Mary’s mother sent her to France where she was safe with
dependable allies and would be properly brought up as a French girl. While
there, she married Francis II, the heir to the French throne. Also too young and
too chronically ill, to rule, the Guise family also ruled through regency.
Francis and Mary, then, were king and queen during numerous
parliaments but physically present for none. They were represented through
their regents. After the death of Mary’s mother, she selected a representative
for one further parliament that she was not able to attend.
The following highly descriptive letter from Thomas
Randolph, William Cecil’s English agent in Scotland (and later English
ambassador), describes the first parliament over which Mary personally
presided, especially her Royal procession and opening speech. He also describes
the presentation in that august house of the dead body of the traitor, the Earl
of Huntley.
Thomas Randolph to the Earl Of Rutland, K.G., Lord President in the North.
1563, June 10. Edinburgh.— The Quene herself is in
very good healthe, her ladies lustie, fayer, and brave. We have nowe cleene
cast of our sorrowefull garments and m[o]urnynge we[e]des, as well for the late Kynge her grace's howsbonde as also for the deathe of her two uncles, the Duke and
[the] Grande Prior. Her grace is 'well obbeyed, well served, and honored of as
maynie of her subjectes as e[i]ther knowe their deutie to God, or what reverence
the[y] oughte unto their sovereigne. Her Grace nowe lastlye [both] helde her
Parlemente, the solemnitie whearof hathe byne verie greate The xxvi of May, her
grace roode unto the Parlemente howse in thys order—Gentlemen, barons, lordes
and erles in their arraye and place. After them the trompettes and suche other
musike as the[y] had. Next the herauldes, then the Erle of Murraye that caried
the sworde, the Erle of Argile the septer, and the Duke the crowne regall. Then
followed herself in her Parlement roobes and a ver[y] fayer riche crowne upon
her heade. Ther followed her grace fyrste the noble mens wyves as the[y] were in
dignitie, 12 in number, after them the four virgins, maydes, Maries,
damoyselles of honor, or the Quen's mignions, cawle them as please your honor,
but a fayerrer syghte was never seen. These beinge nowe of the principals 16,
ther followed them as maynie more so wonderfull in beautie that I knowe not
what courte maye be compared unto them. The choyce, I assure your Lordship,
that daye was ther of the whole realme. Havinge receaved her pla[c]e in
Parliment, silence beinge commaunded unto th'assistance, she pronouncethe with
a singular good grace an oration shorte, and verie prettie, whearof I sende your
honor the coppie, as I am sure she made yt herself and deserved great prayse
in utteringe of the same. I had that daye the honor to convoye her grace to the
Parlemente howse, and to be presente at the whole solemnities and tyme of her
beinge ther. Thys daye ther was lyttle done. The Fridaye after she commethe
agayne to the same place. Maynie matters were then de[b]ated. Th'erles of Huntlye
and Sotherlande were condemned for treason. The maner of the Erle of Huntlie's
condemnation was thys. Hys dedde corps (keapte of purpose untyll thys tyme) was
broughte into the Parlemente howse in a coffin, and sette uprighte as thoughe
he had sloode upon his feete, and upon that a peece of good blacke clothe with
his armes faste pynned. Hys accus[a]tion beinge redde his proctor answeringe for
hym as hymself had byne alyve, the inqueste was impanelde. The verdict was
geven that he was founde giltie, and judgement given therupon as by the lawe is
accustomed. Immediatlye here upon the good clothe that honge over the coffin was
taken awaye, and in place of that a wor[s]e hanged on, the armes torne in peeces
in the sighte of the people, and lykewyse stroken owte of the herauldes booke.
* * *
Other actes there are dyvers towchynge the common welthe not
yet publishede. One in speciall is thys which I wryte for the most notable,
that advouterie [adultery] shalbe punyshed with deathe. Thus grevous and sore
are our preachers agaynste us that with m[u]che adoe have [wrung] this lawe owte
of the lordes handes full sore agaynste maynie of their wylles. The nexte
nyghte after thys lawe was concluded upon, on[e] of the Quens chaplans was
taken at mydnyghte with another man's wyf. . . . What execution wylbe done
hereupon I knowe not. The [sic] of thys instant the Parlement ended, her graces
self beinge at the concludinge of yt in like arraye and sorte as she was the
fyrste daye.
* * *
The acts of Parliament are not yet published. Divers acts
were revived. A law of oblivion was granted for all offences committed in the troublesome
time of the Congregation. An act has been passed for the coinage; an act
against the destroyers of young fish, in fresh water and salt; an act against
swearers and adulterers. Divers gentlemen, as the Laird of [Grange], have been
restored to their lands. The Earl of Huntley's wife was condemned as
participant in her husbands treason, but pardoned by the Queen.
Source: The Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Rutland
(1888), I. 84-7.
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