Part 15

_Letter IV._ J'ay veille plus tard la haut que je n'eusse fait, si ce n'eust este pour tirer ce que ce porteur vous dira, que je trouve la plus belle commodite pour excuser vostre affaire qui ce purroit presenter, &c.

_Letter V._ Mon c[oe]ur, helas! fault il que la follie d'une femme, dont vous cognoissez assez l'ingratitude vers moy, soit cause de vous donner desplaisir, &c.

_Letter VI._ Monsieur, helas! pourquoy est vostre fiance mise en personne si indigne, pour soupconner ce qui est entierement vostre. J'enrage, vous m'aviez promis, &c.

_Letter VII._ Du lieu et l'heure[76] je m'en rapporte a vostre frere et a vous. Je le suivray, et ne fauldray en rien de ma part. Il trouve beaucoup de difficultez, &c.

_Letter VIII._ Monsieur, de puis ma lettre escrite vostre beau frere qui fust, est venu a moy fort triste, et m'a demande mon conseil de ce qu'il feroit apres demain, &c.

The slight variations in the other French versions are noted above. There are no Record Office or Hatfield versions of I., II., VII., and VIII., and there is no "Published French" version of III.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ [74] _P. F._ "veu."

[75] _Record Office F._ "promis."

[76] _P. F._ "homme." ------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Love Sonnets.

_Henderson's Casket Letters._

The "divers fond ballads" referred to in the letter of Elizabeth's Commissioners of October 11th, 1568, consist of the following "sonnets" in French.

The sonnets are printed from the English edition of Buchanan's _Detection_ (1571). The lines in italics are translated from the Scots by Professor York Powell.

1. O Dieux ayez de moy compassion, Et m'enseignez quelle preuue certain{e} Ie puis donner qui ne luy semble vain{e} De mon amour & ferme affection. Las n'est il pas ia en possession Du corps, du coeur qui ne refuse paine Ny deshonneur, en[77] la vie incertaine, Offense de parentz, ne pire affliction?[78] Pour luy {tous mes} amis estime moins que rien, Et d{e mes} ennemis ie veux esperer bien. I'ay hazarde {pour luy} & nom & conscience: Ie veux pour luy au monde renoncer: Ie veux mourir pour le fair'[79] auancer. Que reste il plus pour prouuer ma constance?

2. Entre ses mains & en son plein pouuoir, Je metz mon filz, mon honneur, & ma vie, Mon pais, mes[80] subjectz, mon ame assubiectie Est tout a luy, & n'ay autre voulloir Pour mon obiect, que sans le deceuoir Suiure ie veux, malgre toute l'enuie Qu'issir en peult, car ie n'ay autre envie Que de ma foy, luy faire apperceuoir Que pour tempeste ou bonnace qui face Iamais ne veux changer demeure ou place. Brief ie feray de ma foy telle preuue, Qu'il cognoistra sans faulte[81] ma constance, Non par mes pleurs ou fainte obeyssance, Come autres font,[82] mais par diuers espreuue.

3. Elle pour son honneur vous doibt obeyssance Moy vous obeyssant i'en puis receuoir blasme N'estat, a mon regret, comme elle vostre femme. Et si n'aura pourtant en ce point preeminence Pour son propre profit[83] elle vse de coustance, Car ce n'est peu d'honneur d'estre de voz biens dame Et moy pour vous aymer i'en puis receuoir blasme Et ne luy veux ceder en toute l'obseruance: Elle de vostre mal n'a l'apprehension Moy ie n'ay nul repos tant ie crains l'apparence: Par l'aduis des parentz, elle eut vostre accointance Moy malgre tous les miens vous porte affection {_Et neanmoins, mon c[oe]ur, vous doubtez ma constance_}[84] Et de sa loyaute prenez ferme asseurance.

4. Par vous mon coeur & par vostre alliance Elle a remis sa maison en honneur Elle a jouy par vous de[85] la grandeur Dont tous les siens n'ayent nul asseurance De vous, mon bien, elle a eu l'ac coinstance,[86] Et a gaigne pour vn temps vostre coeur, Par vous elle a eu plaisir en bon heur, Et par vous a[87] honneur & reuerence, Et n'a perdu sinon la jouyssance D'vn fascheux sot qu'elle aymoit cherement, Ie ne la playns d'aymer donc ardamment, Celuy qui n'a en sens, ny en vaillance, En beaute, en bonte, ny en constance Point de second. Ie vis en ceste foy.[88]

5. Quant vous l'amiez, elle vsoit de froideur. Sy vous souffriez pour s'amour passion Qui vient d'aymer de trop d'affection, Son doy monstroit, a tristesse de coeur N'ayant plaisir de vostre grand ardeur. En ses habitz, monstroit sans fiction Qu'elle n'auoit paour qu'imperfection Peust l'effacer hors de ce loyal coeur. De vostre mort ie ne vis la peaur[89] Que meritoit tel mary & seigneur. Somme, de vous elle a eu tout son bien Et na prise ne iamais estime Vn si grand heur sinon puis qu'il n'est sien Et maintenant dit l'auoir tant ayme.

6. Et maintenant elle commence a voir Qu'elle estoit bien de mauuais iugement De n'estimer l'amour d'vn tel amant Et voudrait bien mon amy deceuoir, Par les escriptz tout fardez de scauoir Qui pourtant n'est en son esprit croissant Ains emprunte de quelque autheur luissant A faint tresbien vn ennoy[90] sans l'avoir Et toutesfois ses parolles fardeez, Ses pleurs, ses plaincts remplis de fictions. Et ses hautz cris & lamentations Ont tant gaigne que par vous sont gardeez Ses lettres {escriptes} ausquellez vous donnez foy Et si l'aymez & croyez plus que moy.

7. Vous la croyez las trop ie l'appercoy Et vous doutez de ma ferme constance, O mon seul bien & mon seul esperance, Et ne vous puis ie asseurer de ma foy Vous m'estimez plus legier que le noy,[91] Et si n'auez en moy nul' asseurance, Et soupconnez mon coeur sans apparence, Vous deffiant a trop grand tort de moy. Vous ignorez l'amour que ie vous porte Vous soupconnez qu'autre amour me trasporte, Vous estimez mes parolles du vent, Vous depeignez de cire mon las coeur Vous me pensez femme sans iugement, Et tout sela augmente mon ardeur.

8. Mon amour croist & plus en plus croistra Tant que je viure &[92] tiendray a grandeur, Tant seulement d'auoir part en ce coeur Vers qui en fin mon amour paroistra Sy tres a clair que iamais n'en doutra, {_Pur luy je lutterai contre malheur_}[93] Pour luy ie veux recercher la grandeur, Et feray tant qu'en vray cognoistera, Que ie n'ay bien, heur, ne contentement, Qu'a l'obeyr & servir loyaument. Pour luy iattendz toute bonne fortune, Pour luy ie veux garder sainte & vie Pour luy vertu de suyure i'ay enuie[94] Et sans changer me trouvera tout vne.

9. Pour luy aussi ie jette mainte larme. Premier quand il se fist de ce corps {posses}seur, Duquel alors il n'auoit pas le coeur. Puis me donna vn autre dur alarme Quand il versa de son sang mainte dragme Dont de grief il me vint telle[95] doleur, M'en pensay[96] oster la vie en frayeur De perdre la{s} le seul rempar qui m'arme. Pour luy depuis iay mesprise l'honneur Ce qui nous peult seul pouruoir de bonheur. Pour luy hazarde grandeur & conscience. Pour luy {tous mes} i'ay quite parentz, & amis, Et tous autres respectz sont apart mis. Brief de vous seul ie cherche l'alliance.

10. De vous, ie dis, seul soustein de ma vie Tant seulement ie cerche m'asseurer, Et si ose de moy tant presumer De vous gaigner maugre toute l'enuie. Car c'est le seul desir de vostre {chere} amie, De vous seruir & loyaument aymer, Et tous malheurs moins que riens estimer, {Et} vostre volonte de mon mie{ux} suivie,[97] Vous cognoistrez avecque obeyssance De mon {loyal} deuoir n'omettant la sciance A quoy ie estudiray pour {tousiours} vous complaire Sans aymer rien que vous, soubz {la} suiection. De qui ie veux sans nulle fiction Vivre & mourir & a ce j'obtempere.

11. Mon coeur, mon sang, mon ame, & mon soucy, {Las,} vous m'auez promis qu'aurons ce plaisir De deuiser auecques vous a loysir, Toute la nuict, ou ie languis icy Ayant le coeur d'extreme paour transy, Pour voir absent le but de mon desir Crainte d'oublir vn coup me vient {a} saisir: Et l'autre fois ie crains que rendurcie Soit contre moy vostre amiable coeur Par quelque dit d'un meschant rapporteur. Un autre fois ie crains quelque auenture Qui par chemin detourne mon amant, Par vn fascheux & nouueau accident. Dieu detourne tout malheureux augure.

* * * * *

12. Ne vous voyant selon qu'auez promis I'ay mis la main au papier pour escrire D'vn different que ie voulu transcrire, Ie ne scay pas quel sera vostre aduis Mais ie scay bien que mieux aymer scaura Vous diriez bien que plus y gaignera.

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------ [77] Ny?

[78] Rochelle text has "affection" wrongly.

[79] Buchanan, "luy" only. Rochelle text, "lui le fair."

[80] Read "Mon pis subject"?

[81] Buch., "fainte."

[82] Buch., "ont fait."

[83] Buch., "Pour son profit elle."

[84] Scots translation, "And not the less, my heart, ye doubt of my constance."

[85] Buch., "vous la."

[86] Buch., "la constance."

[87] Buch. inserts "receu."

[88] Text of sextain corrupt.

[89] Omitted in Rochelle version as corrupt.

[90] Buch., "envoy."

[91] Buch., "mestimez legier que le voy."

[92] Buch., "viuray, &".

[93] Scots--"For him I will stryve aganis wan-weird."

[94] Rochelle version to read "luy tout."

[95] Buch., "lesser."

[96] Buch., "Que m'en pensa ... & frayeur."

[97] Rochelle text, "et vostre ... de la mienne suivi," and later version "la mien suivre." ------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Contracts of Marriage.

_Goodall_, vol. ii. p. 54, from Cot. Lib. Calig., C. i.

At Seton, the 5th day of April, the year of God, 1567, the right excellent, right high and mighty Princess, Mary, by the grace of God, Queen of Scots, ... in the presence of the Eternal God, faithfully, and on the word of a Prince, by these presents, takes the said James, Earl Bothwell, as her lawful husband, and promises and obliges her Highness, that how soon the process of divorce, intended betwixt the said Earl Bothwell and Dame Jane Gordon, now his pretended spouse, be ended by the order of the laws, her Majesty shall, God willing, thereafter shortly marry and take the said Earl to her husband.... He presently takes her Majesty as his lawful spouse, in the presence of God, and promises and obliges him ... that in all diligence possible, he shall prosecute and set forward the said process of divorce already begun and intended betwix him and the said Dame Gordon, his pretended spouse....

MARIE, R. JAMES, EARL BOTHWELL.

Here note, that this contract was made the v of April, within viii weeks after the murder of the King, which was slain the x of February before; also it was made vii days before Bothwell was acquitted, by corrupt judgment, of the said murder. Also it appears by the words of the contract itself, that it was made before sentence of divorce betwixt Bothwell and his former wife, and also in very truth was made before any suit of divorce intended or begun between him and his former wife, though some words in this contract seem to say otherwise, which is thus proved; for this contract is dated the v of April, and it plainly appears by the judicial acts, ... wherein is contained the whole process of the divorce between the said Earl and Dame Jane Gordon his wife, that the one of the same processes was intended and begun the xxvi day of April, and the other the xxvii.--Buchanan's "Detection."

Nous Marie, par la grace de Dieu, Royne d'Ecosse, douaryere de France, &c, promettous fidellement et de bonne foy, et sans contraynte, a Jaques Hepburn, Comte de Boduel, de n'avoir jamais autre espoulx et mary que luy, et de le prendre pour tel toute et quant fois qu'il m'en requerira, quoy que parents, amys ou autres, y soient contrayres. Et puis que Dieu a pris mon feu mary Henry Stuart dit Darnley et que par ce moien je sois libre, n'estant sous obeissance de pere, ni de mere, des mayntenant je proteste que, lui estant en mesme liberte, je seray preste, et d'accomplir les ceremonies requises an mariage; que je lui promets devant Dieu, que j'en prantz a tesmoignasge, et la presente, signee de ma mayn: ecrit ce--

MARIE, R.

[This contract merely promises to marry Bothwell, without constraint, and refers to the writer's freedom from the necessity of any one's permission, since Darnley's death. It contains no reference to the divorce.]

_MORTON'S DECLARATION_

The Discovery of the Letters--1. The Earl of Morton's Declaration.

_Henderson's Casket Letters_, pp. 113-116, from fol. 216, Add. MSS. 32,091, Brit. Mus.

The trew declaration and report of me, James, Earl of Morton, how a certain silver box overgilt containing diverse missive writings, sonnets, contracts, and obligations for marriage betwix the Queen mother to our sovereign lord, and James sometime Earl Bothwell, was found and used.

Upon Thursday the xix of June, 1567, I dined at Edinburgh, the Laird of Lethington, secretary, with me. At time of my dinner a certain man came to me, and in secret manner showed me that three servants of the Earl Bothwell, viz. Mr. Thomas Hepburn, parson of Auldhamesokkes, John Cockburn, brother to the laird of Skirling, and George Dalgleish were come to the town, and passed into the castle. Upon which advertisement I on the sudden sent my cousin Mr. Archibald Douglas and Robert Douglas, his brother, and James Johnston of Westerrall, with others my servants, to the number of xvi or thereby, toward the castle to make search for the said persons, and, if possible were, to apprehend them. According to which my direction, my servants passed, and at the first missing the forenamed three persons for that they were departed forth of the castle before their coming, my men then parting into several companies upon knowledge that the others whom they sought were separated, Mr. Archibald Douglas sought for Mr. Thomas Hepburn and found him not, but got his horse, James Johnston sought for John Cockburn and apprehended him, Robert Douglas seeking for George Dalgleish. After he had almost given over his search and inquisition a good fellow understanding his purpose came to him offering for a mean piece of money to reveal where George Dalgleish was. The said Robert satisfying him that gave the intelligence for his pains, passed to the Potterrow beside Edinburgh, and there apprehended the said George, with divers evidences and letters in parchment, viz. Earl Bothwell's infeftments of Liddesdale, of the Lordship of Dunbar and of Orkney and Shetland, and divers others, which all with the said George himself, the said Robert brought and presented to me. And the said George being examined of the cause of his direction to the castle of Edinburgh, and which letters and evidents he brought forth of the same, alleged he was sent only to visit {examine} the Lord Bothwell, his master's clothing, and he had not more letters nor evidents than these which were apprehended with him. But his report being found suspicious and his gesture and behaviour ministering cause of mistrust seeing the gravity of the action that was in hand, it was resolved by common assent of the noblemen convened, that the said George Dalgleish should be surely kept that night, and upon the morn should be had to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh and there be put in the iron and torments for furthering of the declaration of the truth, wherein being set, upon Friday the xx day of the said month of June before any rigorous demeaning of his person, fearing the pain, and moved of conscience, he called for my cousin Mr. Archibald Douglas, who coming, the said George desired that Robert Douglas should be sent with him, and he should show and bring to light that which he had. So being taken forth from the irons, he passed with the said Robert to the Potterrow, and there, under the sceit {seat} of a bed took forth the said silver box, which he had brought forth of the castle the day before, locked, and brought the same to me at viii hours at night, and because it was late I kept it all that night. Upon the morn, viz., Saturday, the xxi of June, in presence of the Earls of Atholl, Mar, Glencairn, myself, the Lords Home, Sempill, Sanquhar, the Master of Graham, and the Secretary, and Laird of Tullibardine, Comptroller, and the said Mr. Archibald Douglas, the said box was broken open because we wanted the key, and the letters within contained sighted {_i.e._ examined} and immediately thereafter delivered again into my hand and custody. Since which time, I have observed and kept the same box, and all letters, missives, contracts, sonnets, and divers writings contained therein fairly without alteration changing adding or diminishing of anything found or received in the said box. This I testify and declare to be undoubted truth.

This is the copy of that which was given to Mr. Secretary Cecil upon Thursday the 8th of December 1568.

This is the true copy of the declaration made and presented by the Earl of Morton to the Commissioners and Council of England sitting in Westminster for the time, upon Thursday being the 29 of December 1568.

Subscribed with his hand thus, MORTON.

2. Buchanan's Account.

_Translated from the History_, book xviii. c. 51.

It happened that, about the same time, Bothwell sent one of his confidential servants to the castle of Edinburgh, to bring to him the silver casket, covered with inscriptions, which had once belonged to the French king, Francis. In it were letters of the Queen, almost all written with her own hand, in which both the King's murder and the whole sequel were plainly discernible; and in almost every letter there was an injunction to burn it. But Bothwell, who knew the Queen's inconstancy, of which he had recently seen many instances, preserved the letters, so that, in any disagreement, he might use their testimony, and prove himself not the author of the crime, but only an accomplice. This casket Sir Robert Balfour gave to Bothwell's servant to take away; but first he told the leaders of the opposite party what had been sent, and the agent and the destination.... It was captured....

The Deposition of Thomas Nelson.

_Goodall_, vol. ii. p. 243, from Cott. Lib. Calig. i. 165.

... She {the Queen} caused take down the said new black bed {in Darnley's room}, saying it would be soiled with the bath, and in the place thereof set up an old purple bed, ... and the said keys that were delivered into the hands of Archibald Beton remained still in the hands of him, and others that awaited upon the Queen, and never were delivered again to the King's servants; for she set up a green bed for herself in the said low chamber, wherein she lay the said two nights, and promised also to have bidden {remained} there upon the Sunday at night. But after she had tarried long and entertained the King very familiarly, she took purpose (as it had been on the sudden), and departed as she spake to give the masque to Bastien who that night was married {to} her servant, namely the said Archibald Beton and one Paris, Frenchman, having the keys of her chamber, wherein her bed stood in, as also of the passage that passed toward the garden.... The Queen being departed toward Holyrood-house, the King within the space of one hour passed to bed, and in the chamber with him lay umquhill {_i.e._ the late} William Taylor. The deponent and Edward Symonds lay in the little gallery, that went direct to the south out of the King's chamber, ... and beside them lay William Taylor's boy, who never knew of anything till the house wherein they lay was falling about them....

Thomas Crawford's Deposition.

[With regard to the deposition of Crawford, see p. 144; the wording of the account of the conversation between Mary and Darnley should be carefully compared with that of the second Casket Letter.]

_Hosack's Mary._ Appendix L.

First I made my Lord {Lennox} my master's humble commendations unto her Majesty with the excuse that he came not to meet her, praying her grace not to think that it was either for proudness or yet for not knowing his duty towards her Highness, but only for want of health at the present, and also that he would not presume to come in her presence until he knew farther her mind because of the sharp words that she had spoken of him to Robert Cuningham, his servant, in Stirling, whereby he thought he was in her Majesty's displeasure. Notwithstanding, he has sent his servants and friends to wait upon her Majesty. She answered that there was no receipt against fear. I answered that my Lord had no fear for anything he knew in himself, but only of the cold and unkind words she had spoken to his servant. She answered and said that he would not be afraid in case he were not culpable. I answered that I knew so far of his Lordship that he desired nothing more than that the secrets of every creature's heart were written in their face. She asked if I had any farther commission. I answered no. Then she commanded me to hold my peace.

The words that I remember were betwixt the King and the Queen in Glasgow when she took him away to Edinburgh.

The King for that my Lord his father was then absent and sick, by reason whereof he could not speak with him himself, called me unto him, and these words that had then passed betwixt him and the Queen, he gave me in remembrance to report unto the said my Lord his father.

After their meeting and short speaking together she asked him of his letters, wherein he complained of the cruelty of some. He answered that he complained not without cause, and as he believed, she would grant herself, when she was well advised. She asked him of his sickness, he answered that she was the cause thereof, and moreover he said, ye asked me what I meant by the cruelty specified in my letters, that proceedeth of you only, that will not accept my offers and repentance. I confess that I have failed in some things, and yet greater faults have been made to you sundry times, which ye have forgiven. I am but young, and ye will say ye have forgiven me divers times. May not a man of my age for lack of counsel, of which I am very destitute, fall twice or thrice, and yet repent and be chastised by experience. If I have made any fail that ye but think a fail, howsoever it be, I crave your pardon, and protest that I shall never fail again. I desire no other thing but that we may be together as husband and wife. And if ye will not consent hereto, I desire never to rise forth of this bed. Therefore I pray you give me an answer hereunto. God knoweth how I am punished for making my god of you, and for having no other thought but on you. And if any time I offend you, ye are the cause, for that when any offendeth me, if for my refuge I might open my mind to you, I would speak to no other, but when any thing is spoken to me, and ye and I not being as husband and wife ought to be, necessity compelleth me to keep it in my breast, and bringeth me in such melancholy as ye see me in. She answered that it seemed him she was sorry for his sickness, and she would find remedy therefor, so soon as she might.