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4 | <meta name="content" content="Primary Sources: The execution of Mary, queen of Scots, 1587">
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9 | <title>Primary Sources: The execution of Mary, queen of Scots, 1587</title>
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21 | <p align="center"> <br>
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22 | <p align="center">
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23 | <img border="0" src="scot-letters.gif" width="598" height="114"><p align="center"> </td>
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31 | <td valign="top" width="48%" bgcolor="#FFFFE8">
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32 | <p><font size="2">
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33 | <img border="0" src="scots-letters.jpg" alt="The Darnley Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I" align="left" width="165" height="240">The
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34 | first letter was sent to Mary, queen of Scots at the opening of her trial
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35 | at Fotheringhay on 12 October 1586. It was written in French.</font><p><font size=-1>
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36 | Four days after Mary's execution, Elizabeth sent the second letter to Mary's
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37 | son, King James VI of Scotland. In it, she asserts her innocence in his
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38 | mother's death.</font><p><font size=-1>Although she signed the warrant for Mary's execution,
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39 | Elizabeth tore it up. Another copy was signed, and - before the queen
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40 | could change her mind yet again - Burghley and others upon the council
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41 | sent if off. Elizabeth's life was in constant danger while Mary lived,
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42 | as numerous plots attested. Her councilors were determined to keep her
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43 | safe. As for Elizabeth, she was understandably torn between protecting
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44 | her throne and taking the life of a fellow sovereign, even one she did
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45 | not respect or like.</font><p><font size=-1>The second warrant was sent from London on 4th February,
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46 | and reached Fotheringhay on the following evening. On the 7th the Earls of
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47 | Shrewsbury and Kent, who were in charge of the execution, warned Mary to prepare
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48 | for death on the following day. On the 9th news of the execution reached
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49 | London, and was received by the Queen with surprise and horror. She openly
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50 | raged against her councilors; her capable secretary Davison, who had given her
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51 | the second warrant, was sent to the Tower.</font></td>
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52 | <td width="4%"></td>
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53 | <td valign="top" width="48%">
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57 | <p align="center"><i><b>To Mary, queen of Scots, October 1586</b><br></i>
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58 | <p align="left">You have in various ways and manners attempted to take my life
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59 | and to bring my kingdom to destruction by bloodshed. I have never proceeded
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60 | so harshly against you, but have, on the contrary, protected and maintained
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61 | you like myself. These treasons will be proved to you and all made manifest.
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62 | Yet it is my will, that you answer the nobles and peers of the kingdom
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63 | as if I were myself present. I therefore require, charge, and command that
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64 | you make answer for I have been well informed of your arrogance.
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65 | <br>Act plainly without reserve, and you will sooner
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66 | be able to obtain favour of me.<p>Elizabeth</p>
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67 | <hr>
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68 | <p align="center"><i><b>To King James VI of Scotland, 14th February 1587</b></i><br> </p>
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69 | <p align="left">My dear Brother, I would you knew (though not felt) the extreme
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70 | dolor that overwhelms my mind, for that miserable accident which (far contrary
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71 | to my meaning) hath befallen. I have now sent this kinsman of mine, whom
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72 | ere now it hath pleased you to favour, to instruct you truly of that which
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73 | is too irksome for my pen to tell you. I beseech you that as God and many
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74 | more know, how innocent I am in this case : so you will believe me, that
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75 | if I had bid aught I would have bid by it. I am not so base minded that
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76 | fear of any living creature or Prince should make me so afraid to do that
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77 | were just; or done, to deny the same. I am not of so base a lineage, nor
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78 | carry so vile a mind. But, as not to disguise, fits not a King, so will
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79 | I never dissemble my actions, but cause them show even as I meant them.
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80 | Thus assuring yourself of me, that as I know this was deserved, yet if
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81 | I had meant it I would never lay it on others' shoulders; no more will
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82 | I not damnify myself that thought it not.
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83 | <br>The circumstance it may please you to have of this bearer. And for
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84 | your part, think you have not in the world a more loving kinswoman, nor
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85 | a more dear friend than myself; nor any that will watch more carefully
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86 | to preserve you and your estate. And who shall otherwise persuade you,
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87 | judge them more partial to others than you. And thus in haste I leave to
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88 | trouble you: beseeching God to send you a long reign.</p>
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89 | <p>Your most assured loving sister and cousin,
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90 | <br>Elizabeth R.</p>
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91 |
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92 | <p align="center"> <p align="center">
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93 | <a href="monarchs/eliz.html"><font size="2">to
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94 | the Queen Elizabeth I website</font></a><p align="center"><nt><font size="2">
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95 | <a href="relative/maryqos.html">to the Mary,
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96 | queen of Scots website</a></font><p align="center"><a href="primary.html">
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97 | <font size="2">to Primary Sources</font></a></td>
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98 | </tr>
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