DARNLEY PROTESTS INNOCENCE

This being granted, ... we declared our state to the King our husband, certifying him how miserably he would be handled, in case he permitted these Lords to prevail in our contrare {against us}, and how unacceptable it would be to other Princes, our confederates, in case he altered the religion. By this persuasion he was induced to condescend to the purpose taken by us, and to retire in our company to Dunbar, which we did under night, accompanied with the captain of our guard, Arthur Erskine, and two others only.... Soon after our coming to Dunbar, sundry of our nobility, zealous of our weal, such as the Earls of Huntly, Bothwell, Marshal, Athole, Caithness; Bishop of St. Andrews, with his kin and friends; Lords Hume, Sempill, and infinite others assembled to us.... The Earl of Moray and Argyll sent diverse messages to procure our favour, to whom in likewise, for certain respects, by advice of our Nobility and Council being with us, we have granted remission, under condition they nowise apply themselves to these last conspirators, and retire themselves in Argyle during our will.... We remained in Dunbar five days, and after returned to Edinburgh well accompanied with our subjects. The last conspirators, with their assisters, have removed themselves forth of the same before, and being presently fugitive from our laws, we have caused by our charges their whole fortunes, strength, and houses to be rendered to us; have caused make inventory of their goods and gear, and intend further to pursue them with all vigour. Whereunto we are assured to have the assistance of our husband, who hath declared to us, and in presence of the Lords of our Privy Council, his innocence of this last conspiracy, how he never counselled, commanded, consented, assisted, nor approved the same. Thus far only he ever saw himself, that at the enticement and persuasion of the late conspirators he, without our advice or knowledge, consented to the bringing home forth of England of the Earls of Moray, Glencairn, Rothes, and other persons with whom we were offended. This ye will consider by his declaration made hereupon, which at his desire hath been published at the market crosses of this our Realm ... of Edinburgh, the second day of April 1566.

SECTION IV

MURDER OF RIZZIO TO MURDER OF DARNLEY

CONTENTS

[1.]Murray's plea for the Rizzio rebels.
[2.]The relations between Mary and Darnley.
(a)Mary's Will.
(b)The Birth of Prince James.
[3.]Mary to Elizabeth anent her support of the rebels.
[4.]Mary's treatment of Darnley, and Darnley's conduct towards Mary.
(a)As reported by M. le Croc, the French Ambassador.
(b)As reported by Buchanan, with the Alloa story.
(c)Nau's account of the Alloa story, and a letter of Mary's from Alloa.
[5.]The Ride to Hermitage.
(a)As reported in the Diurnal of Occurrents.
(b)As reported by Nau.
(c)As reported by Buchanan.
[6.]The Queen's illness at Jedburgh.
[7.]The Craigmillar Conference.
(a)As reported by Buchanan.
(b)In the Protestation of Huntly and Argyll.
[8.]The events immediately before the Darnley murder.
(a)Letter from Du Croc.
(b)The Baptism of the Prince.
(c)Restoration of the consistorial jurisdiction.
(d)Mary on Darnley's conduct.
(e)Beaton's warning.
[9.]The visit to Glasgow and the murder.
(a)As reported by Buchanan in the Detection.
(b)As described by Mary.
(c)As described by Nau.
(d)As described by Buchanan in his History.

Relations between Mary and Darnley.

Bedford and Randolph to Cecil, from Berwick, March 27,
1566. Wright's Elizabeth, vol. i. p. 235.

My Lord of Murray by a special servant sent unto us desireth your Honour's favour to these noblemen {the fugitives}, as his dear friends, and such as for his sake hath given this adventure.