Mary Queen of Scots, 1542-1587. Various

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СКАЧАТЬ TABLE SHOWING THE POSITION OF MARY AND DARNLEY WITH REGARD TO THE CROWN OF ENGLAND.

       (B.) LORD DARNLEY.

       (C.) CONTEMPORARY WRITERS.

       GEORGE BUCHANAN.

       CONAEUS.

       LORD HERRIES.

       JOHN KNOX.

       JOHN LESLEY.

       LINDSAY OF PITSCOTTIE.

       SIR JAMES MELVILLE.

       CLAUDE NAU.

       LORD RUTHVEN.

       DIURNAL OF OCCURRENTS.

       GUDE AND GODLY BALLATES.

       (D.) AUTHORITIES.

       (1.) OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

       (2.) BOOKS WHICH CONTAIN ORIGINAL LETTERS, &c.

       (E.) CONTROVERSIAL WORKS.

       THE END

       Some Press Notices

PREFACE

       Table of Contents

      The life of the Queen of Scots presents so many different lines of interest, that, in a volume of the present size, it is necessary to make and adhere to a selection from among the numerous possible varieties of treatment. The attention of the reader has, therefore, been concentrated upon the six active years in Mary's life, from her arrival in Scotland in August 1561, to her imprisonment in Lochleven Castle in June 1567. Documents bearing on the "English Wooing" and the other events of Mary's minority and residence in France have, accordingly, been omitted, except in so far as they are required for an intelligible introduction to the main theme of the book. Most of them, indeed, would be more relevant to a volume having for its subject the history of the Scottish Reformation. It is hoped that such extracts as have been chosen will, with the connecting notes, be sufficient to indicate the position of affairs in 1561. The struggle which had convulsed Scotland for twenty years, was, on its theoretical side, a contest between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. On its practical side, it was a rivalry between two political parties; the one, headed by the Queen-Dowager, Mary of Guise, and Cardinal Beaton, aiming at the maintenance of the ancient alliance with France; and the other, led by the Protestant nobles and the reformed clergy, striving towards an understanding with England. Before Mary's arrival, the popular, or English Party, had made good its position, and the understanding between the nobles and Queen Elizabeth continued undisturbed. Such wish or power as Mary possessed for the re-establishment of a definite alliance with France, was lessened by her personal dislike to Catharine de Medici, and by her position as nearest heir to the English throne.

      The Editor's main aim has been to place before the reader, as fairly as possible, the evidence for the divergent views of Mary's life and character. For this purpose, considerable space has been devoted to the Conferences at York and Westminster, in 1568 and 1569, which, although themselves outside the period specially chosen, yet refer to the events that fall within it. The selection of extracts has also been influenced by a desire to give prominence to the condition of Scotland at the time, and to the religious difficulty associated with the person of John Knox; while an attempt has been made to bring into relief the personality of the rival queens.

      The Editor desires to acknowledge the courtesy of the Right Reverend Monsignor Chisholm, Rector of Blairs College, Bishop-Designate of Aberdeen, who has sanctioned the reproduction of the Blairs portrait. He has also to acknowledge the assistance of Professor W. L. Davidson of Aberdeen; Mr. Herbert Fisher, Fellow of New College; and the Editor of the series, who have read the proof-sheets. Mr. Swinburne's translation of Mary's last poem (p. 239) is printed by kind permission, and Mr. T. F. Henderson has allowed the Editor to use the Documents first printed in his "Casket Letters and Mary Queen of Scots."

      R. S. R.

      New College, Oxford,

       February 1899.

Mary Queen of Scots

       Table of Contents

SECTION I

       Table of Contents

FROM MARY'S BIRTH TO HER RETURN TO SCOTLAND FROM FRANCE

       Table of Contents

The Birth of the Queen.

       Table of Contents

      Lindsay of Pitscottie: History of Scotland, Ed. of 1778, p. 275.

      [Mary was born at Linlithgow on December 2nd, 1542. Her father, James V., was dying at Falkland, broken-hearted after the defeat at Solway Moss. The reference in the following passage is, of course, to the succession of the House of Stewart to the Crown, through Marjory Bruce. King James died on December 8th.]

      DEATH OF JAMES V.

      By this the post came to the King out of Linlithgow, showing to him good tidings, that the Queen was delivered. СКАЧАТЬ