Harley MS 290

ff. 1r–283v: A collection of papers, some original, relating to Mary Queen of Scots and William Davison.

ff. 1r–5v: Tract in Latin on the marriage between Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VI), and Mary Queen of Scots (undated, but must date from around the time of the Treaty of Greenwich in 1543).

ff. 6r–7v: The order for saluting and receiving the Queen Dowager of Scotland, November 1551.

f. 8r: The order for escorting her out of London.

f. 9r: Drawing of Mary's arms quartered with those of England, after Mary I's death.

f. 9v: Minute from the journal book of the Privy Council, on the placing of the Gentleman at Arms, in the pensioners' room at each time they became vacant.

f. 10r: Part of some notes relating to the disputes between Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I, 1555–1556.

ff. 11r–12v: Copy of a letter from Elizabeth I to Mary Queen of Scots, 25 August 1561, requesting that English pirates who had fled into Scottish ports might be apprehended and delivered to Thomas Randolph, and that she would take good order with their Scottish accomplices.

ff. 13r–16v: Instructions from Elizabeth to the Earl of Bedford and Thomas Randolph, 4 October 1564, for dealing with the marriage between the Earl of Leicester and Mary Queen of Scots.

f. 17r: Letter from Mary Queen of Scots to the Duke of Norfolk, written in bed whilst she was ill with a fever, referring her business to his disposal, 11 May (same as at f. 95r).

ff. 18r–v: A copy of the 'hewe and crie sente abroade upone pretence that the Quene of Scottes was ffled out of foderingham Castle.'

f. 19r: Copy of the letters sent from York by John Leslie to Mary Queen of Scots, then at Bolton (the same as f. 63r.)

ff. 20r–28r: The indictment against the Duke of Norfolk for attempting to deprive Elizabeth of the throne, and his answers during his examination.

f. 29r: The crimes charged upon Norfolk.

f. 30r: Copy of a deciphered letter by Robert Highford, on conveying £600 to Liddington and Grange, Scotland.

ff. 30r–31r: Part of a letter from Robert Highford to a friend, 29 August 1572, Howard House.

ff. 32r–41r: Proofs of the conference and practice for the conveying away of Mary.

ff. 43r–v: Letters patent (in Latin) concerning Norfolk's treason, 14 January 1571, Westminster.

ff. 43r–v: Examination of Norfolk, 6 November 1571 (see also f. 103r).

f. 44r: Part of the examination of John Lesley, the Bishop of Ross, 3 November 1571.

ff. 45r–48r: Copy of a letter from the Earl of Murray to L. B., in answer to an overture of Elizabeth's for releasing Mary and sending her to Scotland, and vindicating himself with regard to his involvement with the Duke of Norfolk.

ff. 49r–v: Duke of Norfolk to Murray, 1 July, London, asking for his kindness and favour towards his intended marriage to Mary, and recommending the affairs of John Lesley, Bishop of Ross.

ff. 50r–57v: Depositions concerning Norfolk and Mary, &c.

ff. 58r–60v: The examination of William Barker, taken 6 November 1571 (see also ff. 108v–110r).

ff. 61r–62v: Letter of the Bishop of Ross to Mary, 8 November, the Tower of London, informing her that in spite of the safe conduct granted him to enter and exit England at will, Elizabeth's council had threatened that he could be used as a private person, and as her Majesty's subject, unless he made a confession of all that he knew touching her and Norfolk. And that he was induced to do this, because Norfolk and his accomplices had already confessed, so the most secret matters were thoroughly known, and all letters and instructions had been seized.

f. 63r: A copy of the letters sent from York by the Bishop of Ross to Mary, then at Bolton (the same as f. 19r).

f. 64r: A cipher, perhaps used by Norfolk during his correspondence with Mary; a note on a packet of letters he received from Monsieur de Motte, the French ambassador, and sent to Lord Harris in Scotland.

ff. 65r–71v: Examination of the Bishop of Ross, 6 November 1571 (the same as ff. 110v–115r).

ff. 72r–73v: Copies of letters written by or to Norfolk during his imprisonment in the Tower.

ff. 74r–v: Letter from Norfolk to the Lords of the Queen's Council, on his first trouble.

ff. 75r–77v: Examination of John Lesley, the Bishop of Ross, 31 October 1571.

ff. 78r–v: The behaviour of the Duke of Norfolk whilst he was lieutenant of the North, and his poor opinion of Mary after the murder of her husband, and her inordinate love of the Earl of Bothwell, discovered by certain writings under her hand (see also ff. 115r–v).

ff. 79r–v: Robert Highford's examination about Norfolk, 2 September 1571 (the same as f. 115v).

ff. 80r–83r: Part of Norfolk's trial (i.e. what was said by the Queen's council), who opened the cause against him (the transcript is ff. 115v–116v).

f. 84r: Some short notes from a conversation between James VI and Walsingham, about Norfolk, &c., with his opinion of Walsingham, &c.

ff. 85r–86v: Draft of Mary's answer to what she heard about Walsingham from the Lord of Shrewsbury, 8 January 1578, Sheffield.

ff. 87r–v: Examination of William Barker, 18 October 1571.

ff. 88r–v: Examination of William Barker and [Laurence] Bannister, 30 October 1571.

f. 89r: The examination of the Bishop of Ross, 2 November 1571.

f. 90r: Letter from Mary to Norfolk, 17 May, on the sorrows she has recently suffered, through the fear of her son's deliverance, &c., and renewing her promises to ever be true and obedient to him, &c.

f. 91r: Letter from Mary to Norfolk, 31 January, inciting him to endeavour to escape, as she would do, notwithstanding any danger, in order to be married together, at which she thinks Elizabeth and her subjects would not be discontented, &c.

f. 92r: Letter from Mary to Norfolk, 19 March, renewing her promises of constant faith and obedience to him, with a desire of sharing his fortunes, good or bad, &c.

f. 93r: Letter from Mary to Norfolk, 14 June, Chatsworth, desiring him to give credence to the Bishop of Ross, with whom she has communed at length about him, to whom she will always be true and obedient, &c.

ff. 94r–v: Letter from Mary to Norfolk, 25 [no other date], Wingfield, assuring him of her love and affection, with her obedience in all things, and informing him about certain speeches against them between the Earls of Murray and Argyle at Sterling.

f. 95r: Undated letter from Mary to Norfolk (same as at f. 17r).

ff. 96r–97r: Examination of William Barker, 14 September 1571, and Robert Highford, 19 September 1571.

f. 98r: Examination of Highford on 4 and 22 September 1571.

ff. 99r–100v: Letter from Robert Highford to the Lords of her Majesty's Privy Council, 28 September 1571, from prison, making a further confession of what he knew of his master the Duke of Norfolk's affairs with relation to Mary.

ff. 101r–102r: Examination of John Lesley, the Bishop of Ross, 3 November 1571.

f. 103r: Examination of Norfolk, 6 November 1571.

ff. 103v–108r: Examination of the Bishop of Ross, 3 November 1571.

ff. 108v–110r: Examination of William Barker, 6 November 1571, with the cipher mentioned on f. 64r (see also ff. 58r–60v).

ff. 110v–115r: Examination of the Bishop of Ross, 6 November 1571 (the same as ff. 65r–71v.)

ff. 115r–v: The behaviour of the Duke of Norfolk whilst he was lieutenant of the North, and his poor opinion of Mary after the murder of her husband, and her inordinate love of the Earl of Bothwell, discovered by certain writings under her hand.

f. 115v: The examination of Robert Highford, 2 September 1571 (the same as ff. 79r–v).

ff. 115v–116v: Part of the allegation of the Queen's Council against the Duke of Norfolk at his trial, a transcript of ff. 80r–83r.

ff. 117r–119r: Francis Walsingham, A discourse on the projected marriage between the Duke of Norfolk and Mary.

ff. 120r–122r: The end of the Bishop of Ross's discourse of his last year's imprisonment in England.

ff. 123v–125v: Fragmentary notes.

ff. 126r–132r: Oration of John Lesley to Henry III, King of France and Poland.

ff. 133r–134v: Copy or draft of a letter from Archibald Douglas to Mary, no date, London, on the death of her husband Lord Darnley, which he assures her he was not involved in other than to conceal the conspiracy. He desires her pardon, and since Elizabeth is unwilling to suffer him to live longer in England, that she would recommend the examination of what he writes therein to her son, and he will set out for Scotland. The letter was written after the execution of Douglas's kinsman the Earl of Morton, and reflects upon him.

ff. 135r–v: Declaration of Mary willing James to be called the King of Scotland in her lifetime, and to associate with her in the crown, January 1582.

ff. 136r–137v: An extract from the letter below.

ff. 138r–141v: Copy of a letter from Beale to [Walsingham?], 17 November 1581, Sheffield, relating his communication with Mary whilst she was ill in bed about many important matters related to England and Scotland. Mary desires to recover Elizabeth's favour by all means, and for her to make trial of her affection and duty in any matter whatsoever. She desires to be allowed to go outside sometimes, not to be out of Elizabeth's hands, but to recover herself from the bodily weakness a lack of air had reduced her to. She also said that although she was not old in years, she found herself old in body, and that her hair had gone grey, and that she would never have another husband.

ff. 142r–143v: Copy of a letter from Beale, 23 November 1581, Sheffield, relating several meetings with Mary, who was very ill, and with Du Neau, her servant. Mary desires Elizabeth to send some physicians and surgeons to consult with those already present about a cure for her illness. They also spoke of the projected marriage between her son and the King of Navarre's sister, and her request that Elizabeth would speak with Monsieur about having the rents of Senliz paid to her, which estate was given to her in lieu of the Duchy of Touraine, formerly vested in her and afterwards given to Monsieur.

ff. 144r–147v: Copy of a letter from Beale, 28 November 1581, Sheffield, relating events occurring during his two audiences with Mary, who some thought was better though she was still in bed. She still desired liberty of sending into Scotland, with the consent of Elizabeth, concerning the welfare of both realms. Such consent is deferred, as fearing some treachery. Beale has not yet proceeded in the matter contained in the second part of his instructions, namely of showing Mary her letter written in cipher to the Bishop of Glasgow during the Northern Rebellion.

ff. 148r–v: Secret advertisements out of Scotland by letters of 14 March 1581.

ff. 149r–150v: Offers made to Elizabeth by Mary, 21 April 1583 (written in Davison's hand?)

ff. 151r–152v: Instructions given to Robert Beale, 4 May 1584, having been sent to Mary from the court at Greenwich.

ff. 153r–156v: Copy of a letter from [the Scottish ambassador] to Mary, 22 November 1584, London. He resents being injured by her, if a certain letter he showed her son was really written by her, advises her on how to proceed with Elizabeth, and relates the advice he has given James.

ff. 157r–158v: Secret intelligence concerning James VI, Mary, Philip II and the Popish party, 25 August 1585.

ff. 159r–161v: Part of the trials and confession of Anthony Babington, Chidiock Tichborne, Thomas Salisbury, Robert Barnwell, John Savage, Henry Donne, and John Ballard, who had conspired to kill Elizabeth and deliver Mary, 13 September 1586.

ff. 162r–167r: Part of the trials and confession of Edward Abingdon and Charles Tilney, for the same treasons, 15 September [1586].

f. 168r–169v: The arraignment and confession of [Edward] Jones, [John] Travers, [John] Charnock, and [Robert] Gage.

ff. 170r–171r: The confessions of Ballard, Babington, Savage, Barnwell, Tichborne, Tilney and Abingdon upon the scaffold at their executions, 20 September 1586.

ff. 172v–173v: The confessions of Salisbury; Donne; Jones; Charnock; Travers; Gage, and [Jerome] Bellamy, upon the scaffold at their executions, 21 September 1586.

f. 174r: Fragmentary notes.

ff. 175r–176v: Extracts from various letters to Mary, on her liberty or deliverance from prison.

ff. 177r–178v: Undated copy of a letter from James' ambassador to Elizabeth to Thomas Tyrie, wherein he writes that he would not accept the embassy without the Earl of Bothwell and Sir William Melville's being joined with him, lest if Mary's life were taken away, men would have cause to say that he was the occasion of it.

ff. 179r–180v: Undated imperfect copy of a letter from an intelligencer in Scotland, to Walsingham, concerning the likelihood of agreement between the Master of Gray and James Stewart, Earl of Arran, and of the practices of the Jesuits, etc., to induce James VI to demand the delivery of Mary.

ff. 181r–182v: Undated letter from an intelligencer in Calais, advertising that James Seaton was come thither out of Scotland, in his way to the Duke of Guise, and to the French King, though in open war against one another, as it was supposed upon some affair prejudicial to England. For he had ordered some arms and powder to be bought, and reported that Mary's death would be avenged.

ff. 183r–184v: Draft of a letter from Davison to Walsingham, 4 October 1586, the Court, concerning the commission to be sent to try Mary.

ff. 185r–186v: Draft of a letter from Davison to Cecil, 5 October 1586, Windsor, concerning the above-mentioned commission, wherein Elizabeth dissents from Cecil about the placing of Mary's titles, and about another commission for adjourning the Parliament, according to precedent Cecil remembered, and mentioned in the letter above.

ff. 187r–v: Copy of a letter from Elizabeth to Mary, 6 October 1586, Windsor, notifying her that she had sent several of her most ancient noblemen, privy counsellors, and judges to try her for assenting to her attempted murder.

ff. 188r–v: Copy of a letter from Elizabeth to Cecil and Walsingham, 7 October 1586, to authorise them to confer privately with Mary, for her resolution to answer the indictment, to have consideration of many strangers gone thither with ill affection, and to have Nau, Curle and Parker ready if she shall desire to hear them confirm their examinations.

ff. 189r–190v: Draft of a letter from Davison to Cecil, 8 October 1586, Windsor, concerning Elizabeth's letter (the previous item), with some other court news, including news of another conspiracy against Elizabeth's life, and the answer she made to the French ambassador who asserted that Mary was not subject to the laws of England.

ff. 191r–v: Report from the commissioners of Mary's first answer, whereby she refused to be tried, 12 October 1586.

ff. 192r–v: Report of Mary's second answer, maintaining her former answer, and answering the allegations of her being protected by the laws of England and therefore responsible to them, 12 October 1586.

ff. 193r–v: Copy of Elizabeth's letter to Cecil, 12 October 1586, for staying the sentence against Mary, until the commissioners return to her presence, and a report is made of their proceedings.

ff. 194r–195v: Report of Mary's third answer, in which she refuses to subject herself to the authority of the commissioners, as a sovereign princess, 13 October 1586.

ff. 196r–197v: Instructions to Lord Buckhurst and Robert Beale, sent from Elizabeth to Mary, November 1586, to admonish her to prepare herself for her execution.

ff. 198r–201v: A true copy of the proclamation lately published by Elizabeth under the Great Seal, for the declaring of the sentence against Mary, 4 December 1586, Richmond.

ff. 202r–v: Letter from Elizabeth to Amias Paulet, thanking him for his care in keeping Mary, with a message for her to ask for God's pardon for her treacherous ingratitude.

ff. 203r–204v: A copy of a warrant under the Great Seal for the execution of Mary, 1 February 1587.

ff. 205r–212v: R.W. to Cecil, A true declaration of Mary's execution, 8 February 1587, Fotheringhay.

ff. 213r–214v: Original letter from an intelligencer in France, 1 February 1587, concerning the execution of Mary, which they thought was only a rumour; he also relates the danger of an individual known as Jaques, and his plans against Elizabeth.

f. 215r: A note about a book recently printed at Antwerp, entitled Theatrum crudelitatis haereticorum nostri temporis, perhaps by Richard Verstegan, which has many examples set forth in pictures and alleged to have been practised in the Low Countries, France, England and Ireland. Finally he relates the death of Mary Queen of Scots, beseeching God and Christian monarchs to avenge it.

ff. 216r–217v: Letter from Cornellis an intelligencer in France, advertising the secret purposes of the English traitors and other against Elizabeth upon the execution of Mary.

ff. 218r–221v: 'A discourse sent by secretarie davison being then Prisoner in the towere of London vnto Secretarye Walsyngham contaynynge a somary reporte of that which passed between hir maiestie and him in the cause of the skotyshe queene from the signyng of the warrante to the tyme of his restrainte.' 20 February 1587, written in the hand of Rafe Starkey.

ff. 222r–223v: 'A true relation of that which passed betwixt her Maiestie & me in the cause of the late Scottish Queene from the tyme of my first receyving the Minute of the warrant concerning her Execution, &c. to the daie of my committment to the Tower', written in Davison's hand. It differs in several ways from the former item, but both may be true.

ff. 224r–239v: The proceedings against Davison, 28 March 1587, for causing Elizabeth's warrant against Mary Queen of Scots to be executed without her express command, for which he was fined 10,000 marks and condemned to remain in the Tower during her Majesty's pleasure.

ff. 240r–241v: Original letter from the Earl of Essex to Davison, no date, acquainting him with what he had said to Elizabeth on his behalf, how kindly she had received it, and how she praised him, and of his belief that she would restore him to as good or better a station than that he was thrown from.

ff. 242r–243v: Original letter from Lord Arthur Grey to Davison, no date, on what the Lord Treasurer had told him, that Davison was still on reasonably good terms of favour with Elizabeth. But when she had been solicited to privately relieve his low-brought estate, she refused to do so because there would be some among her courtiers who would discover it.

ff. 244r–245v: Original letter from the Earl of Essex to Davison, no date, showing that when he solicited Elizabeth to make him secretary instead of Walsingham, she readily acknowledged his capability, his disinterested integrity and zeal for her personal safety, in the matter for which he had suffered so much, but absolutely refused to grant the request.

ff. 246r–v: Davison's list of ways in which Cecil had been trying to keep him down for several years before his death, both secretly and openly, personally and through others.

ff. 247r–256v: Private instructions set down for Sir Richard Wingfield on his journey into Scotland upon the execution of Mary in 1588. It seems that Wingfield is to divert James from avenging his mother's death; to induce him to declare himself a Protestant, and to rely on the friendship of Elizabeth rather than any other ruler. There is a cipher on f. 256r.

ff. 257r–263r: Notes written by Davison on rulers and magistrates, etc. (in Latin).

f. 264r: Reasons against the liberty of Mary Queen of Scots.

f. 264v: Note headed 'That the associacion should be dangerous, & against all policy.'

ff. 265r–v: Brief remarks on the Scottish nobility, etc., written by Davison.

ff. 266r–267r: English verses headed 'semper eris pauper', seemingly written by Davison.

ff. 268r–v: Note headed 'The Bishopricks of Scotland and the names of suche as presently possess them.'

f. 269r: 'The names of the free boroughes of the Realme of Scotland...', written 25 March 1583, by Davison.

ff. 271r–v: Lists of people executed during the reigns of Henry VII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Henry VIII, written by William Davison.

ff. 272r–v: Things a traveller should observe about a country, its people and government, written by William Davison.

ff. 273r–v: [Owen Felltham], Three months observations on the Low Countries, especially Holland (an imperfect satire.)

ff. 274r–275v: Imperfect censure of Machiavelli's Florentine Histories.

ff. 276r–281v: Arguments against the liberty of Mary Queen of Scots (longer version of the item at f. 264r).

f. 282r–v: William Davison's account of why afflictions are profitable to the children of God.

f. 283v: William Davison's description of life by the two adjectives short and miserable (in his hand).