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| 7 | <title>Elizabeth I's letters relating to Mary, queen of Scots</title>
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| 10 |
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| 11 | <center><b><font size=+1>1586 & 1587, Letters from Elizabeth I to Mary,
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| 12 | queen of Scots and James VI of Scotland</font></b>
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| 13 | <br><font size=-1>October 1586 and 14 February 1587.</font></center>
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| 14 |
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| 15 | <p>
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| 16 | <hr WIDTH="100%">
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| 17 | <p><b>To Mary, queen of Scots, October 1586.</b>
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| 18 | <br><font size=-1>At the opening of the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots,
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| 19 | at Fotheringhay on 12th October 1586, the Commissioners delivered her this
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| 20 | personal letter from Queen Elizabeth. It has been translated
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| 21 | from the French.</font>
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| 22 | <br>
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| 23 | <blockquote>You have in various ways and manners attempted to take my life
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| 24 | and to bring my kingdom to destruction by bloodshed. I have never proceeded
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| 25 | so harshly against you, but have, on the contrary, protected and maintained
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| 26 | you like myself. These treasons will be proved to you and all made manifest.
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| 27 | Yet it is my will, that you answer the nobles and peers of the kingdom
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| 28 | as if I were myself present. I therefore require, charge, and command that
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| 29 | you make answer for I have been well informed of your arrogance.
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| 30 | <br> Act plainly without reserve, and you will sooner
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| 31 | be able to obtain favour of me.
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| 32 | <br> Elizabeth.</blockquote>
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| 33 |
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| 34 | <p><br>
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| 35 | <hr WIDTH="100%">
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| 36 | <p><b>To King James VI of Scotland, 14th February 1587.</b>
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| 37 | <br><font size=-1>Although she signed the warrant for Mary's execution,
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| 38 | Elizabeth tore it up. Another copy was signed, and - before the queen
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| 39 | could change her mind yet again - Burghley and others upon the council
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| 40 | sent if off. Elizabeth's life was in constant danger while Mary lived,
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| 41 | as numerous plots attested. Her Council was determined to keep her
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| 42 | safe. As for Elizabeth, she was understandably torn between protecting
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| 43 | her throne and taking the life of a fellow sovereign, even one she did
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| 44 | not respect or like.</font>
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| 45 | <br><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
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| 47 | Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, who were in charge of the execution, warned
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| 48 | Mary to prepare for death on the following day. On the 9th the news
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| 49 | of her execution reached London, and was received by the Queen with surprise
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| 50 | and horror. She openly raged against her councilors; her capable
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| 51 | secretary Davison, who had given her the second warrant, was sent to the
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| 52 | Tower. Four days later she wrote to James of Scotland to protest
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| 53 | her innocence of Mary's death.</font>
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| 54 | <br>
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| 55 | <blockquote>My dear Brother, I would you knew (though not felt) the extreme
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| 56 | dolor that overwhelms my mind, for that miserable accident which (far contrary
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| 57 | to my meaning) hath befallen. I have now sent this kinsman of mine, whom
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| 58 | ere now it hath pleased you to favour, to instruct you truly of that which
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| 59 | is too irksome for my pen to tell you. I beseech you that as God and many
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| 60 | more know, how innocent I am in this case : so you will believe me, that
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| 61 | if I had bid aught I would have bid by it. I am not so base minded that
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| 62 | fear of any living creature or Prince should make me so afraid to do that
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| 63 | were just; or done, to deny the same. I am not of so base a lineage, nor
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| 64 | carry so vile a mind. But, as not to disguise, fits not a King, so will
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| 65 | I never dissemble my actions, but cause them show even as I meant them.
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| 66 | Thus assuring yourself of me, that as I know this was deserved, yet if
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| 67 | I had meant it I would never lay it on others' shoulders; no more will
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| 68 | I not damnify myself that thought it not.
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| 69 | <br>The circumstance it may please you to have of this bearer. And for
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| 70 | your part, think you have not in the world a more loving kinswoman, nor
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| 71 | a more dear friend than myself; nor any that will watch more carefully
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| 72 | to preserve you and your estate. And who shall otherwise persuade you,
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| 73 | judge them more partial to others than you. And thus in haste I leave to
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| 74 | trouble you: beseeching God to send you a long reign.
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| 75 | <br> Your most assured loving sister and cousin,
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| 76 | <br> Elizabeth R.</blockquote>
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| 77 |
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| 78 | <p><br>
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| 79 | <hr WIDTH="100%">
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| 80 | <p><font size=-1><a href="../primary.html">to
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| 81 | Primary Sources</a></font>
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| 82 | <br><font size=-1><a href="maryqoschron.html">to
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| 83 | Mary, queen of Scots: Chronology</a></font>
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