Mary Queen of Scots 1542-1587 Part 30

CLAUDE NAU.

Claude de la Boisselierre Nau was sent by the Cardinal of Lorraine to Queen Mary as a Secretary in 1575. Thenceforward he remained her confidential adviser, although his loyalty to his own interests was more marked than his devotion to his mistress, and he was generally believed to have betrayed her in connection with the Babington conspiracy. After her death he was released by Queen Elizabeth, and entered the service of Henry IV. of France. The MS. known as "Nau's History of Mary Stewart" is in the British Museum, and was printed in 1883 by Father Joseph Stevenson, S.J. The evidence on which Mr.

Stevenson attributes it to Nau is given in his introduction.

LORD RUTHVEN.

Patrick, third Lord Ruthven, was one of the Protestant n.o.bles who formed the body known as the "Lords of the Congregation" during the absence of Queen Mary in France. He was not popular even on his own side, for we find mysterious accusations of sorcery and enchantment attaching to his name. At the murder of Rizzio he appeared in the Queen's room, gaunt and haggard, having risen from a sick bed in the neighbouring house. After the murder he fled to England and wrote for the benefit of Queen Elizabeth his "Relation" of the circ.u.mstances. He makes numerous accusations against Mary, which have generally been received with suspicion owing to the position of the author as an exiled rebel anxious to justify himself before a foreign sovereign. He died at Newcastle in June 1566, three months after the murder. The "articles" are printed, not only in the "Relation," but in the first column of Goodall's _Examination_, and the third volume of Keith's "History," while those signed by Darnley are copied from the original in the Appendix (p. 641) to the Sixth Report of the Historical MSS. Commissioners.

DIURNAL OF OCCURRENTS.

The "Diurnal of Occurrents in Scotland" was first printed by the Bannatyne Club in 1833 (from a MS. then in the possession of Sir John Maxwell of Pollock). It deals with the history of Scotland from 1513 to 1575. During the period with which we are concerned, it is clearly the diary of an Edinburgh citizen, and it is of great value, especially in fixing dates. The anonymous diarist was not a partisan of the Queen, but his work is more impartial than any other of the period. Another contemporary diary, by Robert Birrell, is published in Dalyell's "Fragments of Scottish History," 1798.

GUDE AND G.o.dLY BALLATES.

The controversy of the sixteenth century gave rise to many political songs and ballads, which became known to the Protestant party as the "Gude and G.o.dly Ballates." Most of them were aimed against Roman Catholicism in general, but some are invectives against Queen Mary herself. The specimens given are among the best known. They are slightly earlier in date than the arrival of Mary in Scotland; but they serve to ill.u.s.trate the bitterness of the struggle.

(D.) AUTHORITIES.

The remaining contemporary authorities are to be found in the letters of amba.s.sadors, and the other diplomatic correspondence of the time. But it must be remembered that a statement can by no means be implicitly believed because it appears in such doc.u.ments.

The circ.u.mstances of the writer, his opportunities of obtaining information on the particular topic, his personal prejudices, the impression that he wished to convey to his correspondent, must all be allowed due weight. The correspondence and other information is largely contained in the following books:--

(1.) OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

_Acts of Parliament of Scotland._

_Reports of the Royal Commission upon Historical MSS._

_Register of the Privy Council of Scotland._

_Calendar of Doc.u.ments relating to Scotland_, preserved in the Public Record Office.

_Calendar of Papers relating to Foreign Affairs_, 1542-1587.

_Calendar of Papers relating to English Affairs_, preserved in the Archives of Simancas.

_Calendar of Papers relating to English Affairs_, preserved in the Archives of Venice.

_Calendar of Border Papers._

_The Hamilton Papers._

_Calendar of Papers relating to Scotland and Mary Queen of Scots_, 1898.

(2.) BOOKS WHICH CONTAIN ORIGINAL LETTERS, &c.

_Faedera, Conventiones, Literae, &c., inter Reges Angliae et alios_, ed. by Thomas Rymer. London, 1704-1735.

_Queen Elizabeth and her Times_, by Thomas Wright. London, 1838.

_History of the Affairs of Church and State in Scotland_, by the Right Rev. Robert Keith, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Edinburgh, 1734 (reprinted by the Spottiswoode Society).

_Miscellaneous State Papers from 1501 to 1726_, edited by Philip, Earl of Hardwicke. London, 1778.

_The Annals of Aboyne_, edited by George, 11th Marquis of Huntly.

(New Spalding Club.)

_Life of Queen Mary_, by George Chalmers. London, 1818.

_History of Scotland_, by William Robertson, D.D.

_History of Scotland_, by Patrick Fraser Tytler.

_Inventories of Mary Queen of Scots_, edited by Joseph Robertson.

_Examination of the Letters said to have been written by Mary Queen of Scots, to James, Earl of Bothwell_, by Walter Goodall, 1744.

_History of Scotland_, by Malcolm Laing.

_Ill.u.s.trations of British History_, by Edmund Lodge.

_Elizabeth and Mary_, by Fred. Von Raumer.

_Original Letters, Ill.u.s.trative of British History_, ed. Ellis.

_Mary Queen of Scots and her Accusers_, by John Hosack, 1870-74.

_Mary Queen of Scots, from her Birth to her Flight into England_, by D. Hay Fleming.

_Recueil des Lettres de Marie Stuart_, ed. Labanoff.

_Letters of Mary Stuart_, ed. Agnes Strickland.

_Cabala, sive Scrinia Sacra._ London, 1691.

_Collections relating to Mary Queen of Scots_, by James Anderson.

_A Lost Chapter in the Life of Mary Stuart_, by John Stuart.