. 575.

[115] Miss Strickland, vii. 469; see Kervyn de Lettenhove, ii. 333.

[116] Jebb, ibid.; Chantelauze, p. 575.

[117] See Chantelauze, pp. 390, 391; La Mort, p. 625.

[118] La Mort de la Royne d'Escosse, Jebb, ii. 625.

[119] La Mort de la Royne d'Escosse, Jebb, ii. 625.

[120] Chantelauze, p. 393.

[121] Some of the facts of Bourgoing's narrative of the last days were communicated by him to the anonymous author of the Mort de la Royne d'Escosse, and to Blackwood. See Jebb, ii.

[122] Chantelauze, p. 394.

[123] La Mort de la Royne d'Escosse, Jebb, ii. 625; Blackwood, Jebb, ii. p. 302.

[124] "Elle annonÇa l'intention de descendre dans sa garde-robe pour leur en faire le partage; mais Bourgoing lui representa qu'elle recontrerait les gardes, placÉs aux pied de l'escalier."—K. de Lettenhove, ii. 338.

[125] Among these last gifts Bourgoing received "two rings, two small silver boxes, the Queen's two Lutes, her music-book bound in velvet, and the red hangings of her bed." While among those given to Elizabeth Curle we find mentioned a gold and enamelled tablet containing portraits of the Queen, her husband (Francis II.), and her son. This portrait, it seems probable, was the original of the picture of Mary afterwards placed in the Church of St. Andrew in Antwerp.

[126] The original French in Labanoff, vi. 483; and in Blackwood, ap. Jebb, ii. 303.

[127] Melville.

[128] This will was preserved for long at the Scotch College in Paris. It bore the traces of the tears shed by the Queen as she wrote it.—Strickland, vii. 482; see also Blackwood, p. 304.

[129] Labanoff, vi. 492.

[130] The copies of this letter here differ, some reading seven, some eight o'clock.

[131] Chantelauze, p. 399.

[132] The details respecting the last hours of the life of Queen Mary are derived chiefly from two original narratives, both of which are printed in the second volume of Jebb. They are the following: (1) Blackwood, Adam, Martyre de Marie Stuart, Paris, 1644, Jebb, p. 175; (2) La Mort de la Royne d'Escosse, 1589, ibid. p. 611. The information which they contain has been carefully used by Hosack, Chantelauze, Bourgoing, and Kervyn de Lettenhove, thereby rendering unnecessary further references to the several authorities given by Jebb.

[133] She "charged him as he would answer before God, to deliver her speeches and messages to her son in such sort as she did speak them, all which tended to will him to govern wisely in the fear of God, to take heed to whom he betook his chiefest trust, and not to be an occasion to be evil thought of by the Queen of England, her good sister."—MSS. Cal. B. v. f. 175 b.