“The Queen arrived at Aston's house and was taken to her chamber. She sent me to ask what Paulet had done with her butler. He answered that he thought he was with her, and was surprised, saying he must have been led away without orders. He promised that he would be immediately in the house, and sent for him, as also for the apothecary, the surgeon Jervis, Jane Kennedy, Mowbray, and Martin the cook, all of whom, remaining at Chartley, had been shut up by Wade. After supper Her Majesty sent to ask for her night things, which were sent her; and as Paulet had no power to accommodate her better, she being ill and having need of many things, she requested him to send her pen, ink, and paper to write to Elizabeth. He refused the request, and she replied that she thought it very strange that she could not write, seeing it was a thing she had always been free to do, and Elizabeth had begged of her not to fail to write her in any circumstances, asking if there was a new order prohibiting her from doing so. She called for witnesses, and protested before them against the harsh manner in which she was kept. Paulet said she might take any witness she liked, but she could write no letter until he had the authority of the Court. After this interview she desired to see him again, but he declined. Meantime, as they led the Queen to this place, and Nau and Curle to the other, Wade was at Chartley, where he caused all the servants who remained behind to be shut up in different parts of the house; all the maids and the wife of Bastian, with Mrs. Curle, who was near her confinement; seized all the keys of the doors of the chambers and cabinets of the Queen and as many coffers as he could, and the keys of those who were absent with Her Majesty, and sealed up all the locks that he could.
”Wednesday, 17th August.—Her Majesty being still in bed, I was sent for by Paulet to speak with him; but before doing so I asked if she had anything to say to him. She said I must see first if he would allow me. Then I was not permitted to remount, but was taken to Chartley, where I remained a prisoner with the others, waiting the return of the Queen. They sent me there against my will, resisting as much as possible, under the pretext that I must be present when they visited my chamber to answer for what they found. After stating that my boxes were opened in my room, and they could visit them without me, I was promised that I would return the same day. This, however, was not done. This and next day, Wade, Bagot, Manners, Knight of a great family, who had even been employed in the troubles of the Queen for the Duke of Norfolk, together with Sir Walter Aston, in whose house the Queen was detained—all these gentlemen were employed searching the chambers, cabinets, coffers, and cash boxes, papers, books, and everything they could suspect as containing matter for their information. This evening they brought away three coffers filled with papers of all kinds, one part of which was the private affairs of the Queen's household. At four o'clock p.m. Pasquier, who had been confined in a room separate from the others, was taken to Chartley. And I immediately after went to the cabinet of Her Majesty to find some medicine for her, hoping to return at once, but was sent back to the porter's lodge, where I had been all day waiting until they should come down from the Queen's room, which they did about 7 p.m. Then they searched my room, but found nothing.
“Tuesday, 23rd August.—Mrs. Barbara Mowbray, Curle's wife, had a daughter about 5 o'clock a.m.
“Wednesday, 24th August.—We consulted to have the child baptized, not having had news of Her Majesty, who was still at Tixall. During dinner M. du Prean was taken away, and the same day Elspeth Bras and her mistress, Elizabeth Pierrepoint. All the rest of us were much astonished, only expecting that we also would be separated, hoping at the same time that Her Majesty might return the following day.
“Thursday, 25th August.—Her Majesty was brought back to Chartley with a great company, having been strictly confined at Tixall. She was very welcome to each of us, as we held her in great devotion, though not without tears abundantly flowing on both sides. This day we visited each other as those who had just come home. After the tears had passed away Her Majesty found nothing to say except about her papers, which had been carried off. There was found a cloth, from which had been torn off a promise of marriage in parchment between Nau and Elspeth Pierrepoint, which they had found in one of that lady's coffers, who, consenting with some others in the house, had signed the said contract and kept it secret. Her Majesty was very angry, as much for Nau's honour as for that of Melville. Nau had made a solemn promise to the Queen not to marry this lady nor make any vow to her on the subject. Her Majesty several times visited Mrs. Curle until the 6th or 7th September, when Paulet sent to tell her that as Mrs. Curle was now well there was no longer any need of her being visited by the Queen, and that such visitation had been allowed by Paulet for charity and pity, as in the circumstances she was not capable of attending an accouchement. In the next twenty-four hours all her ladies were forbidden to go out any more or go downstairs .“
The next entry is ”Tuesday, 13th September.—Paulet sent for me to say that Bagot had a few words to say to Her Majesty, and wished to see her. Her Majesty answered that she was very ill and in bed, and not able to see him. She begged of him to leave her alone for this day, not being able to transact business of importance, and that next day or any day she would do her best. Paulet replied that it was not business of importance, but Bagot had come expressly. It was something he could not communicate to her people, therefore she must hear it, and not trouble herself, as it was only five or six words. Paulet said he knew of her malady, but he desired that her servants should not be in the room. He and Bagot came immediately, followed by his son, Gorges, Paulet, Darrell, D'Ispense, his principal servitors, and gentlemen, a great number, with swords and daggers. He entered the chamber alone with Bagot, all the others remaining in the antechamber, sending away all the ladies and servants out of the room, which moved us much, not knowing what to make of such behaviour. The best that I could do was to stand at the door under pretext that the Queen was alone, and had two men with her. This they were unwilling to allow, but at last it was allowed. At the same time the surgeon remained with us. Paulet remonstrated with the Queen on the troubles which had come on the kingdom on her account, stating they were warned that her money did much harm, that by it she suborned many people in England and abroad, who behaved themselves wickedly and traitorously to their country, and that the Council advised that she must give up her money into his hands. Her Majesty, much astonished at this message, said that she had no money and had never suborned anyone. On Paulet giving some particulars, she said she had never sought anyone, and if anyone offered to do her a favour she did not wish to be ungrateful. She had recompensed their trouble and recognised the pleasure they wished to afford her in the place in which she was. If they came to her she could not refuse, and she did not wish to remain indebted to them, and could not honourably remain so. She had received letters and packets from France and for her household from people that she had never even known, and coming voluntarily to her. She would submit to what they wished if they proved that she had sought those people or invited them to act so; otherwise she would not deliver up her money, and it was not for Paulet or the Council to command it. They had no authority over her. Paulet said 'that she must, and that he had brought Bagot as a witness, assuring her that it would do harm to no one and she would lose nothing. Things being as they were, it was necessary that she should deliver up her money, so that she might have no more trouble; and that it would be better to give it up voluntarily than be forced and create a disturbance.' Her Majesty refusing, Paulet told her that if she did not give it up he would take it by force. She said she recognised no one who could order it, and refusing the key of her cabinet, Paulet said he would break it open. She said she knew he would not spare her. He desired her to command Curle to deliver it up, but she said she would do nothing of the kind. He left the room to ask Elspeth Curle, who refused without the authority of the Queen. We asked him what he was going to do to the Queen so sick and afflicted. He replied he would do her no harm. After having gone to Her Majesty pretending to force the door, Elspeth Curle was called, and gave up the key by order of her mistress. The Queen, seeing herself alone in the chamber guarded by Paulet's people, whom no one dare approach, rose from her bed and followed them, walking with difficulty, and remonstrated with them about this money. Paulet was informed by Wade where and how much it was, and how much belonged to Curle. It was money that she had kept for a long time as a last resource when she was about to die so as to pay for her obsequies; also to pay for sending her servants to their own country after her death. This they would see by her papers, amongst which they would find a duplicate of her will, which she had made with her own hand, in which was a list of those to whom she desired the money to be given, and how much to each. She had promised to her counsel not to touch it, and by his advice she reserved it for this purpose. She had even sworn not to break into it, nor to take a penny herself, nor allow anyone else to do so during her life. As they would not consent, she begged them to leave at least a part for necessities; being ill, it was not right to leave her without money. Paulet answered that she would want for nothing. They would furnish her with everything, but they would leave no money in her hands. And so they went away and left her with ten crowns. They went to Curle's room to seize the money he had had for his marriage, and were obliged to remain and take the money from his sister Elspeth, who had it in her keeping, upon which at her request they promised a receipt, but refused it when she had given up the money. Upon this Paulet led Catherine Bras into Mrs. Curle's room, where she remained several days. Next day Bastian Page and all his family were sent to their room; Mrs. Curle, her nurse, and Catherine to hers; Baltazare, Robin Morton, Nicholas and Charles, to the robe room, and afterwards, at the request of Her Majesty, Robin Morton was given to her instead of Baltazare, and from that time not one of these saw her again. Some days after, Mary, daughter of Bastian Page, was taken away from the side of the Queen while she was at dinner. Not wishing to go, she remained with her father until they sent for her. So there only remained with the Queen Jane Kennedy, Renee Beauregard, Gillies Mowbray, Elspeth Curle, maids of honour; Jervis, surgeon, and Guon, apothecary; Annabel Stuart, valet de chambre; Didier, butler; John Lauder, baker; Hust, chef; etc. After getting permission to serve the Queen, the same day they were shut up with the coachman, two other grooms, and the stablemen, without having any communication with the outside world. Thus we remained in doubt from one day to another whether we should be separated and sent away.
“Some days afterwards Paulet asked if he could see the Queen, and if she would listen quietly and not abuse him.” Coming to her accompanied by Bagot, who spoke more particularly of these troubles —“since England was there had never been any so great. There had never happened any enterprise so horrible (Babington Conspiracy). If she was guilty or consenting God knew it. But there were those who had plotted great things, among others Babington. Six men had undertaken to kill Elizabeth, and were to carry away the Queen of Scots, set fire in the night-time to the outside barns, and so draw the attention of Paulet and his people and upset some carts to prevent them re-entering; afterwards kill Paulet, and carry the Queen away with some of her servants. Two or three miles from her house, near the warrens, there would be a number of horses to conduct her in safety far away to another locality. It was a great matter if she consented to it; that she ought to know who it was, and if she thought she was badly counselled; that she had had servants as wicked as it was possible to find; that Nau had a mind so restless that he could not be stopped. He wished everything he suggested done immediately; and he had a certain ambition that he could not bear anyone above him. He wished to command and be master everywhere, would give place to nobody, and had done her a great deal of harm.” Her Majesty said she knew nothing of all that. She did not know Babington, and had never heard of these plots against Elizabeth. As to her servants, they had only counselled good and worthy things. If they had wished to undertake plots she was not so destitute of sense that she did not know what course to pursue. That she had had long experience in this dispute with Elizabeth to enable her to choose between the true and the false. Paulet maintained that Babington had confessed great things, that the Catholics were going to revolt, and that he thought he had accused Her Majesty; that she could not deny that she had been acquainted with him, and that she had written to him and he to her; and that she had had intercourse with many countries and peoples in that enterprise. She answered that formerly she had heard of Babington, but that was ten years ago; that she did not know what had become of him, and had neither seen nor known any other person nor had intercourse nor undertaking with anyone. She sometimes received letters from her friends, which were offered of their goodwill to give her pleasure, but she had undertaken nothing of this kind; she had suborned nobody. Often she received letters from people of whom she had never heard, and others she did not know whence they came nor from what part. Brasseur de Loges had brought her many packets without knowing from whom they came and without having spoken or having cognisance of anyone belonging to her, said he had borrowed money from her; that for pity, making her believe he was in trouble, she had lent it to him, but she had not suborned or bribed him by any means whatever nor even spoken to him. They could not hinder her from having news and correspondence, and she was not accountable to them; it was her own affair. It was unnecessary that all her affairs should be known. Paulet importuned her to confess something, and tried to obtain proof from her words, and said that they must speak more fully to her and make her clear up everything. From this she thought she would be tried, but nobody thought in what fashion it would be done.
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.
From the Collection of Sir James Drummond, at Hawthornden.