Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-12
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL or MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS


 Mary Queen of Scots, having been dethroned by her own subjects and having fled te England for refuge. was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth for many years. All during this time, however, 1t was claimed that she had entered into plots and conspiracies against Elizabeth, and many opinions were brought up as to what was to be done with her. Some thought that no rigorous course should be pursued, as she was i'll and would not live long, while others thought that she should forthwith be put to death.
 It was decided, however, to place her on trial; but upon what statute the lords differed. Some thought she should be tried under the statute Of Edward H., but others thought that the trial should be conducted under the new act of Elizabeth. After long discussion of the matter. it was car ried for the latter act, as being made for that very purpose.
 In the indictment the commission CTS called her simply Mary, daughter of James w.. king of Scots. and in part of the document named her as queen. The first meeting of these commission erfnghay castle. The following day Sir Walter Mildmay was dispatched to Mary with & letter from Queen Eliza beth, to which Mary replied: Tt grieves me much that the queen, my most dear sister. Is suspicious of me; though I have given her full and faith full notice of several dangers that threatened her.. yet has no credit been given to me, but have been still con- demned and sighted, though I be so nearly allied to her in blood"
 On Oct. If the queen was brought to trial. In the courtroom after si. lence had been proclaimed the Lord Chancellor Bromley spoke a few words to this effect: "The most serene Queen Elizabeth being informed, not without great grief and trouble of mind. that you have conspired the destruction of her person and kingdom of England and tho subversion of our religion, has according to her station and duty, lest she might seem to neglect herself and her people, and out of no manner of malice of heart. appointed these com missioners to hear such things as shall be objected against you, and how you can clear yourself of them and mani- fest your innocence to the world"
 Mary thereupon stood up and said: T have come to England to solicit the assistance which had been promised me, and yet I have ever since been kept a prisoner. 1 am no subject of the queens, but was myself a free queen, and therefore not obliged to ap- pear before commissioners or any oth- CT judge, but before God alone, the highest Judge"
 After this the queen of Scots am nounced that she was ready to hear and answer any fact whatsoever com mitted against the queen of England, Thereupon Sergt. Gawdy opened the statute paragraph by paragraph affirm ing she had violated the same, and then making a deduction of Babipg- toms conspiracy and mentioning Bal lard, Morgan and others concerned in ho od .sThat Sf nf II, assented to it. promised her as- sistance and showed the ways and means of effecting it.'
 To this the queen replied that she did aot know Babington, had never re- ceived any letters from him, that she had never written to him, and that she never plotted the destruction of the queen, and that to prove any such thing her own handwriting should be pro- duced. For her own part, she had never heard a word of it and that she did not know Ballard.
 Then it was urged against her that her letters to "a. ton were in the pessessIUn vi the court, and tram scripts of his letrers to her were read wherein the whole conspiracy was set forth. To this Mary replied that Bab- tngton might write these letters but If Babingten or anybody else does affirm it, l say directly they he.''
 Then the lawyers proceeded to charge further that Mary was both privy to the conspiracy and also that she had intentions te send her son in to Spain and to transfer her title and claim In the kingdom of England to the Spaniards. To this Mary replied she had no kingdom to dispose of or convey and if she had were it not lawful for her to bestow those things which were hers atSher pleasure?
 The trlal continued the following day, when more testimony was taken, after which an adjournment was made to the 2oth of October. On this day her secretaries. Nave and Curle, hay ing under oath affirmed and justified all and every letter to be true and real written by Mary, sentence was pro- nouneed. She was beheaded on Feb 9, 1887. She had been a prisoner in England about eighteen years and was 96 years old when she was executed.