Mary Queen of Scots, 1542-1587. Various

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СКАЧАТЬ the Maries) were her uncles, the Duc d'Aumale, the Grand Prior, the Marquess d'Elbeuf. There accompanied her also D'Amville, son to the Constable of France, with other gentlemen of inferior condition, besides servants and officers. The very face of the heaven at the time of her arrival did manifestly speak what comfort was brought into this country with her (to wit) sorrow, dolour, darkness, and all impiety; for in the memory of man that day of the year was never seen a more dolorous face of the heaven, than was at her arrival, which two days after did so continue: For besides the surface wet, and corruption of the air, the mist was so thick and dark that scarce might any man espy another the length of two pair of butts; the sun was not seen to shine two days before nor two days after. That forewarning, God gave unto us; but alas! the most part were blind. … Fires of joy were set forth at night, and a company of most honest men with instruments of music, and with musicians, gave their salutations at her chamber window: The melody (as she alleged) liked her well; and she willed the same to be continued some nights after with great diligence. The Lords repaired to her from all quarters, and so was nothing understood but mirth and quietness, till the next Sunday, which was the 24th of August, when preparations began to be made for that Idol of the Mass to be said in the Chapel; which pierced the hearts of all. The Godly began to bolden, and then began openly to speak, Shall that Idol be suffered again to take place within this Realm? It shall not. The Lord Lindsay (then but Master) with the Gentlemen of Fife, and others, plainly cried in the close or yard, The idolatrous Priests should die the death, according to God's Law. One that carried in the candle was evil afraid; but then began flesh and blood fully to show itself. There durst no Papist, neither yet any that came out of France, whisper: But the Lord James, the man whom all the Godly did most reverence, took upon him to keep the Chapel-door. His best excuse was, that he would stop all Scotsmen to enter in to the Mass; but it was and is sufficiently known, that the door was kept that none should have entry to trouble the Priest, who, after the Mass was ended, was committed to the protection of the Lord John of Coldingham and the Lord Robert of Holyrood House, who then were both Protestants, and had communicate at the Table of the Lord. Betwixt them both was the Priest conveyed to his chamber. And so the Godly departed with grief of heart, and after noon repaired to the Abbey in great companies, and gave plain signification, that they could not abide that the land, which God by His power had purged from Idolatry, should in their eyes be polluted again.

      A PROUD MIND AND A CRAFTY WIT

Knox's Opinion of the Queen.

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      Ibid., p. 286.

      John Knox his own judgment, being by some of his familiars demanded what he thought of the Queen, said, "If there be not in her a proud mind, a crafty wit, and an indurate heart against God and His truth, my judgment faileth me."

1561.—2nd September. The Queen's Public Entry into Edinburgh.

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      Thomas Randolph to Cecil. Wright's Elizabeth, vol. i. p. 63.

      Upon Tuesday last she made her entry. She dined in the Castle. The first sight that she saw after she came out of the Castle was a boy of six years of age, that came as it were from heaven out of a round globe, that presented unto her a Bible and a Psalter, and the keys of the gates, and spake unto her the verses which I send you. Then, for the terrible significations of God upon idolatry, there were burnt Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, in the time of their sacrifice. They were minded to have a priest burned at the altar, at the elevation. The Earl of Huntly stayed {stopped} that pageant, but hath played many as wicked as that since he came hither. He bare that day the sword.

      [The following are the lines to which Randolph referred. As only the first stanza has appeared in print before, the verses are given in their original form.]

       HOLYROOD.

      A "NEEDEFULL" GIFT

A Ballad of Welcome.

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      Welcome, O Souveraine! Welcome, O natyve Quene!

       Welcome to us your subiects great and small!

       Welcome, I say, even from the verie splene,[1] To Edinburgh your syttie principall. Whereas your people with harts both one and all Doth here{in} offer to your excellence Two proper volumes[2] in memoriall As gyfte most gainand[3] to a godlie prince.

      Wherein your Grace may reade to understande

       The perfett waye unto the hevennes hie,

       And how to Rule your subiects and your land,

       And how your kingdom stablished shalbe,

       Judgment and wysdome therein shall ye see.

       Here shall you find your God his due commande,

       And who the contrarie does wilfullie,

       How them he threatens with his scurge and wand.

      Ane gyfte more precious cold[4] we none present Nor yet more needefull to your Excellence, Qwylk[5] is Gode's lawes his words and testament Trewlie translate with frutefull diligence, Qwylk to accepte with humble reverence The Provist present most hartelie you exorte With the hole subiects due obedience, Together with the keyes of their porte.

      In signe that they[6] and all that they possess Bodie and good shall ever reddie be To serve you as their souveraine hie mistress Both daye and {night} after thair bound dutie: Besechinge[7] your Grace in this necessitie Thair {too} shorte tyme and {their} godwill[8] consether[9] Accepte their harts and take it pacientlie That may be done, seing all is yours together.

      A TOLERANT PROCLAMATION

Illustrations of the Religious Difficulty—Proclamation regarding Religion.

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      Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, August 26, 1561.

      Forasmuch as the Queen's Majesty has understood the great inconveniences that may come through the division presently standing in this realm for the difference in matters of religion, that her Majesty is most desirous to see pacified by a good order, to the honour of God and the tranquillity of her realm, and means to take the same by the advice of her Estates as soon as conveniently may be; and that her Majesty's godly resolution therein may be greatly hindered in case any tumult or sedition be raised among the lieges, if any sudden innovation or alteration be pressed or attempted before that the order may be established. Therefore … her Majesty ordains letters to be directed to charge all and sundry, lieges, … that none of them take upon hand, privately or openly, to make any alteration or innovation of the state of religion, or attempt anything against the form which her Majesty СКАЧАТЬ