BL Caligula, b. x, 372

BL MSS Cotton Caligula b. x, 372
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 107 Page 226
Earl of Bedford and Randolph to the Council, Berwick, March 27 1566

Transcribed by Thomas Wright who adds: This interesting and circumstantial letter redounds very little to the credit of the Queen of Scots, and therefore, apparently, it was not printed by Keith. The impudence with which Mary, in her passion, avows and justifies her criminal connection with Rizzio, and the brutal and at the same time contemptible behaviour of Darnley, form a picture of wickedness and cruelty, such, as Von Raumer with, reason exclaims, that "few scenes in the history of the world can be compared with it."

May it please your Honors, Hearing of so manie matters as we do, and fynding suche varietie in the reportes, we have muche ado to decerne the veritie, which maketh us the slower, and loather to put any thinge in wrytinge, to th’ intente we wolde not that your Honors, and by you the Quene's Majestie, our soveraigne, sholde be advertised but of the verie truthe as nere as we can possiblie. To this ende we thoughte goode to sende up Captaine Carewe, who was in Edenbourghe at the tyme of the laste attemptate, who spake there with dyvers, and after that with the Quene's self and her husbande. Conforme to that which we have learned by other, and knowe by his reporte, we fynde the same confirmed by the parties self that were there present, and assisters unto those that were executers of the acte.
Thys we finde for certayne, that the Quene's husband being entred into a vehement suspicion of David [Rizzio], that by hym somethynge was commytted which was moste agaynst the Quene's honor, and not to be borne of his parte, fyrste communicated his mynde to George Duglas, who fynding his sorrowes so greate, sought all the meanes he coulde to put some remedie to his grief, and communicating the same unto my Lord Ruthen by the King's commaudement, no other waye could be founde than that David sholde be taken out of the waye. Wherein he was so erneste, and daylie pressed the same, that no reste could be had untyll it was put in execution. To this it was founde good that the Lord Morton and Lord Lindesaye should be made privie, to th'intente that theie might have their friends at hande if neede requyred, which cawsed them to assemble so many as theie thoughte sufficient agaynst the tyme that this determination of theirs should be put in execution, which was determined the 9th of this instant, three dayes before the parliamente sholde begin, at what tyme the said Lords were assured that th’ erles Argile, Murraye, Rothes, and their complices should have bene forfeited, if the King could not be persuaded through this meanes to be their frendes, who for the desyre he had that his intente should take effecte th’ one waye, was content to yielde without all difficultie to th’ other, with this condition, that theie wolde give their consents that he mighte have the crowne matrimoniall
He was so impatient to see these things he sawe, and were daylie brought to his eares, that he daylie pressed the saide Lord Ruthen that there might be no longer delaye ; and to th’ intent it might be manifesto to the worlde that he approved the acte, was contente to be at the doing of it himself. Upon the Saturdaye, at night, nere unto eight of the clocke, the King conveyeth himself, the Lord Ruthen, George Duglas, and two other, thorowe his own chamber, by the privie stairs up to the Quene's chamber, joyning to which there is a cabinet about twelve footes square, in the same a little lowe reposing bedde, and a table, at the which there were sitting at the supper the Quene, the Ladie Argile, and David, with his cappe upon his heade. Into the cabinet ther cometh in the King and Lord Ruthen, who willed David to come forthe, saying that ther was no place for him. The Quene sayde that it was her wyll. Her husbande answerde that it was agaynste her honor. The Lord Ruthen saide that he sholde learne better his duetie, and offering to have taken hym by the arme, David tooke the Quene by the blightes of her gowne, and put hymselfe behinde the Quene, who wolde gladly have saved hym, but the King having loosed his hands, and holding her in his armes, David was thruste oute of the cabinet thorowe the bed-chamber, into the chamber of presence, where were the Lord Morton and Lord Lindesaye, who intending that night to have reserved hym, and the next day to hang hym, so manie being abowte them that bore hym evill will, one thruste hym into the bodie with a dagger, and after hym a greate many other, so that he had in his bodie above sixty wounds. It is tolde for certayne that the King's owne dagger was lefte sticking in hym ; whether he struck hym or not, we cannot knowe for certayne. He was not slayne in the Quene's presence as was saide, but going down the stayres owte of the chamber of presence.
Ther remayned a longe tyme with the Quene, her husbande and the Lord Ruthen. She made, as we heare, greate intercession that he sholde have no harme (1). She blamed greatlye her husbande, that was the author of so fowle an acte. It is sayde that he dyd answer, that David had more companie of her body than he, for the space of two moneths, and therefore, for her honor and his owne contentement he gave his consent that he shold be taken awaye. "It is not," sayth she, "the woman's parte to seeke the husbande, and therefore in that the faulte was his owne." He said, that when he came, she either wolde not, or made herselfe sicke. "Well," sayth she, "you have taken your laste of me and your farewell." "That were pittie," sayth the Lord Ruthen, "he is your Majestie' s husbande, and you must yelde duetie to cache other." "Why may not I," sayth she, "leave hym as well as your wife did her husbande? Other have done the like."
The Lord Ruthen saide that she was lawfullie divorced from her husbande, and for no suche cause as the king found hymselfe greeved. Besides, this man was meane, base, enemie to the nobilitie, shame to her, and destruction to her Grace's country. " Well," sayth she, "it shall be deare blude to some of you, if hys be spylte." "God forbid," sayth the Lord Ruthen, "for the more your Grace showe yourself offended, the worlde will judge the worse."
Her husbande thys tyme speaketh lyttle. Her Grace contynuallie weepeth. The Lord Ruthen being evill at ease and weake, calleth for a drinke, and sayth, "This I must do with your Majestie's pardon," and persuadeth her in the best sorte he could, that she wolde pacific herself.
In this mean tyme there rose a comber in the courte, to pacifye which there wente downe the Lord Ruthen, who wente straighte to the Earles Huntlye, Bothwell, and Athall, to quiet them, and to assure them from the King, that nothing was intended against them. Theie notwithstanding taking feare when theie hearde that my Lord of Murraye wolde be there the nexte daye, and Argile meete them, Huntlye and Bothwell got owte of a wyndow, and so departe. Athall had leave of the Kinge, with Flyske and Landores, (who was lately called Lyslaye, the parson of Ovne), to go where they wolde ; and being conveide owte of the courte by the Lord Liddingeton, theie wente that night to suche places where theie thoughte themselves in most saulftie.
Before the Kinge lefte tawlke with the Quene, in the hearinge of the Lord Ruthen, she was content that he sholde lye with her that night. We know not how he forslowe (2) hymselfe, but came not at her, and excused hymselfe to his friends that he was so sleepie that he coulde not wake in due tyme.
There were in this compaynie two that came in with the King, th'one Andrewe Car of Fawsensyde, who, the Quene saythe, wolde have stroken her with a dagger, and one Patrick Balentyne, brother to the justice clerke, who also, her Grace sayth, offered a dagge (3) agaynste her bellye with cocke down. We have bene ernestly in hande with the Lord Ruthen to knowe the veritie, but he assureth us of the contrarie. There were in the Quene's chamber the Lorde Roberte, Arthur Ersken, one or two other. These at the fyrste offering to make some defence, the Lord Ruthen drew his dagger, and fewe mo weapons than that were not drawne nor seen in her Grace's presence, as we are by the saide Lord assured.
The nexte daye, aboute seven of the clocke after noone, ther arrived the Earle of Murraye and th'other with hym that were in England. He spake immediately with the King, and straight after with the Quene. She sayde that he was welcome, and layde the faulte upon other, that he was owte of the countrye, requyred of hym to be a good subjecte, and she wold be to hym as he oughte. The next daye he spake with her agayne, as also my Lord of Morton and Lord Ruthen, who exhorted her humblye to caste off her care, to study for that which might be her safetie, weale, and honor, promising for their parts obedience and service as becomed true and faithfull subjects. She accepted theire sayings in good worthe, wylled them to devyse what mighte be for their securitie, and she wolde subscribe it. She sendeth for the Lord of Liddingeton, and in gentle words deviseth with hym that he wolde persuade that she might have her libertie, and the garde that was about her removed, seeing that she had graunted their requests. He founde it verie good, and not manie of the Lords, as we here, that myslyked it. All men being gone to their lodgings, and no suspicion taken of any that either she wolde departe, or not perform the promise to the Lords, abowte twelve of the clocke at night she conveied herself a private waye oute of the house, she, her husbande, and one gentlewoman came to the place where Arthur Ersken and the captayn of her garde kepte the horses, and so rode her waye behynde Arthur Ersken untyll she came to Seton. There she tooke a horse to herself and rode to Dombarre, to the castle, whither resorted unto her the Lords Huntley and Bothewell, and so dyvers of the whole countrye.
The Lords being thus disappoynted, sent the nexte daye the Lord Simple to her Grace with requeste from their Lordships unto her Majestie to fulfyll her promise, to signe that byll for their securitie. He was differred two or three dayes, untyll suche tyme as divers of the Lords (of the which the Earle of Glencairne was the fyrste, the Earle Rothese nexte, and some other) by secret meanes had gotten their remission and were fully restored, who breaking from the reste, as their force diminished, so dyd her Grace's increase, and where before theie were able to have at the castle defended themselves, theie were fayne to seeke theire owne saulftie.
To this also the slowe coming of the Earle of Argile was a great impediment, who being not yet come to Edenbourgh, dyd put no small dowte lest that he wolde followe the same waye which Glencarne and Rothes had done. The Earle Morton and Lord Ruthen finding themselves lefte by the King for all his fair promises, bonds, and subscriptions, and seeing the other fall from them, (saving the Earle of Murraye, and such as were of the laste enterpryse,) thought beste to provide for themselves, and so every one of them take their several waye, where theie thynke that theie may be moste at ease or suertie. Whose names we sende herewith to your Honor. (4) The Earle of Argile being come to Lythecowe, my Lord of Murraye with his frends go to hym.
Abowte the tyme that the Lords left Edenbourgh, the Quene departed from Dombar towards it. She enterde the towne abowte three thousand persons, all men being commanded to attend upon her Grace at her pleasure. The noblemen and beste able remayne yet there. She lodgeth not in the Abbaye, but in a house in the towne, in the Hye Streate, and yesterdaye removed to one other nearer the castle and larger. The nexte daye after her arrivall, she sendeth the parson of Flyske to Lythecowe, with conditions to my Lords Argyle, Murraye, and the reste, which being by them founde sufficient for their saulftie, with restitution to their lands and goods, have accepted, with these restrayntes, not for a space to come nere the courte, nor yet to be sutors for those that committed the laste attemptate. The Kinge hath utterlie forsaken them, and protested before the counsell that he was not consenting to the death of David, and that it is sore agaynst his wyll : he wyll neither mayntayne them nor defende them. Whereupon the nexte daye publicke declaration was made at the marquet crosse of Edenbourgh, the 21st of this instante, agaynste the Lords, declaringe the King's innocence in that matter.
As manie as were at this acte or of counsell, are summoned to underlye the lawe upon Fridaye next. Divers of them are oute of the countrye, as my Lord of Morton, the Lord Ruthen, his sone, and Andrewe Car. The Lord of Lindesaye is either with my Lord of Argile, or within the Lord Athals bounds, where also it is saide that my Lord of Liddingeton is, of whom we here that he hathe accepted a charge from the Quene to enter himself prisoner in Envernes. He was participant of this laste counsell, discovered by the Kinge's selfe, as all the reste were that he knewe. Domlaneriche is in the castle of Edinbourg, a sone of his in the Blacknese, the Larde of Wetherborne, a Hume of good livinge, in Dombarre, of which nowe we heare that my Lord of Bothewell hathe the keeping, and is entred into all the lands that the Lord of Lidingeton had in possession. The parson of Flysk is made clerke of the regester : where hymself is we knowe not ; his wyfe put owte of the howse, and it spoyled, given in prey to the soldiers. Who shall be secretarie we knowe not, but the Lord of Liddingeton having suche frendshipe with my Lord of Athal, is thoughte that he shall do well inoughe. The justice clerke rather suspected for his brother, than that he can be accused to have bene of this practyse, yet as we heare his office is given awaye. Divers of the towne, honeste men, committed to prison, and divers escaped. Besides her garde, she hathe three hundred soldiers in wages, which are payde by the towne, who fynde the burdayn greate, and extremitie suche, as under the Frenchemen their lives were never so sore.
The Quene hathe caused a bande to be made, and will that all men that are frends to anye of those that were privie to David's deathe shall subscribe to pursue them, and do their uttermoste to apprehende them and bring them to the place of justice. Some have subscribed, other have refused, and as we here that is the cause of the imprisonment of Domlaneriche and his sone, who came to the towne two dayes after the deathe of David.
Of the greate substance he had, there is muche spoken. Some saye in golde to the value of two thousand pounds sterling. His apparell was verie goode ; as it is sayde, fourteen payre of velvet hose. His chamber well furnished : armour, daggs, pystoletts, harquebusses, twenty- two swords. Of all this nothinge spoiled, nor lacking, saving two or three daggs.
He had the custodie of all the Quene's letters, which all were delivered unlocked upon. We heare of a Jewell that he had hanging aboute his necke of some price, that cannot be hearde of. He had upon his backe, when he was slayne, a nyghte gowne of Damaske furred, with a sattayne doublet, and hose of russet velvet.
Because you, Mr. Secretarie, in your letter of the 20th, required that you might be advertised by me, Randolphe, at good length with the circumstances of those things that were done at that tyme, and of the speeches betwene the Quene and them, your Honors shall receave all that hytherto we have hearde, having conferred the reports from abroode, which came to our knowledge, with the sayings of these noblemen, the Lord Morton and Lord Ruthen, that are present, and of them all that which we have founde neareste to the truthe, or as we believe, the truthe self, have here put them in wryting, not having at this tyme so muche care howe longe we trouble you with the reading, nor howe homely theie are put together, but wylling to our uttermoste power to informe you the truthe, leaving the judgement of the matter itself to your wysedomes. It may please your Honors farther to knowe, that there arrived here upon Mondaye laste the Earle of Morton, that came in by the weste borders, and with him George Duglas. His Lordship and my Lord Ruthen have bothe wrytten to your Honors, being advised thereunto by my Lord of Murraye, and mynd verie shortelie to make full declaration of their whole cause, howe it proceded from the begynning to thys tyme of their arrival here. Besydes these which are here, not above ten or twelve persones, it is thought that other shortlye wyll repayre into the countrie, for that we heare that they are sharpely pursued, their howses and goods possessed, and themselves very earnestly sought for. We have no farther at this tyme to wryte unto your Honors, saving we heare for certayne that the Earle of Lenox is commanded from the courte, in what sorte or whither yet we knowe not. We see no force intended by the subjects towards their Soveraign, but a patient wyll to endure this fortune untyll it please God to make it better. The Lord Ruthen is verie sick and keepeth moste his bedde.
Thus having longe troubled you, for the desyer we have in all thyngs to satisfye you, though we had good wyll in some thyngs to have bene sparer, in speciall for the speaches betwene the Quene and her husbande, we tayke our leaves. At Barwicke, the 27th of Marche, 1566. Your Honor's most assured,
F. Bedford
Tho. Randolphs

My Lord of Murraye by a speciall servante sent unto us desireth your Honors' favour to these noblemen, as his dere frends, and suche as for his sake hath given this adventeur.

(1) "It is our parts rather to passe this matter over in silence, than to make anye suche rehersall of things committed unto us in secret, but we know to whom we wryte, and above all things to your wisedoms." (2) Let himself be overcome by sloth. (3) A kind of pistol. (4) The following is the inclosure here alluded to : " The names of such as were doers and of counsell in this laste attemptate, committed at Edenb. the 9th of March, 1566. The Earle of Morton ; Lord Ruthen ; Lord Lyndesaye ; the Master of Ruthen ; Lord of Liddington, Secret. Mr. James Magil, Clerke of the Regester ; Sir John Balendin ; Justice Clarke ; St. Come ; Mr. Adam Ersken, Abbot of Combuskenethe ; Larde of Drumwhastle, called Conyngham ; Larde of Carse, Montethe'; Larde Balvarde, Murraye ; Larde of Loughleven ; his brother that maried the heyres of Bouchan ; Andrewe Carre of Fawdensyde ; Ormeston ; Brimston; Elpheston ; Hauton ; Cauder ; Streuehaukc ; Patrickc Balcntinc ; Whittingham ; Patrick Murray of Tibbere-moore ; Tho. Scott, Under Sherif of Stretheme ; Larde of Carrnichell j Andrewe Conyngham, sone of the Erle of Glancarne; Mr. Andrewe Haye ; Mr. Archibalde Duglas ; George Duglas, uncle to the King ; Alex. Ruthen, brother to the Lord Ruthen.
All these man of good livings, besides a number of other gentlemen.
Imprisoned the Larde of Domlangricke, in Edenbourg Castle; the Larde of Wetherborne, in Donbar Castle ; the Provoste of Glenelouden, sone to Doml. in the Blacknese.
The Erle of Lenox commanded from the courte.