MANUSCRIPT OF EARL BOTHWEL.

We have been favoured, through the medium of an eminent literary friend, with a copy of an original MS. of Earl Bothwel, in old French, of which the following is a careful translation. It was written during his captivity in Denmark, and the original is at present in the royal library at Drottningholm. From this a copy was taken by M. Backman, an officer in the Swedish service, through permission of Count Wetterstadt, the minister, and transmitted (duly authenticated, as may be seen at the end) to this country in August last. It is a most valuable addition to our collections belonging to an interesting period of Scottish history; and nothing of the kind, that we are aware of, was ever suspected to exist. In order to give a clearer view of this MS. as a whole, we insert the following extract of a letter respecting it, from M. Granberg, historiographer to the present King of Sweden.

"In the latter part of the 16th century, the Chevalier de Dantzay was residing in the North of Europe, as Ambassador from France to the Courts of Sweden and Denmark. During the time of his abode in the latter country, the Earl of Bothwel arrived there together with his followers, on board several vessels, having fled from Scotland. Being unable to land, and driven by contrary winds, the Earl was thrown on the coast of Norway, and was there taken by some Danish seamen, who carried him as a prisoner into Denmark, where he was confined during a long time. He wrote, while in prison, an account of the adventures he had met with in Scotland; and as he was not able to get the Manuscript conveyed into the hands of the King of Denmark, he applied to the French minister, M. de Dantzay, who took the requisite measures in his behalf.

"It is said that this document was given to King Gustavus III. who had it deposited among his valuable collection in the Castle of Drottningholm. The Latin inscription at the commencement testifies that it was given to the Royal Library of Copenhagen by a Doctor Plumius (see note below); and it was probably carried away from that institution, or from some place in Zealand, by one of the Swedes, when Charles X. made a descent upon that island. From the descendants of this Swede, it must have passed into the hands of King Gustavus III."

The MS. is labelled " Affairs of Earl Bothwel (Boduel) anno 1568," and commences with the title "Declaration of the Earl of Bothwel.”

"In order that the King of Denmark and the council of his kingdom may be better and more clearly informed of the wickedness and treachery of my accusers hereunder named, I have (as summarily as I am able) explained and truly declared the causes of the troubles and commotions which have occurred of which they alone have been the principal authors and promoters from the year 1559 to the present time.

I have similarly declared their calumnies, and the mischief and detriment they have occasioned to myself: which statement I can and will maintain to be true, as (with God's assistance) any one may clearly see and understand.

At Copenhagen, the eve of Twelfth day, 1568.

At the head of the manuscript, and on the first page, is the following Latin inscription:

Er donatione Excellentissimi viri DNI CLAUDII PLUMII, J. V. Doctoris, et in Regia Academia Hafniensi Professoris. Anno Messiæ, Regis æterni, clɔ ɔ CXLIV. 1. XVIII Augusti.

First sedi

tion.

Second se

dition.

Here follow the names of the principal chiefs and authors of all the troubles and seditions in question.

Earls Murray,*
Atthel,

Glencarn,

Morton,

Marr.

Lord Lindsay,

Secretary Ledington.
The Clerk of the Register,
The Clerk of Justice.

Also those who have joined the above-named in these latter troubles.

Lords Hume,
Sawquhair,
Sempel,

Reufuen.

Tillebairn,

The Mayor of Edinburgh,
Sir James Balfour.

The above-named, tired of the obedience and fidelity which they owed to their superior, began to concert measures and hold secret assemblies in all parts of the kingdom, in order to excite the common people to favour their views. And the better to persuade them that their cause was just and good, they put forth the pretext of desiring to uphold religion; and thus the conspiracy they had formed against their Queen (I shall forbear to mention many other offences of which they are guilty) commenced by laying siege to the town of Leith, and their efforts continued to be directed against her Majesty, the members of her council, and her other faithful subjects in the said town. Also they persecuted those who were scattered over the country at their different residences, and who had refused to join their party, doing them all the mischief in their power, by pillaging their houses and castles, and caused infinite detriment to many worthy persons in all parts of the kingdom, notwithstanding the Queen, with the nobility and others of her subjects, had previously resolved to reform the said religion and put it in good order, without however subjecting them to any restraints.

Moreover, not content with this, they persevered in their wicked machinations, and prepared the way for new troubles by giving free ingress to the English, our ancient enemies; uniting themselves in secret alliance with them against the Queen and those of her kingdom. They renewed the siege of the town of Leith (which they had been forced to abandon) in order to expel the French, who were in possession of the town, and defending it against our ancient enemies aforesaid.

The most Christian king had, a short time before, married the young Queen of Scotland; in consequence of which event the nobility and others of the subjects of the kingdom made him certain promises, and even sent letters by special messengers to his Ma jesty in France, tendering him their allegiance, as became good subjects: but I am ignorant of the cause that induced them to do so. In the mean time, in consequence of reinforcements from Eng. land, the said town had surrendered, agreeably to a treaty between

* In this orthography we have adhered to the original manuscript.

and

envy

of

her said Majesty and the Queen of England, and negotiated by their ambassadors: in which treaty it was stipulated that all former hatred and animosity, as well on the one side as on the other, should be at an end. Nevertheless, in the malevolence of their hearts Origin of they carefully sought out those who had previously offended them, their hatred or impeded their proceedings during the said siege; especially my-ne self, who (although unworthy of such a distinction) had been appointed lieutenant-general of the Queen my mistress, to provide for the exigencies of the war; in the course of which I had, according to the laws of arms, taken several prisoners, both Scotch and English, and in all respects had done my best to acquit myself of my duty. Moreover I had captured upon the frontiers a certain sum in money, which had been sent from England for the pay and maintenance of their troops.

Scotland.

Shortly after the surrender of the town of Leith and the return of the French to their own country, his most Christian Majesty died. Upon which the Queen, by the advice of her friends and at the solicitation of her faithful subjects, thought of returning to her The Queen own kingdom. Which design she put in execution, the better to returns from confirm the alliance and treaty above-mentioned, and to reward her France to faithful subjects for the services they had performed during her absence. Among others she rewarded me much more liberally and graciously than I had deserved, a circumstance which incensed my enemies to the greatest degree, and induced them to exert themselves so successfully to my detriment as to deprive me of the favour and good-will of her said Majesty. Also they caused the dismissal of the Earls of Arran and Huntly; the said Earl Arran as being a near relation of her Majesty, and therefore eligible to succeed to the crown; and Earl Huntly and myself as being capable of frustrating their designs.

and in

cure the

The principal agent in this seditious proceeding was Earl Mur- Manoeuvres ray, an illegitimate brother of her said Majesty, and formerly canon trigues reand prior of St. Andrews, who considered that our ruin would be sorted to in very advantageous to him; that when we should be disposed of, order to sehe should easily accomplish the object he had in view, namely, that succession of becoming the second person in the kingdom; and that afterwards to the he should contrive that the Queen, the nobility, and in short all crown. ranks of Scotchmen, would unanimously consent to his being heir to the crown, as well as his issue or next of kin, in the event of the Queen dying without an heir.

And to give a colouring to his presumption, he falsely gave out that Earl Arran and myself (who had recently adjusted a little difference that had formerly existed between us) entertained designs against his life, as well as against that of certain other members of the council; also that I had it in contemplation to take the Queen by surprise, and convey her away to some one of my residences in which I should deem her person most secure.

In consequence of these false accusations we were ordered into Our im. close confinement in the Castle of Edinburgh, notwithstanding we prisonment. had demanded that judicial proceedings should be instituted, and

Earl Huntly

taken and murdered.

My release, and the

cause of it.

that we should be legally heard in our defence, as such an affair required; which demand was not however acceded to.

Earl Huntly, who had been charged with the same offence, and was not on his guard against his enemies, was surprised while on a journey, and secretly put to death by the said Earl Murray. The son of Earl Huntly was also taken, tried, and condemned; and the whole of their property forfeited to the crown.

On being informed of this scandalous murder and most unjust persecution, I began to consider within myself by what means I might ascertain the real opinion and feelings entertained by the Queen towards me; and succeeded in learning that she was persuaded I had been accused from motives of personal animosity and envy; but that at the present moment she was quite unable to afford me the smallest assistance, being in fact destitute of all authority. She recommended me, however, to do the best I could for myself.

In consequence of this favourable reply, I used my utmost exertions to obtain my release from confinement, and having succeeded, determined to proceed to France by sea. A tempest, however, drove me upon the coast of England, where the Queen of that country received me with great demonstrations of friendship, as did also several of her faithful servants, far beyond any thing I could have expected, especially as during the war I had done serious mischief upon the frontiers of her kingdom, as well as to those who inhabited them.

I afterwards quitted England and proceeded on my journey to France, having previously received certain letters from the Queen of Scotland addressed to his most Christian Majesty and the members of his council, the object of which was to secure to me the distinctions conferred there upon the nobility of our country, according to the tenor of an ancient treaty passed between the two said the Scotch kingdoms of France and Scotland. Having obtained these, I

I was appointed capte in of

guard.

I was re

called from

France to
Scotland.

marries a

young

received letters from the Queen of Scotland, in which she commanded me to return to her dominions for the following reasons.

The Queen being aware of the crafty and malicious designs of her enemies, and being desirous of tranquillizing her kingdom, and of establishing good order therein for the benefit and relief of her The Queen subjects, resolved to marry a young prince of her own blood, who of Scotland to that end had come from England to Scotland; trusting, (as reasonably she might,) that none would presume to offer any impediment to such union. Nevertheless, the seditious persons beforenamed Hen- mentioned did oppose it to the utmost of their power; because they desired before all things that the Queen should have no issue, for the reasons already stated, and because they could not endure that any one should have authority in the kingdom besides themselves; and they could not but foresee that their influence would be diminished by the said marriage.

prince

ry Stuart.

Third sedition, and

the designs

For this cause, having consulted with each other, they resolved to murder the said prince; and convoked their friends and accomof my ene- plices to that end. Also, shortly after the marriage of the said Queen and the said Prince, the said conspirators deliberated with

mies.

each other about seizing the said Queen, carrying her away and detaining her as a prisoner; the which they afterwards effected, wickedly and in violation of their faith and promises, as well as of the conditions upon which they had agreed among themselves, as will appear by what follows.

nished.

Being at that time returned from France, her Majesty gave me The conthe command of a certain military force composed of her faithful spisators basubjects and my own particular friends, with whom I did my utmost to drive the said Earl Murray out of the kingdom of Scotland into England; the which I accomplished. At the same time the states were assembled to enquire and determine as to the property to be confiscated to the crown.

the murder

Among the accomplices of Earl Murray, there were some who Fourth sefollowed the court of the Queen, and who, in order to avert the sen- dition, by tence, excited fresh disturbances by means of a murder perpetrated of Siguor on the person of a Signor David, an Italian; which murder was David. committed in the drawing-room of the Queen at the Castle of Edinburgh, during her supper, when none of her guards was present, nor even any of those who observed the said Queen. And if (to avoid the danger) several gentlemen and myself had not escaped by a window at the back of the building, we should not have been better treated; it having been so agreed between them. The least that could have happened would have been, that we should be compelled to connive at so wicked and detestable an act.

Lindsay,

pretext to

give a colouring to

the said

murder.

The said murder having been committed by the advice and at Earl Morthe instigation of the accomplices of Earl Murray, the said Earl ton, Messrs. returned from England, hoping to seize the reins of government Ruthven, and detain the Queen prisoner; she having been previously very and others. much confined to her own residence, called St. Croix, (Hellirodis.*) As an excuse for the said murder, they alledged that they had Their false received the positive commands of their King, both by letters and otherwise, to commit it. Having escaped out of the residence of the said Queen, and being in safety, we collected together some of our best friends and of her Majesty's faithful subjects, in order to rescue her and the King her husband from the captivity in which they were detained. Which design we accomplished, partly by stratagem and partly by force. The following day their Majesties proceeded together towards Edinburgh with a good escort, and pursued Earl Murray Four thouand his accomplices so actively that they were forced to leave the sand men. country. Moreover, the Queen, being highly indignant at such an Earl Murray assassination, held them in great hatred; as did also the nobility and expelled the rest of her subjects. But the King himself held them in still country a greater detestation; for, immediately upon his arrival in the said second time. town, he caused to be proclaimed and published, that all that Declaration the said murderers (who had killed the said David) had affirmed, of the King touching his Majesty, was by them falsely invented; and expressly touching commanded all ranks, officers, and subjects of the said kingdom, the instructo make diligent search and arrest those who should have been con

from the

of Scotland

tions which

the murder.

Holyrood-house.

ers affirmed