following: though Elizabeth pretended it was quite contrary to her intentions, seemed fain therefore bave had her put out of the way by Sir Amias Paulet, and Sir Drue Drury, and had it hinted to them by the secretaries Davidson and Walsingham. But they were too wise to be caught, and too honest to execute so barbarous a deed, and therefore boldly refused, to the queen's no small mortification. Mr. Tindal seems to intimate something of a doubt about the genuineness of the letters here referred to, but I think without reason. For to me they have all the marks of genuineness, and are perfectly agreeable to that dexterity and management for which Elizabeth was so famous. When these arts failed, the warrant in the hands of Davidson, signed by the queen, was made use of by the council, the queen being not openly acquainted with it, and Mary, by means of it, had her head severed from her body. So that James's conduct could not save his mother, nor could Henry III. of France, by his ambassador, respite the execu tion of her sentence, but a violent death was her fate. But, if what historians tell us is true, 'tis no wonder Elizabeth paid so little regard to the solicitations in the behalf of the unfortunate Mary. For 'tis affirmed, that Bellievre, the French ambassador, whatever in public he pretended, had private orders to solicit the death of the queen. And Gray, the Scotch envoy, on this occasion, is said likewise in private, to advise the making her away, saying, a dead woman bites not. a Rapin's History of England, translated by Tindal, vol, II. p. 134, in the notes. fol. Lond. 1733. b Id. vol. II. p. 122. Winwood's State Paper, vol. I. p. 11. Id. p. 131. greatly grieved at it, and turned out, and fined the secretary by reason of it. : 7 Though Elizabeth pretended it was contrary to her intentions, and turned out, and fined the secretary by reason of it.] The execution of Mary could not be concealed, nor was it thought proper by Elizabeth to justify it. She therefore threw the blame upon poor Davidson, and made him suffer for being an instrument in bringing about what she most of all desired. She denied not, but she commanded him to draw a warrant under the great seal for the queen of Scots' execution; but after it was done, she seemed angry however she left it in his hands, without telling him what he should do with it. Whereupon the council being consulted by Davidson, it was unani'mously resolved to execute the warrant, and accordingly it was carried to Fotheringay, and produced the desired effect. Elizabeth, in the mean time, pretended she had changed her mind; but none of her counsellors talked to her upon the subject, or attempted to hinder the execution, as they certainly would have done, had they not been satisfied in her intentions. But when the wished-for event took place, then Elizabeth pretended great sorrow, and professed her disinclination towards it; and to convince the world thereof, she wrote to the Scotch king, by a cousin of hers, and had Davidson cited into the Star-chamber, where he was fined £10,000, and imprisoned during the queen's pleasure. Though "she herself could not deny, but that which she laid to his charge was done without hope, fear, malice, envy, or any respect of his own, but merely for her safety both of state and person a Cabala, p. 232. fol. Lond. 1663. a Indeed Elizabeth and her ministers managed James as they pleased; they fully This sentence on Davidson was very severe, and carried the dissimulation to a great pitch, for the man lost his post, and lay'd long in prison. So hard and difficult is the service of princes! So dangerous complying with their inclinations, for there is no laying obligations upon them; and after you have done all to please and oblige them, to serve a turn, or even gratify a present humour, they will discard or ruin you: for they think their subjects made for them; that 'tis a favour to employ them; and that they are of no worth, any farther than they promote their designs. If people therefore knew when they were well, they would be thankful for a peaceable retreat, and strive not to mix in counsels with those whose aim it is to outwit and mischief each other; nor would they be desirous of climbing up so high, as that a fall is fatal. But the ambitious in vain are cautioned to check their career. Nothing but some sad miscarriage, disappointment or` disgrace, will teach them the needful lessons of humility and moderation, or cause them to enjoy contentedly the blessings of private life. Before I take my leave of this affair, I will observe that from the proceedings against Mary, it appears, that the queen and her parliament had no notion of such a sacredness in the persons of princes, as to render them unaccountable to any earthly tribunal. For here is a sovereign princess, tried, condemned, and executed, with the approbation, yea in pursuance of the request of the parliament; and though Elizabeth, to save appearances, feigned sorrow and indignation at the execution, yet no one has been so hardy as to put into understanding his temper, councils, and designs; so that they acted as they thought her mouth a sentence tending to condemn the lawful ness of it. For she was too wise and understanding to have done it; nor could any who knew her character suppose her capable of it. This doctrine was left to her successor, who had weakness enough to declare expressly," that kings that kings were accountable to God only " A doctrine big with mischief, and fit for nothing but to make tyrants. But of this I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter. *Elizabeth and her ministers managed James as they pleased, and understood his temper, councils and designs.] It appears from Melville, that the English were thoroughly acquainted with the temper and behaviour of the king, and had those about him who took every opportunity to insinuate those notions into him, which were most acceptable to Elizabeth. "Wootton the ambassador became one of his most familiar minions, waiting upon him at all fixed pastimes." And Sir Richard Wigmore "was particularly instructed by Walsingham, in all the proper methods to gain upon the king's confidence, and to observe and give an account of all he saw in him; which he did very faithfully" And though James little thought it, his most secret actions were known to the English ministry, and all his transactions abroad, how privately soever they were carried. For Elizabeth's ambassadors had a very watchful eye over the Scotch; and what by address, what by considerations of religion, but chiefly by money, they became acquainted with every thing Melvil, p. 161. King James's Works, p. 529. *Barnet, vol. 4. p. 3. and Welwood's Memoirs, p. 9.8vo. Lond. 1710. fit, without any regard to him, any farther than mere compliments. For the fear of James was negotiating every where. Thus for instance, Sir Henry Neville, though at Paris, had a watchful eye over the transactions of the Scotch king at Rome, and made himself master of them, though they were managed with the greatest caution": and he was apprized also of the negotiation of baron Ogilby in Spain, who offered in the name of "James to be re conciled to the apostolic see, and to enter into a confederacy with that crown, in order to rescue himself from the dangers he was exposed to from Elizabeth, on whom he offered, (upon condition of being assisted with twelve thousand men armed and paid all the time thè war should last, and five hundred thousand ducats tó begin it) to make war immediately, and declare himself her enemy." So that from hence it appears that Elizabeth had him fast, and could have exposed him to the resentments of the English and Scottish nations whenever she pleased. For as Walsingham, Burnet says, “thought the king was either inclined to turn papist, or to be of no religion;" so these negotiations, had they been published, would have brought over multitudes of others to the same opinion; the consequence of which to him might have been fatal. No wonder then James's threatnings were little heeded: he was well known by the English court, and to know him was to stand in no awe of him; for big as he would talk on occasion, fighting was his known aversion. Indeed, after he came into England, he was weak enough to pretend that he had the direction of the a Winwood's State Paper, p. 145, 146. The letters are well worth ronding at large. • Winwood, vol. L. p. 5, 6, 7. Barnet, vol. I. p.6. C |