The sham Stag Hunt—The Queen starts in gleeful spirits, fully equipped and attended by her household—The shadow of Elizabeth suddenly appears, and the Stag Hunt is no more—Seizure of Queen Mary's personal attendants—Mary demands to know where they are taking her—She dismounts, and refuses to proceed—Paulet's insolence—Bourgoyne induces her to obey Paulet and proceed—She retires and offers up prayer—Bourgoyne helps her to remount—She is taken to Tixall—Refused pen, ink, and paper by Paulet—Her papers and cabinets seized at Chartley—She is brought back to Chartley—Paulet and Bagot in her bedchamber without leave—Paulet seizes her money and reopens the Babington Plot—He removes her from Chartley to Fotheringay—The remarkable procession and arrival at Burton.
Bourgoyne's Journal
The Journal of Bourgoyne, physician to Queen Mary, cannot fail to have a pathetic interest to all students of history. That eminent physician was a faithful and devoted servant of the Queen, and was one of the few who were privileged to be with her in her last moments at Fotheringay. He was a man of much refinement of feeling, if we may judge from his Journal and by his behaviour during that period. His Journal unfortunately covers only the last six months of the Queen's life. It would have been of great value had it covered a longer period, but we are glad to have it even as it is, as it contains some incidents not otherwise recorded. The minuteness of these details conveys sometimes a different impression from that indicated by the historian, but the importance of Bourgoyne's Journal is that no suspicion has ever been thrown around it; and though already published in France, no controversy has arisen to question its genuineness. It may be accepted as a bonâ fide record, and indeed its entries are so circumstantial as to leave no room for doubt. The fact that he had uninterrupted access to the Queen gives point to what he says and warrants us in considering his record reliable. Another matter not to be lost sight of is that we have very little recorded of Mary during this period, so that the Journal fills up a blank. Some of the entries are very obscure on account of the vernacular of the time, but they manifest the fidelity and integrity which marked this devoted servant of the Queen.
This Journal per se would not determine any of the events of the Queen's reign, but it is an important factor in exposing the fraud that was perpetrated against her by the interpolations on her letters to Babington. Bereft of these fabrications, the so-called Babington Conspiracy was a mere plot to release the Queen of Scots from captivity, a plot that she was warranted in encouraging, and a plot, notwithstanding the unfounded charges of her accusers, that has been approved by posterity. It seems reasonable to conclude that Bourgoyne wrote this Journal with the primary intention of exposing the kidnapping outrage and the unlawful and inexcusable treatment of the Queen which followed. It will be noticed that in the very first entry the outrage is hinted at as a “stag hunt.” We now proceed to reproduce the Journal:—
“Thursday, 11th August 1586.—The Queen sent Curle her secretary, who was accustomed to be employed in her affairs, to Sir Amias Paulet to let him know that she desired to walk after dinner; to which Paulet answered that the Queen could go if she wished; but if she was well next day she would have a little pastime, as Sir Walter Aston, who lived three miles distant, would give her the pleasure of a stag hunt. He wished her to kill the stag with her own hand as she had done formerly, the year Mr. Bagot had lived here. Her Majesty, very fond of such a pastime, was delighted, and accepted it; and although she hesitated because of the day being Friday, she thought it better to accept rather than lose so good an opportunity, which might not occur again.
“Friday, 12th August.—Not so much because of the fast as on account of the weather the hunt was put off till the following day, but that day was also unpropitious. Sunday and Monday passed, being feast days. Her Majesty, who had not forgotten the hunt, desired to have the promised pastime, and, not suspecting anything, sent to remind Paulet, who granted it. She put herself in proper attire, hoping to see a good company, and was followed by Nau (who did not forget to dress himself), Curle, Melville, and Bourgoyne; and Annibal, with the Queen's bows and arrows, all on horseback, and well-equipped, to do her honour, while everyone was merry over the anticipated sport. (This was Tuesday, 16th August.) Although nobody was permitted to go on foot, Paulet allowed many of the valets to follow their horses, the which he repented afterwards. The Queen on horseback galloped a mile in such mirth that we left Paulet with some of his people behind in order to join others who were in hiding not far away. Having passed a little in front, the Queen warned Nau that Paulet was behind. Wishing to pay him a compliment for the delightful pastime, she said she had gone in front, without remarking it, and that she feared that he, being ailing and infirm in body, could not follow the company so quickly. He answered courteously, pretending that he had been hindered by too great a number of valets and servants on foot, who had come in greater numbers than he wished. We advanced a little farther, when Paulet again approached the Queen and said, 'Madam, here is one of the bodyguard of the Queen (Elizabeth), who has a message for you;' and suddenly M. Gorges, Ambassador of Elizabeth, dressed in green-braided serge, dismounted from his horse, came to Her Majesty, who remained on horseback, and said, 'Madam, the Queen my mistress finds it very strange that you, against the agreement which you made together, have undertaken against her and her estate what she never would have thought of if she had not seen it with her own eyes. And as she knows that some of your servants are guilty, you will not take it ill that they are separated from you; the rest Paulet will tell you.' To which Her Majesty could only answer, 'Very far from having conspired against the Queen, I have not even had such a thought. She has been wrongly informed. She had always shown herself a good sister and a good friend, and she knew well it was not the first time that she had been misinformed and had done her injustice.' Her Majesty added, 'I see we must return,' and called Nau, who as quickly as he could approached her, but was driven back with these words, 'Take him away, take him away; don't allow him to speak to her,' and Gorges got between them. Resisting which, Nau maintained excitedly that they could not hinder him from speaking to his mistress. Gorges told him that he must not prevent him from fulfilling the orders of Elizabeth. The same was said to Curle, who cried out that he would take leave of his mistress, and advanced on a little country nag. Nau, who had a coach-horse that he had taken in order to run better and appear at the chase, was in danger of being upset among the horses. At the last the two turned away without speaking to the Queen, and they never saw her again. Suddenly Paulet ordered them to be disarmed of sword and dagger, which those on horseback were carrying without being prohibited. Then he commanded each of us to be guarded by one of his servants on horseback, to conduct us and be responsible for us. Wade was present but did not interfere. Nau and Curle were taken away into a village and put into separate rooms not communicating with each other, and Didier the butler was led away by one of Paulet's people, not knowing what he had done. Melville was taken to a house where he only remained the night, being next day taken to the house of M. Chaques, where he remained, being allowed to hunt and walk at leisure. The rest went on with the troop of Paulet's people in front, for a mile or two quickly, until I, who had put myself near the Queen and always followed her, warned her that we were not going the way we came, but that they were taking us another way. Upon which she called Paulet, who was riding in front. She said, 'We are not going home.' He answered, 'No.' She demanded to know where he was taking her, and he said, 'Not far.' But she said she wished to return to her lodging, and would not go beyond it. Upon which she dismounted, and being indisposed, and not able either to ride or walk, sat down on the ground and leant on the bosom of Elizabeth Curle, one of her attendants. She again asked where he wished to take her, and he answered, 'It would be to a good place, and more beautiful than this; that she could not return to her lodging, and that it was time lost to remain there or to resist.' She said she would die sooner than consent to this proposal. He threatened to send for his carriage and put her into it, ordering his people at the same time to go for it. He was answered that the coach horses were not there, for Nau had taken one and Bastian Page the other. During this interval those who went in front were in a short time far away, out of sight of us, and saw us no more, Paulet remaining alone with eight or ten of his people, who walked behind, at which I was much astonished. Her Majesty, still seated, weeping and grieving said to him, 'It was infamous to treat her in this manner, she being a foreign princess; that it was behaving traitorously; that they had given her in charge of a gaoler, and that an honest man would not have undertaken such a commission. She was a Queen, as well as the Queen of England, and of as good a house as she; that she ought not to be treated in this fashion to please her enemies, who demanded nothing but her ruin. She did not know why these things were done; she had done nothing to deserve them; she did not believe the Queen of England intended this, but it was his (Paulet's) bad counsel that was inimical to her; that they had better take care what they did, for this act might cause bloodshed and the death of many; that kings and foreign princes would resent such conduct, and take vengeance on England.' Hearing this, Paulet got impatient and said 'She must be quiet and not annoy herself any more, as no harm would happen to her; that what he did was for a good reason, and there was no remedy; the longer she remained there the more harm it would do, and she must go on.' On which I and her people reminded her that she must have patience; 'that in her time she had had many afflictions, which she had borne patiently, and that she must show herself firm and composed in this with her royal heart; that she must endure affliction, and that there was no resisting force. As to being in the hands of her enemies, I did not think it good that she should put herself still more in their hands; that she could not remain there all night; that the longer she lingered the worse it would be, since she must set out; that not knowing where they were leading her, she might be benighted and on the road all night, which would more easily give occasion to her enemies to hurt her and execute their ill-will. What they did now would be by force.' Then Her Majesty demanding of Paulet if she had far to go, he said about three miles, repeating that it was a beautiful place, where she would be better lodged and would find fault in nothing. Complaining of the want of her people, as also her clothes and night gear, Paulet said that she would have her people; maids, servants, and effects would all be there as soon as herself. Because of their importunity she rose, and being supported under each arm she retired and under a tree prayed that God would have pity on her people and on those who worked for her, asking pardon for her offences, which she recognised to be great and to merit punishment; that it would please God to remember His servant David, to whom he had extended His mercy and had delivered from his enemies; that upon her his hand might be stretched out, keeping her people faithful and delivering her from the hand of Pharaoh. She desired nothing in the world, riches, honour, power, or worldly kingdom, only the honour of His holy name. I raising her by the arms got up, and not knowing what might be the information—perhaps the Queen of England might be ill or dead, and it might be that England wished to make use of her to place her person in safety or her enemies in surer custody. Upon which, addressing Paulet, she said she did not know on what authority he did this, and the Council had no authority to treat her so. He said it was one with as much authority as the Council, even was the Council, and showed her a letter which he drew from his pocket signed 'Elizabeth,' written by a different hand, the summary of which was partly the message of Gorges and partly giving orders to detain the Queen until further notice. The Queen complaining that she knew well it was the work of her enemies, protested against the wrong they were doing her, invoked God, and immediately remounted. Being in such trouble, and fearing they might do some harm to her, I begged Paulet to have pity on a princess so afflicted and in trouble, and hoped he would not do such a wrong as to harm her life, and that he would execute his commission as a discreet man; that as courtesy and charity were always approved, no matter in whom, so cruelty was condemned in those who had the right to exercise it. Kings and princesses often gave orders in anger of which they were annoyed afterwards when these were put in execution, and such men were complimented when they did not execute them at once, and often were more welcome to their prince, who had cooled down, and regretting the order given, were happy it was not executed. Further, he himself was known to be wise and prudent, and capable of judging everything, and could weigh it; that having regard to the sex and quality of his captive, he would thus acquire more honour than by executing his command arbitrarily. It would be a perpetual shame and reproach to him and his posterity to have been employed in a cruel act. Paulet answered that he did not take well what I said; that he was no gaoler; that he was a gentleman, although he was not rich; that he was noble, faithful, and honest. Gaolers were for criminals, and she ought to be guarded like a criminal. I said he was having to do with a Queen who was in affliction. I thought no one in such distress would not have said more than she did, seeing no remedy nor succour and finding danger so near. Paulet said no harm would happen to Her Majesty, and that he would do as well as he could. He thought she had been badly advised. I answered if he thought Her Majesty badly advised he might also think the Queen his mistress had been badly informed; and that as princes were often led by those whom they favoured, so also they were often deceived; that Her Majesty, though she had many enemies in England, it was well known she was not without friends. Some here who are at court near to the Queen did not cease to annoy her, and found no difficulty in bringing to notice what would do her harm, and repeated many things that would be found false. Leaving him, I advanced near Her Majesty, and told her briefly part of the conversation I had had with Paulet, assuring her from him that she would experience no harm, and there would be no want of requisite comforts and commodities. When we had gone part of the way Laurence, Curle's servant, held the bridle of the Queen's horse and spoke to her. Paulet caused him to be seized, not without great resistance, and sent him to Chartley with Gorges. We now approached Tixall, the seat of Sir Walter Aston, where they led the Queen. Paulet approached her, and said it was necessary that Elizabeth Pierrepoint should leave her; and then he presented a gentleman named Chatham, who took her in charge with great lamentation and tears, as much on the side of Her Majesty as of the demoiselle, who had been wicked and ungrateful. Her Majesty, he said, ought rather to have regretted ever having seen her than for being parted from her.
“The Queen arrived at Aston's house and was taken to her chamber. She sent me to ask what Paulet had done with her butler. He answered that he thought he was with her, and was surprised, saying he must have been led away without orders. He promised that he would be immediately in the house, and sent for him, as also for the apothecary, the surgeon Jervis, Jane Kennedy, Mowbray, and Martin the cook, all of whom, remaining at Chartley, had been shut up by Wade. After supper Her Majesty sent to ask for her night things, which were sent her; and as Paulet had no power to accommodate her better, she being ill and having need of many things, she requested him to send her pen, ink, and paper to write to Elizabeth. He refused the request, and she replied that she thought it very strange that she could not write, seeing it was a thing she had always been free to do, and Elizabeth had begged of her not to fail to write her in any circumstances, asking if there was a new order prohibiting her from doing so. She called for witnesses, and protested before them against the harsh manner in which she was kept. Paulet said she might take any witness she liked, but she could write no letter until he had the authority of the Court. After this interview she desired to see him again, but he declined. Meantime, as they led the Queen to this place, and Nau and Curle to the other, Wade was at Chartley, where he caused all the servants who remained behind to be shut up in different parts of the house; all the maids and the wife of Bastian, with Mrs. Curle, who was near her confinement; seized all the keys of the doors of the chambers and cabinets of the Queen and as many coffers as he could, and the keys of those who were absent with Her Majesty, and sealed up all the locks that he could.
”Wednesday, 17th August.—Her Majesty being still in bed, I was sent for by Paulet to speak with him; but before doing so I asked if she had anything to say to him. She said I must see first if he would allow me. Then I was not permitted to remount, but was taken to Chartley, where I remained a prisoner with the others, waiting the return of the Queen. They sent me there against my will, resisting as much as possible, under the pretext that I must be present when they visited my chamber to answer for what they found. After stating that my boxes were opened in my room, and they could visit them without me, I was promised that I would return the same day. This, however, was not done. This and next day, Wade, Bagot, Manners, Knight of a great family, who had even been employed in the troubles of the Queen for the Duke of Norfolk, together with Sir Walter Aston, in whose house the Queen was detained—all these gentlemen were employed searching the chambers, cabinets, coffers, and cash boxes, papers, books, and everything they could suspect as containing matter for their information. This evening they brought away three coffers filled with papers of all kinds, one part of which was the private affairs of the Queen's household. At four o'clock p.m. Pasquier, who had been confined in a room separate from the others, was taken to Chartley. And I immediately after went to the cabinet of Her Majesty to find some medicine for her, hoping to return at once, but was sent back to the porter's lodge, where I had been all day waiting until they should come down from the Queen's room, which they did about 7 p.m. Then they searched my room, but found nothing.
“Tuesday, 23rd August.—Mrs. Barbara Mowbray, Curle's wife, had a daughter about 5 o'clock a.m.
“Wednesday, 24th August.—We consulted to have the child baptized, not having had news of Her Majesty, who was still at Tixall. During dinner M. du Prean was taken away, and the same day Elspeth Bras and her mistress, Elizabeth Pierrepoint. All the rest of us were much astonished, only expecting that we also would be separated, hoping at the same time that Her Majesty might return the following day.
“Thursday, 25th August.—Her Majesty was brought back to Chartley with a great company, having been strictly confined at Tixall. She was very welcome to each of us, as we held her in great devotion, though not without tears abundantly flowing on both sides. This day we visited each other as those who had just come home. After the tears had passed away Her Majesty found nothing to say except about her papers, which had been carried off. There was found a cloth, from which had been torn off a promise of marriage in parchment between Nau and Elspeth Pierrepoint, which they had found in one of that lady's coffers, who, consenting with some others in the house, had signed the said contract and kept it secret. Her Majesty was very angry, as much for Nau's honour as for that of Melville. Nau had made a solemn promise to the Queen not to marry this lady nor make any vow to her on the subject. Her Majesty several times visited Mrs. Curle until the 6th or 7th September, when Paulet sent to tell her that as Mrs. Curle was now well there was no longer any need of her being visited by the Queen, and that such visitation had been allowed by Paulet for charity and pity, as in the circumstances she was not capable of attending an accouchement. In the next twenty-four hours all her ladies were forbidden to go out any more or go downstairs .“
The next entry is ”Tuesday, 13th September.—Paulet sent for me to say that Bagot had a few words to say to Her Majesty, and wished to see her. Her Majesty answered that she was very ill and in bed, and not able to see him. She begged of him to leave her alone for this day, not being able to transact business of importance, and that next day or any day she would do her best. Paulet replied that it was not business of importance, but Bagot had come expressly. It was something he could not communicate to her people, therefore she must hear it, and not trouble herself, as it was only five or six words. Paulet said he knew of her malady, but he desired that her servants should not be in the room. He and Bagot came immediately, followed by his son, Gorges, Paulet, Darrell, D'Ispense, his principal servitors, and gentlemen, a great number, with swords and daggers. He entered the chamber alone with Bagot, all the others remaining in the antechamber, sending away all the ladies and servants out of the room, which moved us much, not knowing what to make of such behaviour. The best that I could do was to stand at the door under pretext that the Queen was alone, and had two men with her. This they were unwilling to allow, but at last it was allowed. At the same time the surgeon remained with us. Paulet remonstrated with the Queen on the troubles which had come on the kingdom on her account, stating they were warned that her money did much harm, that by it she suborned many people in England and abroad, who behaved themselves wickedly and traitorously to their country, and that the Council advised that she must give up her money into his hands. Her Majesty, much astonished at this message, said that she had no money and had never suborned anyone. On Paulet giving some particulars, she said she had never sought anyone, and if anyone offered to do her a favour she did not wish to be ungrateful. She had recompensed their trouble and recognised the pleasure they wished to afford her in the place in which she was. If they came to her she could not refuse, and she did not wish to remain indebted to them, and could not honourably remain so. She had received letters and packets from France and for her household from people that she had never even known, and coming voluntarily to her. She would submit to what they wished if they proved that she had sought those people or invited them to act so; otherwise she would not deliver up her money, and it was not for Paulet or the Council to command it. They had no authority over her. Paulet said 'that she must, and that he had brought Bagot as a witness, assuring her that it would do harm to no one and she would lose nothing. Things being as they were, it was necessary that she should deliver up her money, so that she might have no more trouble; and that it would be better to give it up voluntarily than be forced and create a disturbance.' Her Majesty refusing, Paulet told her that if she did not give it up he would take it by force. She said she recognised no one who could order it, and refusing the key of her cabinet, Paulet said he would break it open. She said she knew he would not spare her. He desired her to command Curle to deliver it up, but she said she would do nothing of the kind. He left the room to ask Elspeth Curle, who refused without the authority of the Queen. We asked him what he was going to do to the Queen so sick and afflicted. He replied he would do her no harm. After having gone to Her Majesty pretending to force the door, Elspeth Curle was called, and gave up the key by order of her mistress. The Queen, seeing herself alone in the chamber guarded by Paulet's people, whom no one dare approach, rose from her bed and followed them, walking with difficulty, and remonstrated with them about this money. Paulet was informed by Wade where and how much it was, and how much belonged to Curle. It was money that she had kept for a long time as a last resource when she was about to die so as to pay for her obsequies; also to pay for sending her servants to their own country after her death. This they would see by her papers, amongst which they would find a duplicate of her will, which she had made with her own hand, in which was a list of those to whom she desired the money to be given, and how much to each. She had promised to her counsel not to touch it, and by his advice she reserved it for this purpose. She had even sworn not to break into it, nor to take a penny herself, nor allow anyone else to do so during her life. As they would not consent, she begged them to leave at least a part for necessities; being ill, it was not right to leave her without money. Paulet answered that she would want for nothing. They would furnish her with everything, but they would leave no money in her hands. And so they went away and left her with ten crowns. They went to Curle's room to seize the money he had had for his marriage, and were obliged to remain and take the money from his sister Elspeth, who had it in her keeping, upon which at her request they promised a receipt, but refused it when she had given up the money. Upon this Paulet led Catherine Bras into Mrs. Curle's room, where she remained several days. Next day Bastian Page and all his family were sent to their room; Mrs. Curle, her nurse, and Catherine to hers; Baltazare, Robin Morton, Nicholas and Charles, to the robe room, and afterwards, at the request of Her Majesty, Robin Morton was given to her instead of Baltazare, and from that time not one of these saw her again. Some days after, Mary, daughter of Bastian Page, was taken away from the side of the Queen while she was at dinner. Not wishing to go, she remained with her father until they sent for her. So there only remained with the Queen Jane Kennedy, Renee Beauregard, Gillies Mowbray, Elspeth Curle, maids of honour; Jervis, surgeon, and Guon, apothecary; Annabel Stuart, valet de chambre; Didier, butler; John Lauder, baker; Hust, chef; etc. After getting permission to serve the Queen, the same day they were shut up with the coachman, two other grooms, and the stablemen, without having any communication with the outside world. Thus we remained in doubt from one day to another whether we should be separated and sent away.
“Some days afterwards Paulet asked if he could see the Queen, and if she would listen quietly and not abuse him.” Coming to her accompanied by Bagot, who spoke more particularly of these troubles —“since England was there had never been any so great. There had never happened any enterprise so horrible (Babington Conspiracy). If she was guilty or consenting God knew it. But there were those who had plotted great things, among others Babington. Six men had undertaken to kill Elizabeth, and were to carry away the Queen of Scots, set fire in the night-time to the outside barns, and so draw the attention of Paulet and his people and upset some carts to prevent them re-entering; afterwards kill Paulet, and carry the Queen away with some of her servants. Two or three miles from her house, near the warrens, there would be a number of horses to conduct her in safety far away to another locality. It was a great matter if she consented to it; that she ought to know who it was, and if she thought she was badly counselled; that she had had servants as wicked as it was possible to find; that Nau had a mind so restless that he could not be stopped. He wished everything he suggested done immediately; and he had a certain ambition that he could not bear anyone above him. He wished to command and be master everywhere, would give place to nobody, and had done her a great deal of harm.” Her Majesty said she knew nothing of all that. She did not know Babington, and had never heard of these plots against Elizabeth. As to her servants, they had only counselled good and worthy things. If they had wished to undertake plots she was not so destitute of sense that she did not know what course to pursue. That she had had long experience in this dispute with Elizabeth to enable her to choose between the true and the false. Paulet maintained that Babington had confessed great things, that the Catholics were going to revolt, and that he thought he had accused Her Majesty; that she could not deny that she had been acquainted with him, and that she had written to him and he to her; and that she had had intercourse with many countries and peoples in that enterprise. She answered that formerly she had heard of Babington, but that was ten years ago; that she did not know what had become of him, and had neither seen nor known any other person nor had intercourse nor undertaking with anyone. She sometimes received letters from her friends, which were offered of their goodwill to give her pleasure, but she had undertaken nothing of this kind; she had suborned nobody. Often she received letters from people of whom she had never heard, and others she did not know whence they came nor from what part. Brasseur de Loges had brought her many packets without knowing from whom they came and without having spoken or having cognisance of anyone belonging to her, said he had borrowed money from her; that for pity, making her believe he was in trouble, she had lent it to him, but she had not suborned or bribed him by any means whatever nor even spoken to him. They could not hinder her from having news and correspondence, and she was not accountable to them; it was her own affair. It was unnecessary that all her affairs should be known. Paulet importuned her to confess something, and tried to obtain proof from her words, and said that they must speak more fully to her and make her clear up everything. From this she thought she would be tried, but nobody thought in what fashion it would be done.
“Thursday, 15th September.—Paulet sent to warn her that it would be for the benefit of her health and for her convenience, and also because she had wished it, the house of Chartley being unhealthy, that she move to another house belonging to the Queen of England thirty miles from London, where she would be very well, and she might prepare herself to go there when it pleased her. He would give her back her money when she got to her destination. (He never did so.) She desired nothing else, ill though she was, and would rather go soon for fear of becoming worse. In two or three days she would be ready to set out. From that time we began to pack up and prepare for the departure, which would be on Tuesday following, the twentieth of the month. It was ultimately fixed for to-morrow, because of the appointed house being changed and Fotheringay, a castle of the Queen of England, substituted, so that it was necessary to give fresh orders to the carters, who had set out for another place. These things were told secretly and not very assuredly. The Queen was never quite sure where they would take her, not even the last day, when she arrived at her new quarters. Before setting out in the morning they usually told her whether she would have a long or a short journey, sometimes how many miles. They never would tell her the place where she was to remain over night. When they were preparing for their departure Paulet told the Queen of a request from Bastian to get some reward and some money for his journey, not only for himself but for the other servants: those who were in the house as well as for Melville and Prean, who were some miles away. Her Majesty refused flatly to allow Paulet to distribute her money, requesting them to give it to her that she might dispose of it at her pleasure; she would not make him her treasurer, fearing the consequences. After some debate she gave in and asked them to send two hundred crowns to be distributed by Paulet. Paulet said he would give what she wished to each with a receipt, but was resolute that she was not to touch any money. At last she was constrained to make a memorandum written by her own hand and signed, that Bastian should have forty crowns, Curle thirty-six, and Baltazare ten; also ten to Nicholas, Laurence, and Charles; to Henry his entire wages of twenty crowns and thirty shillings, and to Elizabeth Butler, laundry maid, twenty crowns, and to Alice Sharp and Alice Forster forty shillings each, letting it be known that what she did was by constraint and for pity. Should her servants be in danger of want or unprovided with money for the journey, she would recommend them for the rest to the French Ambassador, who would give them sufficient to complete their journey to France, where they would be paid their wages and have each a fitting reward. I have been informed that the money was not given for a long time thereafter.
“19th September.—Sir Thomas Gorges, a gentleman pensioner of Elizabeth, who had led away Nau and Curle as prisoners, arrived by post horse with Stallenge, Usher of Parliament, with their pistols at their belt. We thought they had come for some evil purpose, and we were only assured on Wednesday when we saw them speak to Her Majesty more courteously than we expected. The Wednesday following, which was St. Matthew's Day, 21st September, the Queen being ready to set out, all the doors of the rooms where the servants were were shut, for fear they might speak to her or see her. She went by carriage, not being able to go on horseback, and sat with her back to the coachman, partly for comfort and partly because of her demoiselles and things required on the journey, which were in the back part of the carriage; and partly to see better what was going on behind her, thinking if they wished to do her harm she would see the blow coming; besides, she could speak to her coachman and ask what they were doing.
“On setting out from Chartley she was escorted by Gorges, who with Stallenge were charged to do so because Paulet could only travel by coach; and there was also their safety on the road. These men took the lead of several others (spies), and there were about two hundred horse. Each horseman wore the livery of his master; none of them had bows, few had harquebuses, while most had swords and daggers. One-half were in front, the other half behind. In the middle the Queen and her servants, and near her Paulet in his coach, his wife and family in another; his people, his servants and horsemen, surrounding the company, all with harquebuses and lighted torches and a couple of pistols at the saddle. Gorges travelled at the side of the Queen's carriage. He said he had something to tell her from his mistress. She said she prayed God that his message might be better and more agreeable than the last. He answered that he was merely a servant, on which she was content, telling him that she did not blame him. After this there was little intercourse on the way until she dismounted at Burton in Staffordshire. Having conducted her to her room, Gorges said he wished to speak to her, but feared to trouble her, she being tired with the journey.”