By such divulged horrors, and fearefull arguments, they brought her Majestie into such trouble and perplexitie of minde, that she signed the Letters of Warrant to her deadly Sentence, and was perswaded most of all to it by Patricke Gray Scottishman, whom the King of Scotland had sent to disswade the Queene of England, from putting his mother to death; who many times put these words into her eares: Mortua non mordet: Being dead, she will byte no more.
And notwithstanding, as she was naturally slow to anger, she had this custome, that she never would enter unadvisedly, or without premeditation, into any action: so she began to weighe in her minde, whether it were better to put her to death, or to let her live. From putting her to death she was disswaded,
By her owne naturall clemency, not to use cruelty to her who was a Princesse, and her next kinswoman; from the feare that she had, Histories should make her infamous to posterities, and from the dangers which might fall upon her, as from the part of the King of Scotland, who then was the next in succession to the Crowne of England; so also from the Catholick Princes, and from desperate people, who would attempt anything.
From pardoning of her likewise, she foresaw no lesse danger to ensue:
That the Nobility which had given the sentence against her, would covertly seeke to regaine the favour of her and her sonne; and that could not be done without danger to herselfe. That her own subjects would take it ill when they perceive their labour to be lost; and though then they were carefull for her wellfare, yet hereafter they might grow carelesse; and that many would change their religion, and become Popish, upon a supposition of greater hopes, seeing her preserved, as it were, by fatall providence, to inherite the Kingdome of England. That the Jesuites and Seminaries, whose eyes were all cast upon her, seeing her sickly, and not like to live long, would be so much the more busie to procure the death of Q. Elizabeth, to set up their religion.
Her Courtiers propounded also to her domesticall examples, because that that which is warranted by president,[42] is the more tolerable: As
what comportment the Kings of England (for their securities) have had with their competitors, namely Henry the first with Robert his elder brother, Edw. the third, or rather his mother, with Edward the second, Henry the fourth with Richard the second, Edward the fourth with Hen. the sixt, with his sonne the Prince of Wales, and George of Clarence, and Henry the eighth with De-la-Poole Earle of Suffolk, with Margaret of Salisbury and Courtney Marquesse of Exeter: all which (in comparison of their offences) dyed for very sleight matters.
Neyther did the Courtiers only suggest these and the like to the Queene; but diverse fiery-tongued Preachers also, tooke occasion to exercise (with all asperity of spirit) the heate of their desires, in hastning on her death. Sundry also of the vulgar sort were of the same temper, according as their affections or humours carried them away with hope or feare.
Amidst these sad-afflicting thoughts of minde (which so troubled the Queene of England’s perplexed heart, as that she delighted to be all alone, and to sit solitary by her selve, neyther looking up, nor uttering any speech; yet would suddenly many times, breake out into these words, and sighing, say, Aut Petere Aut Percute,[43] and withall, also a kinde of Emblem: Prevent the Stroke by Striking) shee delivered Secretarie Davison letters under her hand and seale, wherein hee was commanded to make ready a Warrant, under the great seal of England, for the execution of the Qu. of Scotland, and to keepe it private, not acquainting any therewith, lest happely in this turbulent time of feare, some sudden violent danger might happen. But the morrow after (some sudden affright mixing it selfe with her pensive thoughts and meditations of minde), changing her former purpose, she recommanded Davison (by Killegray) to dispatch his Warrant. Davison, going to her, told her it was ready, and sealed. Whereat she grew very angry, saying, He was too hasty. But for all this, he forbore not to publish the matter, and to impart it to the Councell; who (beleeving that willingly, which they desired earnestly) were easily perswaded, that the Queene had given commandment for the execution; and (unknowne to her) sent presently away Beale (who, out of a fervour of zeale which he bore to religion) was more eagerly bent against the Queene of Scotland, than any other and with him two executioners, and letters Patents, whereby authoritie was granted to the Earles of Shrewesbury, Kent, Derby, Cumberland and others, to proceed in this execution. And although the Queene had told Davison at that time, that shee had a purpose to deale otherwise with the Queene of Scotland; yet, for all that, he did not stay or recall Beale....
* * * * *