[1] For an account of this poem, Maister Randolphe's Fantasie, see pages 91-98.

[2] As bearing on the subject of Mary's personal appearance and the fidelity of her portraits, the following passages from an article contributed to the Glasgow Herald, as a review of Mr. J. J. Foster's work, Concerning the True Portraiture of Mary Queen of Scots, may here be reproduced: "Mr. Foster points out 'in some cases a slight but perceptible squint'. We have noticed this in one or two instances only, and in portraits which, though they may be authentic, are technically inferior; and we are consequently more inclined to attribute the defect to the artist than to nature. The majority of the most trustworthy portraits agree in making the upper eyelids thick, with an uninterrupted curve, in setting the arched, well-marked eyebrows wide apart, and in giving an exceptionally broad space between the eyes and the ears. The oval face, the high cheek-bones, the round, well-proportioned and capacious forehead, the long but shapely Greek nose, are features with regard to which there is practical unanimity. Even if Sir George Scharf had not pointed it out, it would hardly be possible to overlook the peculiarity of the compressed lips. They are not thin, however, though, on the other hand, they are very far from possessing that fulness which physiognomists look upon as an indication of sensuality. Another feature, so often reproduced as to be almost characteristic and distinctive, is the strongly-marked V depression in the middle of the upper lip. The cheek is full in its lower part, but not unduly so. The chin is well-developed, but is neither cloven nor dimpled.... Prince Labanoff declared that, with the exception of one portrait—and that of dubious authenticity—none renders even youth or average beauty. Quite recently Major Martin Hume wrote of Mary that 'a contemplation of her known authentic portraits, even those taken in the best years of her youth and happiness, does not carry conviction that her physical beauty alone can have been the cause of the extraordinary influence she exercised over the men who came within the sphere of her attraction'. And now we have Mr. Foster admitting that 'scarcely any of the so-called portraits of Mary Stuart bear out the reputation of her beauty'; and that 'all her pictures entirely lack that indefinable charm which captivated everyone brought in contact with her'. He seems to attribute this, in some measure, at least, to the imperfections of the artists of the time. He might perhaps have added, to the unfavourable circumstances under which they worked. For, as M. Dimier tells us, 'the oil-painting was never attempted from life. The artist brought away from his model nothing but the crayon and some written notes concerning the complexion, colour of hair, and of the eyes; he handled the colours only in his studio, and finished the work at his leisure'. We know, too, of Mary Stuart, in particular, that she ordered portraits of herself to be painted in France, fourteen years after leaving the country."

[3] Œuvres, vol. ii, p. 1172.

[4] Memoirs, p. 124.

[5] Brantôme, t. v, p. 94.

[6] Memoirs, p. 123.

[7] T. Wright's Queen Elizabeth and her Time, vol. i, p. 311.

[8] G. Chalmers, Life of Queen Mary, vol. i, pp. 443-4.

[9] Œuvres, vol. ii, pp. 1172-4.

[10] Melville's Memoirs, p. 124.

[11] T. v, p. 86.

[12] Œuvres, l. c.

[13] History of the Reformation, vol. ii, p. 381.

[14] Teulet, Papiers d'État, t. ii, p. 883.

[15] T. v, pp. 83-4.

[16] Rhétorique Françoise, Paris, 1555.

[17] Latin Themes of Mary Stuart, published by Anatole de Montaiglon.

[18] Letter from Randolph to Cecil, 7 April, 1562.

[19] Brantôme, t. v., p. 84.

[20] Inventories of Mary Queen of Scots. Bannatyne Club, p. 179 et seq.

[21] Inventories, p. cv.

[22] "Concionero de Romances", Inventories, p. cxlvi.

[23] Unless it be he that is meant in the entry: "Danies Vgieri in Italian", Inventories, p. cxliv.

[24] Haynes's Collection of State Papers, p. 509.

[25] Sir H. Ellis's Original Letters Illustrative of English History, First Series, vol. ii, p. 252.

[26] Inventories, p. 179.

[27] "Pantagruell in Frenche", Inventories, p. cxlvi.

[28] Œuvres de Ronsard, vol. ii, p. 1171.

[29] For a full account of this literary forgery, see below, pp. 79-90.

[30] The following scheme shows how these anagrams were formed:—

[31] "G. Conaei vita Mariae Stuartae, 1624", in Jebb, vol. ii, p. 15.

[32] Diary, 24 Nov., 1665.

[33] Letter from Randolph to Cecil, 15 May, 1563.

[34] P. 87.

[35] Con, in Jebb, vol. ii, p. 15.

[36] P. 125.

[37] Ibid.

[38] In Jebb, l. c.

[39] Basilikon Doron, p. 125, edit. 1603.

[40] Compotum Thesaurarii Reginæ Scotorum, 30 Nov., 1565.

[41] Thomson's Collection of Inventories, pp. 238-40.

[42] Inventories, p. cxxi.

[43] Letter to Cecil, in Haynes's State Papers, pp. 509-10.

[44] De Regno et Regali Potestate, edit. 1612, pp. 279-80.

[45] Inventories, pp. xc, 141, 148.

[46] Prince Labanoff, Lettres de Marie Stuart, t. iv, pp. 228-9.

[47] Cf. "Le Vray Rapport de l'exécution faicte sur la personne de la Royne d'Escosse", published by Teulet, Papiers d'Etat, &c., p. 884.

[48] History of the Reformation, vol. ii, p. 373.

[49] Inventories, p. lxix.

[50] Knox's History of the Reformation, pp. 373, 374.

[51] Writing to Cecil on the 31st of December, 1563, Randolph reports: "The frenche potticarie and the woman he gotte with chylde were bothe hanged thys present Fridaye".

[52] In Mr. Andrew Lang's book, The Valet's Tragedy and other Studies, pp. 291-311, there is an exhaustive discussion of the various points that arise in connection with the ballad of "The Queen's Marie".

[53] Bishop Lesley's History of Scotland, p. 209.

[54] Brantôme, t. v, p. 74.

[55] Knox's History of the Reformation, book v, vol. ii, p. 495.

[56] Annals of Scotland, p. 14.

[57] Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 87.

[58] Calendar of State Papers, Eliz., vol. ix.

[59] Miscellany of the Maitland Club, vol. ii, pp. 390-3.

[60] Epigrammatum, lib. iii.

[61] Calendar of State Papers, Eliz., vol. ix, No. 47 B.

[62] Calendar of State Papers, Eliz., vol. x, Feb. 28, 1565.

[63] Calendar of State Papers, Eliz., vol. x, 31 March, 1565.

[64] Calendar of State Papers, Eliz., vol. x, 3 June, 1565.

[65] Calendar of State Papers, Eliz., vol. xi, 31 Oct., 1565.

[66] Inventories, p. 113.

[67] Inventories, p. 124.

[68] "A Flamy. Vne brodure dor esmaille de blancq et rouge contenante xxxvij pieces.
Vne brodure dorelette de mesme façon garnye de lj piece esmaille de blancq et rouge.
Vne cottouere de mesme façon contenante soixante piece esmaille de blanc et rouge.
Vng quarquan esmaille aussy de blancq et rouge garny de vingt une piece.
Vne chesne a saindre en semblable façon contenante lij pieces esmaillez de blanc et rouge et vng vaze pandant au bout."—Inventories, p. 116.

[69] Inventories, p. 69.

[70] MS. Fragment in the Register House; cf. Inventories, p. 1.

[71] Prince Labanoff, Lettres de Marie Stuart, t. v, p. 222.

[72] Memoirs, p. 256.

[73] Calderwood, History of the Kirk of Scotland, vol. iii, p. 285.

[74] G. Chalmers, Life of Mary Queen of Scots, vol. iii, p. 615.

[75] Calendar of State Papers, vol. iv, p. 599.

[76] Thomson's Collection of Inventories, p. 193; cf. Calendar of State Papers, vol. iv, Oct. 19, 1573; and Inventories of Mary, p. clvii.

[77] Printed in Letters from Lady Margaret Burnet to John, Duke of Lauderdale, p. 83. Bannatyne Club.

[78] Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, vol. iii, p. 313.

[79] G. Chalmers' Life of Queen Mary, vol. i, p. 109.

[80] Inventories, p. 139.

[81] Ibid., p. 145.

[82] Teulet, Papiers d'Etat relatifs à l'Histoire de l'Ecoss, t. ii, p. 32.

[83] Miss Strickland's Lives of the Queens of Scotland, vol. iv, p. 95.

[84] Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland, vol. i, p. 204.

[85] Ibid., p. 207.

[86] History of the Reformation, vol. ii, p. 415.

[87] Prince Labanoff, Lettres de Marie Stuart, t. iv, p. 341.

[88] Inventories, pp. xlvii, 31, 65, 68, 70.

[89] Ibid., p. xlvii.

[90] Teulet, op. cit., p. 167.

[91] Inventories, xlviii.

[92] Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland, vol. i, p. 208.

[93] Inventories, p. xlviii.

[94] Inventories, p. 124.

[95] Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland, vol. ii, p. 825.

[96] Inventories, p. 63.

[97] P. 42.

[98] Inventories, p. lii.

[99] Miss Strickland's Lives of the Queens of Scotland, vol. vii, pp. 266, 271, 441.

[100] G. Chalmers' Life of Queen Mary, vol. i, pp. 443-4.

[101] Labanoff, op. cit., t. vii, p. 123; t. iii, p. 116; t. iv, p. 215.

[102] T. v, p. 98.

[103] The original is written in French.

[104] Labanoff, op. cit., t. iv, pp. 341-4, 377-81, 389, 390, 401, 402.

[105] Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland, vol. ii, p. 1014.

[106] T. v, pp. 84, 85, 88-90, 123.

[107] Périgueux, Cassard fréres.

[108] Ibid.

[109] Earl of Morton to the Earl of Bedford, 24 May, 1566.

[110] Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil, 26 May, 1566.

[111] Ibid.

[112] Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil, 26 May, 1566.

[113] Ibid.

[114] Ibid.

[115] Ibid.

[116] Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil, 20 Aug., 1565.

[117] Ibid. 9 Sept., 1565.

[118] Ibid. 15 Dec., 1565.

[119] Thomas Randolph to the Earl of Bedford, 30 Sept., 1565.

[120] "Instructions for certain persons to be sent into Scotland to commune respecting ... assaults upon Thomas Randolph."—State Papers.

[121] Thomas Randolph to the Earl of Leicester, 18 Oct., 1565.

[122] Thomas Randolph to Sir W. Cecil, 19 Feb., 1566; the Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth, 20 Feb., 1566.

[123] Ibid.

[124] Queen Elizabeth to the Queen of Scots, 3 March, 1566.

[125] Queen Elizabeth to the Queen of Scots, 15 March, 1566.

[126] Thomas Randolph to Sir W. Cecil, 6 March, 1566.

[127] Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil, 26 May, 1566.

[128] Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil, Berwick, 7 June, 1566.

[129] Queen Elizabeth to the Queen of Scots, Greenwich, 13 June, 1566.

[130] Randolph to Cecil, 26 May, 1566.

[131] Several years after this was written, the Fantasie was published in one of the volumes of the "Scottish Texts Society". It has not, however, been thought necessary to alter the present, or any other, reference to the poem, or the documents bearing on it, as inedited.

[132] State Papers. Scotland—Elizabeth, vol xi., 31 Dec., 1565.

[133] fforweriéd, wearied out.

[134] slipper, slippery.

[135] pervse, employ, have recourse to.

[136] scande, attended to.

[137] When as, whilst.

[138] decree, hold sway.

[139] wone, wont.

[140] perst, pierced.

[141] mase, wild fancy.

[142] rase the seige, carry on the siege with increased vigour.

[143] regestreth the found pretence, shows the infatuation.

[144] reporte, quote.

[145] sturde, stirred up.

[146] stiveling sture, stifling passion.

[147] mufflled contre-packe, secret opposition party.

[148] eche where, everywhere.