The Bardon papers : documents relating to the imprisonment & trial of Mary Queen of Scots / edited for the Royal Historical Society by Conyers Read ; with a prefatory note by Charles Cotton.

Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Bardon papers : documents relating to the imprisonment & trial of Mary Queen of Scots / edited for the Royal Historical Society by Conyers Read ; with a prefatory note by Charles Cotton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Q[ueene] of Scottes pretended a treatye with her Majestie for her libertie : And vnderhand styrred vp forren invasyon and at home rebellyon, as Throgmerton affyrmethe, by her owne lettres.1 Q[ueene] of Scottes signed and sealyd thassociacion,3 that the Queenes Majestie was lawfull Queen, that she wold pursue to deathe, whosoeuer attemptyd hurt to the Queenes person : Herselfe hath a booke affyrmyng herselfe to have present title to this crovvne before our Queenes Majestie, also • her selfe assentythe and encytethe the Queenes Majesties deathe, prouyd by her owne lettres. Q[ueene] of Scottes wesheth the leuyeng of forces here to assist invasyon, and her deliuerye, to be colored for fortifyeng the Chatholikes against the danger of the Purytans.3 Q[ueene of Scottes sekyth help of France : And yet secretlye wold ley the title of the crowne of that it was written at the instigation of Walsingham himself. It was begun late in April, 1586 (cf. Aldred to Walsingham, 24th April. 1586. Cal. Domes. Adda. 1580- 1625, p. 174) and sent over to England late in June (cf. Foxley alias Grately to Walsingham, 21 June, 1586. Cal. Dom. Adda. 1580-1625 p. 179) and was probably published, although no copies of it appear to be in existence now. It seems to have had no good effect, but it got both Grately and Gifford into considerable trouble later on (cf. Cath. Record Soc. Miscellanea, i, p. 87). Savage said, in his confession, that it had merely been written to “blear the eyes” of the English government, (cf. R.O., S. P. Mary Q. of S. xix, no. 91). Of course it was not generally known that Walsingham had had anything to do with the making of it. 1 This charge against Mary is amply justified by her own correspondence. 3 The “association” referred to here was the so called “ Bond of Association,’ formed to defend Elizabeth’s life. It was drawn up in November 1584 by the Privy Council and was signed by the royal officers and the gentry at large throughout England. The “Bond” is printed in State Trials, i, p. 1161. Mary had been allowed to sign it at her own request. * Cf. Mary to Babington, 17 July, 1586, printed above.
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