James Melville: Life Story

Melville waited in Edinburgh Castle, praying for Mary to bear a healthy son. Between ten and eleven in the morning of 19^th June, 1566, the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Boyd, came with the good news that mother and son were doing well. Melville set out for London, reaching Berwick by nightfall, and London on the fourth day. He went first to his brother, then to Cecil, but asked them to keep it secret until he was in Elizabeth’s presence. He travelled with Cecil to Greenwich, where Elizabeth was dancing after supper. Cecil whispered in her ear. Silence fell. The Queen put her hands to her head and sank onto a cushion, saying:

‘the Queen of Scots [was] lighter of a fair son, whilst [she was] but a barren stock.’

The next morning, the Melville brothers were sent for. They were told that Elizabeth was deeply depressed by the news, but had been advised to put a good face on it, which she immediately proceeded to do, telling them the news had cheered her immensely, after a fortnight of illness.

Melville told Elizabeth that the news had been sent first to her, as Mary knew she would rejoice. He added, off his own bat, that although she was delighted to have a son, Mary had been so badly treated, that she wished she had never married. Elizabeth was once again toying with the idea of matrimony, so Melville was keen to discourage her.

Elizabeth accepted the invitation to stand godmother. It would be a good opportunity, he said, for the queens to meet. Alas, however, although Elizabeth was eager to meet her ‘dear sister’ affairs would not permit her to travel. She would send proxies.

Melville then reported on Killigrew, explaining his long stay in Scotland by his waiting for Mary to give birth. He thanked the Queen on Mary’s behalf for sending Morton and the others out of the country – he did not believe the rumours that they were being hidden – surely none of her subjects could be so disobedient! Indeed not, returned Elizabeth. If such a thing transpired to be true, severe punishment would follow. He also offered to send the alleged criminal Rokeby back, but Elizabeth seemingly forgot to ask him to arrange it.

It appeared to Melville that Leicester, Pembroke and the Duke of Norfolk were even more supportive of Mary being named heir, now that she had a son. Only Cecil seemed to have doubts.Melville assured Elizabeth that Mary would not dream of pushing herself forward into Elizabeth’s shoes, she only wished to be named as successor.

The birth of the Prince, the Queen returned smoothly, just made it more urgent for the English lawyers to determine the legal position. When Melville pointed out that she had made the same point a year before, she told him that the proxies she would send for the christening would tell Mary more. He clearly was not going to receive confirmation of Mary’s position, so Melville returned to Scotland, leaving his brother behind, but the richer by a chain from the Queen.

He found Mary depressed and with a poor appetite – not recovered from the events surrounding the murder of Rizzio, and the threat to her life. Melville tried to cheer her, assuring her of many friends in both Scotland and England. He also suggested that forgiving Morton and the others would be a good move. Mary promised to think on the matter, and begin to talk of allowing the rebels to be restored. Bothwell, getting wind of this, began to commune with them secretly.

The Earl of Bedford and the French and Spanish Ambassadors were to come to Stirling for the christening and Melville was sent to meet the Earl at Coldingham. Bedford was accompanied by a large group of English lords and gentlemen, including Master Carey, son of Elizabeth’s cousin, Lord Hunsdon, and Sir Christopher Hatton, who, although a great friend of Elizabeth, was widely believed to be a Catholic, and a supporter of Mary’s.

The English representatives were well treated, but were somewhat shocked at the little account paid to Darnley. They told Melville to advise Mary to treat him more respectfully, as it reflected badly on her to be at odds with husband.

Mary began to recover her spirits, and rode to the Border to give justice in person, as her father, James V, and grandfather, James IV, had done. Bothwell and Huntly were both with her, and, according to Melville, tried to plot the death of Moray, but were prevented by Lord Home.

The Queen rode as far as Berwick, now in English hands, and was greeted with an artillery display. The Warden of Berwick, Sir John Foster, came to meet her, to discuss peace-keeping. Whether his horse was frightened by the noise or for some other reason, it reared up, and tried to bite the Queen’s horse in the neck, before striking Mary a severe blow on the thigh with a front hoof. The mortified Sir John leapt of his horse and fell to the ground, begging pardon. Mary graciously told him that she was not hurt, but was obliged to stay at Castle Home for two days.

Bothwell was riding high – he persuaded Mary to allow Morton to return. Mary then set about trying to reconcile Bothwell, Huntly, Argyll and Moray, and was successful, at least on the surface.