on her the regal government
of Scotland. Tho' some historians represent her for a woman of a quick
judgment and good natural abilities, yet it is evident she was of a
revengeful temper and lecherous disposition; and being misled up in
popery from her infancy, her opposition to the protestant reformed
religion seems all of a piece. It would fill a volume to recite the
wickedness, mischiefs and tragical disasters, that, through her
instigation, by her command or example, were committed during her reign.
For, not to mention her intrigues with Rizio and Chattelet the French
dancer, whom she caused at last to be hanged; the court rung with all
manner of wickedness, impiety and profanity. About 1566, she entered
into a league with Charles IX. of France to extirpate the reformed
religion. She and her favourites robbed the church of their patrimony to
maintain the luxury of the court: So that they could all have scarce
2000l. yearly. Nor upon all their petitions, though in a starving
condition, could they get any redress from her. She married Darnly, then
fell in adultery with Bothwel, then they concerted his murder: and after
she married the Regicide, lifted arms against the professors of the true
religion, by whom she was obliged to flee to England. In a word, every
dreary year of her unfortunate reign was blackened with some remarkable
disaster, and by such acts of impudence and injustice, as corrupt nature
and popish cruelty could suggest. After her elopement to England, the
popish faction, of which she was the head, kept the nations in continual
intestine broils, till a scheme was by them laid to marry the duke of
Norfolk a papist, get rid of her son James and Queen Elizabeth, and
grasp both kingdoms into the hands; but this proving abortive, she next
endeavoured to have herself declared Second in England, whereupon Queen
Elizabeth signed a warrant somewhat precipitantly for her execution; and
so she was beheaded in Fotheringay castle, Feb. 18. 1586, or according
to some 1587. She died with some fortitude, but would have nothing to do
with the protestant clergy at the place of execution, saying, she would
die in the catholick religion wherein she was bred and born, willing
only to have her confessor: at last she lifted the crucifix and kissed
it. And so she ended her days, as she lived, and with her ended
bare-faced popery for a time in Scotland.--_Knox_, _Melvil_,
_Spotiswood_, &c.

MR. PATRICK ADAMSON, first minister of