shall be held as a voluntary error, and not of ignorance; since it is notoriously known who they are that have murdered the king, as my said lord and master affirms; of which Protestation I require an Act thus signed, Robert Cunningham: of the production of which Writing and Protestation the said Robert demanded an Act and Instrument.

The Judge considering the Writing and Protestation produced by the said Robert Cunningham, and having regard to the Letters sent to our sovereign lady, by Matthew earl of Lennox, also produced and read in judgment, the tenor of which is hereafter inserted; by which Letters and Writing the said earl of Lennox requires, that a brief and summary trial may be made of this cause: and having also regard to the Act, and the Order thereupon taken by the lords of the privy-council, and other such | things; and to what the advocates insist upon as to the same fact, requiring that justice may be done to the said earl Bothwell; and taking notice likewise of the Request and Demand which he has made, that the whole may be thoroughly examined; the Judge, by the advice of the lords and barons his assistants, found that they ought to proceed to the decision of the said Cause the same day, according to the laws of the realin, notwithstanding the Writing and Protestation produced by the said Robert Cunningham, and that in the mean time he shall be admitted to join with and assist the said advocates, for the final Trial of the said cause, if he thinks good.

the said cruel Murder, I most humbly request of your majesty, for the honour of God, and for that of your majesty and your realm, and for the welfare and peace of it, that you would be pleased not only to cause those who are named in the said placarts to be apprehended and put in safe custody, but likewise to assemble your nobility with all possible diligence, and then to summon by Proclamation the authors of the said Placarts to appear for the ends therein mentioned; and if they appear not, your majesty may, by the advice of your nobility and council, set at liberty those who are therein unmed. Your majesty will do an honourable act in bringing this matter to this issue, that according as the matter shall appear to your majesty, you may punish and chastise the authors of this cruel fact; or if the said Placarts shall be found false and of no validity, those who are charged may be acquitted and set at liberty, according to your majesty's good pleasure. Madam, I pray God Almighty to take your majesty into his protection and safeguard, and to preserve you in health and happy prosperity. From Iowstoun the 26th of Feb

A Second Letter from the Earl of Lennox. MADAM, I beseech your majesty to attend to what follows: Your highness in your last letters acquainted me, that if there were any names in the Placarts, which were set up at the door of the Senate-House of Edinburgh, of such persons as I thought worthy of condemnation, for the Murder of the king your majesty's husband, you would, according to my advice,

Copies of the Letters sent to the Queen by the make it your business to bring them to Trial,

Earl of Lennox.

according to the laws of this realin, and as the MADAM; I return most humble thanks to nature of the crime required. May if therefore your majesty for the gracious and consolotary please your majesty to know, that from the letters which I received the 24th of this pre- time I received your said Letters, I always exsent month: by which I perceive that it is pected that some of those bloody murderers your majesty's pleasure to put off the Trial of would be made openly known to you; but this late execrable fact, till the Parliament since I perceive they are not, I cannot find in meets. May it please your majesty to consi- my heart to conceal them from you any longer. der, that though I be assured that your highness Your majesty therefore has here the Nanies of must needs think the time long till the truth of those whom I greatly suspect, viz. The earl of this fact be found out, and the authors of it Bothwell, sir James Balfour, and Gilbert Balpunished according to their demerits; yet I four his brother; master David Chamers; most humbly beg pardon of your majesty for black master John Spence; the sieur Francistroubling and importuning you so often as I am cus Bastian, John de Buordeaux, and Joseph, forced to do, the affair being such as touches the brother of Davy Rizio: whom I most me so near; and therefore most humbly re- humbly beseech your majesty, according to my quest, that your majesty would take in good former Petition, not only to cause to be appre part my advice as follows: It is, that it is too hended and committed to safe custody, but long to wait for the meeting of the parliament; also with all diligence to assemble your nobility besides, this is not an affair of that sort, which and council, and then to take such advice uses to be treated of in parliament, but being about the fact of the persons abovementioned, such, and of so great importance, it is evident to as they may be duly examined. And as I every one, it ought rather to be inquired into hope, so I make no doubt, but that by proceedwith all diligence, that the authors may suffering in this manner, the spirit of God will assist an exemplary punishment. I know that your majesty is much more able to judge of it than I; but being informed that certain Placarts or Writings have been affixed to the Gate of the Senate-House of Edinburgh, which answered to your majesty's first and second Proclamation, and named some persons as authors of

toward bringing it to a good conclusion. Herein your majesty will do an act holy and ho nourable for yourself, who are a party, and highly satisfy those who stand in any relation to the deceased, whom you loved so dearly. And not doubting that your majesty will give proper orders for the whole, according to the

importance of the matter (as I most humbly beseech you to do) I shall pray to Almighty God to take you into his protection, and to give you long life and health with grace, that your reign may be both long and prosperous. Howstoun, March 17.

The Names of the Judges or Jury deputed for the Absolution of the Earl of Bothwell. Andrew earl of Rothes, George earl of Caithness, Gilbert earl of Cassils, lord John Hamilton, commendator of Arbroth, son to the duke, James lord Rosse, Robert lord Semple, John Maxwell lord Harris, Lawrence lord Oliphant, John master of Forbes, John Gourdon of Lochinvar, Robert lord Boyde, James Cockburn of Lanton, John Sommerville of Cumbusnethan, Moubray of Barnbougal, and Ogilbye of Boyne.

The above-named being chosen, admitted, and sworn to give sentence according to custom, and the earl of Bothwell being accused by Indictment of the crime above declared, and | submitting and referring himself to the Sentence of the said Judges, they went out of the Senate-House to another place: and after having long disputed together upon all the articles of the said Accusation, they did each of them,‹ one after another, declare the said James earl of Bothwell quit and absolved of the whole, and every part of the Murder of the king, and in general of whatever depended on the said ac

cusation.

clerk general of the said court, under my

sign manual. Signed, John Bellenden, clerk of the court.

Note, That at the same time Protestation was made by George carl of Caithness, Chancellor of the said Assize, that the said Dictate or Indictment was not in this point true, viz. alledging the murder to be committed the 9th day of Feb., for that indeed the murder was committed the next day, being the 10th day in the morning, at two hours after midnight, which in law was and ought to be truly ac counted the 10th day: and so the acquittal that way, but cavillingly defended. The Proclamations and Placarts, in Answer to them mentioned in the Trial, and others that happened after, were as follows.

Incontinent after the Murder of the king, the 10th of February, 1566, a Proclamation was issued, setting forth, that whoever would discover the Murderers should have 2000l. sterling. This Proclamation was answered by a Placart, fixed on the door of the Senate-house of Edinburgh, on the 16th day of February, in form as follows: Whereas public Notice has been given, that whosoever will discover the Murderers of the king, should have 2000. sterling; I who have made enquiry by those 'who committed the act itself, afirm, that the authors of the said Murder are the earl of 'Bothwell, sir James Balfour, the curate Elisk, master David Chambers, and black master John Spens, who above all was the principal author of this Murder; and the queen, who 'consented to it at the persuasion of the said ' earl of Bothwell, by the witchcraft of the lady Buccleugh.'-Upon this, another Proclamation was issued the same day, requiring the person who had set up the Placart to appear, own, and subscribe it in person, that he might have the sum promised by the former Proclamation, and more if he deserved it, as the queen and her council should think fit.

6

Afterwards, the said George earl of Caithness, chancellor or president at the said Trial (i. e. Foreman of the Jury) as well in his own name as that of the other judges, demanded an Act, to the end that as well the advocates, as the said Robert Cuningham, having a proxy from the earl of Lennox, and all others whom soever, might be debarred hereafter from producing any other Writing or Proofs whatsoever, in order to support the said Indictment, and that,the Judges might not be induced to give any other opinion than they had To this the following Answer was given and done before; the rather because nobody had set up at the same place the day following.-proved the truth of the Accusation, nor so Forasmuch as a Proclamation has been issued much as any part of it, and that no accuser since I set up my former, requiring that I appeared but the above-mentioned, who were should come to subscribe and own it; for Anpresented in order to carry on the Trial: and swer I do likewise require, that the money therefore the Judges having regard to the may be consigned into the hands of some man same, declared him free as far as they could of substance, and I will appear next Sunday, have any knowledge of the fact, with a Pro- and four others with me, and then I will subtestation, that this might not be afterwards im-scribe and maintain what I have said. Moreputed to them as a fault. Which Act and over, I require that the Sieur Francis Bastein, Protestation, when the said earl of Caithness and Joseph the queen's goldsmith, may be appresident and some of the judges above-men-prehended; and I will declare what each of tioned, returned to the court in the Senate-them and their accomplices did in particular.' House, and before the pronouncing of the aforesaid Sentence, was, at the request of the said earl of Caithness, read publicly, and in full court, and he demanded an Act and Instrument of it, protesting as above.

Extracted from the Registers of the Acts of our sovereign lady's court of justice, by me John Bellenden of Auchmoule knight, and

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To this no answer was returned.

Though the earl of Bothwell was acquitted as above-mentioned, yet knowing that the world did still esteem him guilty, he did, in order to clear himself further, set up a Paper in the Market-place, bearing, that albeit he had been acquitted by law, yet to make his innocence the more manifest, he was ready to try the same by single combat, with any man of honourable

birth and reputation, who would accuse him of the king's Murder.

To which Answer was made by another Placart, set up immediately after in the same place, That forasmuch as the said earl of Bothwell had caused a Placart to be set up, signed with his own hand, whereby he challenged any man of quality, and of a fair repu'tation, who would and dared to say that he was guilty of the Death of the king;' adding, that he who said it, or went about to support that charge, should be forced to eat his words; a gentleman of honour and good renown accepted his offer, and said, he would prove by the law of arms that he was the principal author of that horrid Murder, of which the Judges had rashly acquitted him for fear of death, after so much inquiry had been made into it. And whereas the king of France and the queen of England required, by their ambassadors, that the said Murder might be punished, he also intreats their majesties to insist with the queen, his sovereign lady, that by her consent a time and place may be appointed in their countries to combat the earl, according to the law of arms, in their presence, or in that of their deputies; at which time and place he promises and swears, on the word of a gentleman, to be present and do his duty, provided their majesties will, by Proclamation, grant Safe-conduct to him and his company, to pass and repass through their dominions without any molestation. He refers it to the judgment of the readers and hearers what just cause he has to desire this of the king of France and the. queen of England, and by this he advertises the rest of the Murderers to prepare themselves; for he will give each of them the like Challenge, and publish their names in writing, that they may be known to every body.-To this Bothwell made no reply.

Thursday, with the queen from Seton, appeared with armed retainers, and a band of hired soldiers, who paraded the streets with their ensigns displayed. The fact is now universally believed, that Morton conducted the whole trial, and appeared at the bar with Bothwell; but an examination of this circumstance only serves to illustrate the progress of historical falsehood. In the instructions from the lords and abbots of Mary's party, her commissioners in England are directed to plead, in answer to the marriage, that most part of the nobility, and principally of the usurpers, Morton, Semple, and Lindsay, gave their consent to the earl Bothwell, and to remove all suspicion, had declared him innocent by a public assize, ratified in parliament by the three estates.' But the queen herself, in her Instructions to her Commissioners, and in their reply to Murray, during the Conferences at York, maintains only, that Bothwell had received his Acquittal from an assize of his peers, confirmed in parliament by the nobility present, her opponents and others; and her answer to the accusation at Westminster, that she prevented the investigation and punishment of the murder to which she was accessary, refers to her former reply at York. Amidst the artful fictions with which the simple fact of the bond is invested, no intimation was then given of Morton's activity, or even presence at the trial, or of the concern of his associates in the acquittal of Bothwell. Two years afterwards, in a pamphlet published under a fictitious name, Lesly resorts to the former instructions of the lords and abbots, and asserts explicitly what he was afraid even to hint obscurely when confronted at the conference with Morton and Lindsay; that Morton, Semple, Lindsay, and their adherents, especially procured, and with all diligence laboured his purgation and acquit Some time afterwards, Bothwell was con- tal, which the three estates confirmed afterstrained to fly the kingdom, and went first towards by act of parliament.' An additional the Orcades, and then to the isles of Shetland, where being reduced to extreme want, he turned pirate: but being in danger of being taken, he went to Denmark; where, not being able to give a good account of himself, he was taken into custody; and afterwards being known by some merchants, he was clapt up close prisoner; and after a loathsome imprisonment for ten years, that and other miseries made him distracted; and thus he came to a most ignominious death, suitable to his vile and wicked course of life.

Further Account of the Trial of Earl Pothwell, Extracted from Laing's History of Scotland, vol. i. p. 65 *.

"THE Trial took place on Saturday, April 12th, and Bothwell, who had returned on

Upon the subject of queen Mary's concern in the murder of her husband, many well know volumes have been written. Some corres pondence between Robertson and Hume about it is given in the Appendix to Dugald Stewart's

fact, unknown to Lesly in Scotland, was brought forward in France, 1572, by the anonymous author of L' Innocence de Marie,' that Morton accompanied Bothwell before the judges. Blackwood scrupled not to intimate, in 1587, that Morton himself was one of Bothwell's judges; and in Maria Innocens,' published abroad, 1538, under a fictitious name, Turner, a Scottish priest and professor at Ingolstadt, affirms, without hesitation, that Morton actually pleaded the cause of Bothwell. This last assertion is, with some modifications, preferred by Camden, that Bothwell's cause was susstained or conducted by Morton; and the fictions of an anonymous French writer, and a Scottish refugee, are eagerly snatched at by modern apologists, as historical facts. But the real authors of Bothwell's Acquittal are easily

Life of Principal Robertson, The documents relating to the question are most diligently col lected, most judiciously arranged, and most ably examined, by Mr. Malcolm Laing, in his excellent History of Scotland.

was guilty of the murder; but the challenge ococcasioned another placard, in which the charge was renewed. As if his innocence, however, were now incontestible, he was appointed on Mon day, the second day after his trial, to carry the crown and sceptre, a mark of distinguished favour, at the opening of parliament. The commissioners for its opening, and the lords of articles were selected from the queen's friends; and if Morton's name appears in the articles, we at the same time discover the abbots of Kiliwinning and Aberbrothick, Lesly and Herreis, Bothwell and Argyle. There was no investigation attempted, nor the least notice taken of the king's murder; but a severe act was passed against the placards, that whosoever first discovered and neglected to suppress them, should suffer the same capital or arbitrary punishment with the authors themselves.”

ascertained. Argyle, justice general, and Caithness, chancellor, or foreman of the jury, sat, with Bothwell, Lesley, and Lethington, in the privy council that appointed the Trial. That Pitcairn, commendator of Dumfermline, lord Lindsay, Macgill, and Balneaves, sat as assessors to the justice general, is another convenient assertion, for which there is no proof. Three of the jury, Herreis, Royd, and Gordon of Lochinvar, were selected as Mary's commissioners in England; Rothes, Cassilis, Ross and others, subscribed the bonds for her release, or defence on her escape from Lochleven; and of the fifteen jurors, Semple alone adhered afterwards to Murray. The Trial was directed or conducted therefore by Argyle, and Caithness, Lesly and his coadjutors at the conferences in England; nor is a vague imputation published by Lesly two years afterwards, under a fictitious name, sufficient to transfer the ac- “Buchanan, Melvil, and Spottiswood assure quitta! of Bothwell, from himself and his co- us, that Bothwell died mad, and the two last, adjutors, to Morton and his friends. The writing after James had wintered in Denmark, crown lawyers disclaimed, in effect, all share must have known the fact. Turner, in order in the prosecution, except their concurrence. to authenticate the confession, first asserted, in No evidence whatsoever was produced. On 1588, that Bothwell's madness was a fiction of the contrary, Lennox was cited as a private Buchanan's, and the credulous Whitaker beaccuser, to support the charge, when Cunning-lieves, on Goodall's authority, that he lived at ham, a young man of his household, appearing large, unconfined, in Denmark. But Crawunexpectedly, excused his absence till his ford's MS. informs us, that he was committed friends could be collected to protect his per- to close prison till his death; the Summarium son; required the trial to be adjourned to pro- de Morte Mariæ, published 1587, that, "in cure support against the greatness of his ad- Dania captus, amens obiit" (Jebb, ii. 166), and versary, and protested for an assize of wilful Thuanus assures us, seemingly from particular error if the murderers should be absolved. information, that as soon as discovered, he was The demand was over-ruled, and the jury ac- imprisoned at Dracholm, "in aratissimis vincuquitted Bothwell of all share in the murder; lis, in qui buscum accusatus esset ab amicis but their foreman was instructed to protest in cujusdam nobilis virginis Norvegica, quam ante opposition to Cunningham, that as no evidence plures annos, pacto matrimonio violatam, alia, was produced to justify a different verdict, they super inducta, deseruerat, post decennium acwere not liable for wilful error. From these cedente amentia dignum flagitiosa vita exitum circumstances it appears, that the trial was habuit," ii. 551. The Norwegian lady whom directed by Bothwell himself, and that his ac- he had debauched when betrothed to her some quittal was managed and pronounced by the years before, and deserted for another, explains a friends of the queen. But whether conducted passage in Buchanan, that before his marriage by Morton or not, it is also evident, that from with the queen, duas uxores adhuc vivas haa collusive trial, directed by Bothwell, with an buit, tertiam ipse nuper suum fassus adulterium armed force to suppress the evidence, and pre- dimisisset; (lib. xviii. 357) and suggested the vent the appearance of the accuser, the queen crimes in his confession, that he had debauched could never have conceived that he was inno-a Danish lord's two daughters, and two daughcent, when, in the opinion of the whole nation, ters of a lord at Lubeck, &c. His body was as well as of impartial posterity, the circum-greatly swelled in summer, 1575, (Murden, stances of his acquittal served only to estab-235); and he seems to have died about the lish the reality of his guilt. The plain, and the end of that year. His age has been strangely only sound conclusion is, that in consequence controverted. Buchanan had represented of the remonstrances from France and Eng- James, instead of Patrick, earl of Bothwell, as land, Mary sought in the trial for such a decent Lepnox's rival for the queen regent's hand; and pretext to her friends abroad, rather than to Tytler, who was slightly versed in the controher subjects at home, as might justify her in-versy, and in the history of the period, grasped tended marriage with Bothwell: that he was accused indeed by public report, but acquitted by a judicial sentence of all concern in the

murder of her late husband.

"The Acquittal was no sooner pronounced, than Bothwell posted up a public challenge, offering as a vindication of his innocence, to fight hand to hand, with any person of good reputation, who should dare to maintain that he

VOL. I,

at the mistake, and concluded that Bothwell, who courted the mother in 1544, must have been an old man, upwards of sixty, when he married the daughter in 1567. Tytler, 3 edit. 231. The mistake had been previously corrected by Thomas Crawford (Notes on Buchanan, 141) and by Ruddiman (Buchananari Opera, i.452); but when lord Hailes discovered that Patrick, Bothwell's father, died in Sep3 N

tember 1556, and that Mary herself described | probably on his return from exile, when he Bothwell eight years afterwards, as "in his paid his addresses to the queen regent. Goodverie youth at his first enteris into this realm, | all, ii. 319. Bothwell's mother was alive at immediately after the deceise of his fadder." the murder of Darnley (Paris's First Confes(Remarks, 173. Anderson, i. 89), lord Elibank sion); and if born when his father was banishand Tytler devised another conclusion, that ed, Bothwell himself might be nineteen at his Buchanan, by anticipation, described Bothwell father's death, and less than thirty on his marby his future titles, when courting the queen riage with the queen. From her words quoted regent in 1544, and that he was forty-four at above, he appears to have returned from abroad least when he married the queen. Lord Eli- immediately after his father's death; and I bank's letter to lord Hailes, 30. Tytler, ii. 155. conceive that he was then in Denmark or NorTo argue against such writers would be ridicu- way where he married and deserted his first lous, as it is sufficient to state their misquotation wife for another, as he passed through England of Buchanan. Accessit æmulus Jacobus to France, on his banishment in 1563. DougHepburnus comes Bothwelliæ, &c Is enim las, in his Peerage, creates an intermediate ab Jacobo quinto relegatus, ac etatim eo mortuo Patrick earl of Bothwell; but in 1519, we disdomum reversus, eisdem artibus reginæ viduæ cover a lord Hailes, by Buchanan called James nuptias ambiebat," &c. lib. xvi. p. 285. The Hepburn, who assassinated David Hume prior earl of Bothwell, whom James had banished in of Coldingham, to whose sister he was married. 1537, was Patrick, the earl formerly imprisoned Buchanan, 260. Lesly, 371. Pitscottie, 131. in 1531, and divorced from his wife, most Crawford's Notes on Buchanan, 126."

54. The Trial and Sentence of WILLIAM POWRIE, GEORGE DALGLEISH, JOHN HAY younger of Talo, and JOHN HEPBURN of Bowton, concerning the Murder of Henry, earl Darnley, Husband of Mary Queen of Scots: with their Examinations, Depositions, and Confessions: as also, the Declaration of NiCHOLAS HUBERT, a Frenchman, commonly called PARIS, in relation to that Murder, and other Matters: 9 ELIZ. A. D. 1567. [Bib. Cotton. sub. tit. Calig. C. 1. f. 243. 2 Anderson, 165. 2 Laing's Hist. of Scotland, 243. Buchanan's Detection.]

THE DEPOSITIONS OF WILLIAM POWRIE. Apud Edinburgum, 23 Junii, Ann. Dom. 1567, in presentia Dominorum Secreti Concilii. WILLIAM Powrie, borne in Kinfawnis, seruitor to the erle Bothwell, deponis, That ye sam day the king wes slane at night, the erle Boithwell, accompanyt with James Ormistoune of yat ilk, Hob Ormestoune his fader bruther, John Hepburne of Bolton, and Johne Hay zounger, zeid togidder to an counsele in ye nether hall of ye said erle Bothwells ludgeing in ye abbay, about four houris eftirnone, or yairby, and remanit yairin twa houris, or yairby; quhat yai did or said, he knawis not.

Item. Deponis, Yat John Hepburne of Bolton, at ten houres at evin, commandit the Deponar and Pat Wilsoune to tak up ane carriage of twa maills and ane tronk, and ye vthir an leddirin mail, quhilks were lyand in the said nethir hall, quhilks the Deponar and the said Pat put on and chargit upon twa horses of my lordis, the aue being his sown horse, and carriit the same to the zet of the enteres of the black friers, and yare laid the same down, quhair the erle Bothwell, accumpanit with Robert Ormestoun and Paris, called French Paris, and vtheris twa quhilks had cloakes about yaro faces, mict the saidis deponar and Pat Wilsoun. And yat zoung Tallo, the lard of Ormestoune, and John

Hepburne of Boltoun, wes awaitand vpon ye deponer and Pat Wilsoun, within the said zet; and yat yare the saidis thre persouns within the said zet, ressauit the saids twa charges, quhilks the deponar knew to be pulder, be cause the same wes in sundry polks within the said mail and tronk; and ye deponar and said Pat Wilsoun helpt yame in with the same; and the powder being taken from yame, the said Johne Hepburne of Bolton sent this deponar for candell, and yat he coft six halpenny candell fra Georde Burnis wife in the Cowgate, and deliverit to the said Johne: and yat ye saids per soups ressavaris of the powder, had ane towel with them, with ane littil licht candell; and the saids persouns within the said zet oppynit the tronk and mail, and tuck out the polks with the powder and everie ane of yame tuck yane upon his back, or under his arm, and carryit the same away to the back-wall of the zaird yat is next the trees, and yair the said laird of Ormestoune, Jobne Hepburne of Boltoun, and zoung Tallo, ressavit the pulder fra yame, and wald suffer the deponar and his marrow to pass na furdar. And quhen the deponar and his marrow came bak againeto the said frier zet, the twa horss that carved the said maill and tronk war away, and zit yay carryit the saids mail and trouk agam to the abbay, and as yay came up the black frier wind, the quenes grace was