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hasted forward, according to the Queen's good behaviour, and applying to her pleasure and advice in her marriage; and seeing the matter concerning the said declaration was so weighty, she had ordained some of the best lawyers in England diligently to search out who had the best right, which she would wish should be her dear sister rather than any other. I said I was assured that her Majesty was both out of doubt hereof, and would rather she should be declared than any other. . . . She said that she was never minded to marry, except she were compelled by the Queen, her sister's, hard behaviour towards her, in doing by her counsel, as said is. I said: "Madam, ye need not tell me that; I know your stately stomach; ye think if ye were married, ye would be but Queen of England, and now ye are King and Queen both; ye may not suffer a commander."

She appeared to be so affectioned to the Queen her good sister, that she had a great desire to see her: and because their desired meeting could not be hastily brought to pass, she delighted oft to look upon her picture, and took me into her bed chamber, and opened a little lettroun wherein were Le. cabinet. divers little pictures wrapped within paper, and written upon the paper, their names with her own hand.

Upon

the first that she took up was written, "My lord's picture." I.e. Leicester. I held the candle and pressed to see my lord's picture. Albeit she was loth to let me see it, at length I by importunity obtained the sight thereof, and asked the same to carry home with me unto the Queen, which she refused, alleging she had but that one of his. I said again, that she had the principal; for he was at the furthest part of the chamber speaking with the secretary Cecil. Then she took Later Lord out the Queen's picture and kissed it; and I kissed her Burghley. hand for the great love I saw she bore to the Queen. . . .

Her hair was redder than yellow, curled appar

ently of nature.

Then she entered to discern what colour

I.e. Huntingdon.

of hair was reported best, and inquired whether the Queen's or her's was best, and which of them two was fairest. I said, the fairness of them both was not their worst faults. But she was earnest with me to declare which of them I thought fairest. I said, she was the fairest Queen in England, and ours the fairest Queen in Scotland. Yet she was earnest. I said they were both the fairest ladies of their courts, and that the Queen of England was whiter, but our Queen very lovesome. She inquired which of them was of highest stature. I said, our Queen. Then she said the Queen was over high, and that herself was neither over high or over low. Then she asked what kind of exercises she used. I said, that I was dispatched out of Scotland, that the Queen was but new come back from the highland hunting; and when she had leisure from the affairs of her company, she read upon good books, the histories of divers countries, and sometimes would play upon lute and virginals. She sperit if she played well. I said, reasonably for a Queen.

The same day after dinner, my Lord of Hunsden drew me up to a quiet gallery that I might hear some music, but he said he durst not avow it, where I might hear the Queen play upon the virginals. But after I had hearkened a while, I took by the tapestry that hung before the door of the chamber, and seeing her back was toward the door, I entered within the chamber and stood still at the door post, and heard her play excellently well; but she left off so soon as she turned her about and saw me, and came forwards seeming to strike me with her left hand, and to think shame; alleging that she used not to play before men, but when she was solitary her alone, to eschew melancholy; and askit how I came there. I said, as I was walking with my Lord of Hunsden, as we passed by the chamber door, I heard such melody, which ravished and drew me within the chamber I wist not how; excusing my fault of homeliness,

as being brought up in the Court of France, and was now willing to suffer what kind of punishment would please her lay upon me for my offence. . . . Then again she wished that she might see the Queen at some convenient place of meeting. I offered to convey her secretly in Scotland by post, clothed like a page disguised, that she might see the Queen as King James the 5 passed in France disguised, with his own ambassador, to see the Duc of Vendome's sister that should have been his wife; and how that her chamber should be kept, as though she were sick, in the meantime, and none to be privy thereto but my Lady Stafford, and one of the grooms of her chamber. She said, Alas if she might do it: and seemed to like well such kind of language, and used all the means she could to cause me persuade the Queen of the great love that she bore unto her, and was minded to put away all jealousies and suspicions, and in times coming a straiter friendship to stand between them than ever had been of before; and promised that my despatch should be delivered unto me very shortly by Master Cecil at London. .

At my home coming I found the Queen's Majesty still in Edinburgh to whom I declared the manner of my proceeding with the Queen of England. . . .

After that her Majesty had understood at great length all my handling and proceedings in England, she inquired. whether I thought that Queen meant truly towards her as well inwardly in her heart as she appeared to do outwardly by her speech. I said, in my judgment, that there was neither plain dealing nor upright meaning, but great dissimulation, emulation and fear that her princely qualities should over soon chase her out, and displace her from the kingdom. . . .

Sir James Melville, Memoirs of his own Life (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, 1827), 116-129. Spelling modernized.

By QUEEN
ELIZABETH

(1533-1603).

After an intermission

of four years Parliament was assembled in September, 1566. The

extreme Protestant element in the Commons at

once brought

forward the
vexed ques-
tions of the
Queen's
marriage
and the suc-
cession.
In spite of
the royal
prohibition
the Com-

mons per-
sisted in
urging their
wishes in
these mat-

ters, and the result was

what Hallam calls "the

most serious disagreement on record between the crown and the Commons since the days of Richard II and Henry IV." After a session spent in wrangling

the Queen dissolved Parliament

with the

54. A Speech of Queen Elizabeth (1566)

MY LORDS, AND OTHERS THE COMMONS OF THIS ASSEMBLY,

Although the Lord Keeper hath, according to Order, very well Answered in my Name, yet as a Periphrasis I have a few words further, to speak unto you: Notwithstanding I have not been used, nor love to do it, in such open Assemblies; yet now (not to the end to amend his talk) but remembring, that commonly Princes own words be better printed in the hearers memory, than those spoken by her Command, I mean to say thus much unto you. I have in this Assembly found so much dissimulation, where I always professed plainness, that I marvail thereat, yea two Faces under one Hood, and the Body rotten, being covered with two Vizors, Succession and Liberty, which they determined must be either presently granted, denied or deferred. In granting whereof, they had their desires, and denying or deferring thereof (those things being so plaudable, as indeed to all men they are) they thought to work me that mischief, which never Foreign Enemy could bring to pass, which is the hatred of my Commons. But alas they began to pierce the Vessel before the Wine was fined, and began a thing not foreseeing the end, how by this means I have seen my well-willers from mine Enemies, and can, as me seemeth, very well divide the House into four.

First the Broachers and workers thereof, who are in the greatest fault. Secondly, The Speakers, who by Eloquent Tales perswaded others, are in the next degree. Thirdly, The agreers, who being so light of Credit, that the Eloquence of the Tales so overcame them, that they gave more Credit thereunto, than unto their own Wits. And lastly, those that sate still Mute, and medled not therewith, but rather wondred disallowing the matter; who in my Opinion, are most to be Excused.

But do you think, that either I am unmindful of your Surety by Succession, wherein is all my Care, considering I know my self to be mortal? No, I warrant you: Or that I went about to break your Liberties? No, it was never in my meaning, but to stay you before you fell into the Ditch. For all things have their time. And although perhaps you may have after me one better Learned, or Wiser; yet I assure you, none more careful over you: And therefore henceforth, whether I live to see the like Assembly or no, or whoever it be, yet beware however you prove your Princes Patience, as you have now done mine. And now to conclude, all this notwithstanding (not meaning to make a Lent of Christmas) the most part of you may assure your selves, that you depart in your Princes Grace.

Speech of Queen Elizabeth to Parliament, 1566 (Sir Simon D'Ewes, Journals of all the Parliaments during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, London, 1682).

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55. Mary Stuart's Escape from Lochleven By GIO

(1568)

VANNI CORRER, Venetian Ambassador in

A gentleman came from Scotland with confirmation of the France. The Queen's flight which took place thus.

The Queen of Scotland was advised by Lord Seton, her most confidential Catholic friend, and a very brave gentleman, by means of a lad of the house who never returned, that he on an appointed day would be with about fifty horsemen at the lake of Lochleven, where the Queen was held a prisoner.

Guard was continually kept at the castle day and night, except during supper, at which time the gate was locked with a key, every one going to supper, and the key was

M

marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, with Bothwell, led

the Earl of

to a rebellion of the Scot

tish nobles. On the 15th

of June Mary

and Bothwell were defeated

at Carberry Hill by the Confeder

ated Lords.

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