Mary Queen of Scots-continued. FROM THE LIBRARY OF PATRICK RUTHVEN, 3RD LORD RUTHVEN (1520-1566), PRIVY COUNCILLOR OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, AND THE CHIEF 1702 INSTIGATOR IN THE MURDER OF RIZZIO. Carion (J.). Le Liure des Chronicques de seigneur lehan Carion philosophe, ou sont comprins tous haultz actes & beaulx faictz en decent & couenable ordre, depuis le commencement du monde iusques au regne du tres chrestien Roy Francoys premier de ce nom, etc. Tourné de Latin en Francoys par maistre Iehan le Blond. Illustrated with 15 well-executed woodcuts. Small 8vo, in contemporary brown calf, having on either side in gold the ROYAL CREST OF SCOTLAND (USED BY MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS), NAMELY, THE LION OF ST. ANDREWS. Paris, 1546. £150 *** A COPY OF THE HIGHEST INTEREST FROM THE LIBRARY OF LORD RUTHVEN, PROBABLY A PRESENTATION BOOK FROM MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS TO HER CELEBRATED PRIVY COUNCILLOR. ON FLY-LEAF AT COMMENCEMENT IS THE FOLLOWING INTERESTING NOTE OF OWNER SHIP: 'Patricii domini Ruthvene, superioris terrarum et barroniarum de Dirletoun Libellus pulcherrimus," and in a different handwriting are the words: "et maintenant d'Alexandre-" indicating a subsequent French owner. Patrick Ruthven, in 1552, was appointed to the command of the footmen of the army sent to France. He succeeded his father before 15 December of the same year, when the Queen conceded to him and his wife, Janet Douglas, a third part of the lands of Dirleton, Haliburton, and Hassindean, Berwickshire. When Ruthven, in 1559, was requested by the Queen Regent to suppress the Reformation heresy among the inhabitants of Perth, he is reported to have answered "that he would make their bodies come to her grace, and to prostrate themselves before her," but that to "cause them do against their conscience he could not promise.' In February, 1563, Ruthven was chosen a privy councillor of Mary Queen of Scots. Referring to his election, Randolph affirmed that the appointment misliked Moray' on account of his sorcery; that an unworthier there is not in Scotland than he," and that more might be spoken than he dared write. In a later letter he also mentions that the Queen cannot abide him," and that "all men hate him." The explanation of these rumours regarding Ruthven is partly supplied by Knox, who states that the Queen in conversation referred to the "offering of a ring to her by (Continued over) 66 Mary Queen of Scots-continued. Lord Ruthven," and declared that, though at Maitland's instance he had been made one of her privy council, she could not love" him, for she knew him “to use enchantment." The first wife of Ruthven having been a Douglas, and his children by her being cousins -German of Lord Darnley, Ruthven was naturally a supporter of the Darnley marriage. Randolph represents him as the "chief councillor" of those who were bent on the marriage; and Knox states that at Mary's council at this time were only the Earls of Atholl and Lennox and Lord Ruthven. It was Ruthven and Atholl who, with three hundred horsemen, escorted the Queen safely from Perth through Fife to Callendar House, when a plot was suspected to have been formed by Moray for her capture on the journey south. During the rebellion of Moray, after the Queen's marriage to Darnley, Ruthven also joined the forces of the Queen with a command in the rearguard of the battle. 66 66 The rise of Rizzio in the favour of the Queen, accompanied as it was by the declining influence of Darnley and of the relatives and friends who had been the main supporters of the marriage, was observed by Ruthven with feelings of deep resentment. As early as 12 October, 1565, Randolph wrote that Morton and Ruthven "only spy their time, and make fair weather until it come to the pinch." It was probably at the suggestion of Morton or Ruthven that George Douglas inspired Darnley to apply to Ruthven to aid him against the "villain David." Ruthven, although then so ill that he was scarcely able to walk twice the length of his chamber," agreed to assist him to the utmost of his power, and formally made known the proposal to Morton. It was Ruthven and Morton who agreed to undertake the management of the arrangements for seizing Rizzio. Their names are the only ones known to have been attached to the bond signed by Darnley, and probably they were attached as witnesses. Ruthven, in complete armour and pale and haggard from his long sickness, was the first of the conspirators to enter into the Queen's supper chamber after Darnley had taken his seat beside the Queen. The first conjecture of the Queen and her attendants was that he was raving through the vehemency of a fever.' In a stern voice Ruthven commanded Rizzio to come out from the presence of the Queen, as it was no place for him"; and as he was about to seize Rizzio, who clung to the garments of the Queen, the other conspirators broke in and hurried Rizzio to the outer chamber. When Atholl, Huntly, Bothwell, and other nobles then in attendance on the Queen in the palace, alarmed at the uproar, appeared to be meditating a rescue, Ruthven went down, and, explaining to them that harm was intended to no one except Rizzio, and that they were acting at the instance of Darnley, who was present, persuaded them to retire to their chambers. He then returned to the Queen's chamber, and, being faint, sat down and called for a cup of wine. Then followed the remarkable conversation with the Queen detailed at length by Ruthven in his "Relation." After the murder, Ruthven, ill though he was, took part with the other conspirators in the deliberations as to the future government of the country. After the arrival of Moray the Queen was also persuaded to admit him and Morton into her presence and grant them a promise of pardon; but on the Queen's escape to Dunbar they fled into England. While in England Ruthven penned the description of the murder known as the "Relation"; but as it was specially intended for the perusal of Elizabeth, and as a justification of the conspiracy on the only ground that would be acceptable to Elizabeth-that Mary had been unfaithful to her husband-its statements, notwithstanding the graphic ferocity of their tone, are open to suspicion. The excitement of the assassination, followed by a hurried flight into England, brought about a serious reaction in Ruthven's health, and after several months of great weakness he died at Newcastle on 13 June, 1566. (D.N.B.) PLATE XI. The preface of Alexander Barclay preeft/vnto the REVERENDISSI, mo in Chrifto patrí ac dño:dño Ioanni Veyfy Exonien epifcopo Alexander Barclay prefbyter de bita cum obferuantia.S. Ight myghty hye/ magnificent prince: mpne bumble (etupce/Due bnto Pour grace. and the behe met affection whiche ha ue bnto your honoura pers petual fame/impelleth me often tymes to Deuple/and reuolue in mpnde: What Ceruice og pleafur my (implenelle might Do/cóuentent and acceptable vnto pour hygh, nelle: therby to testify the honour/ the loue/t tiffime: tuis fuafionibus incitată: obfequp: whiche knowlege my felfe to owe ve Crifpi Saluftij hyftoria(qua lu bnto your magnificece. But whan colyder gurthynum bella vocant) e romas EMINI me fuperi oribus annis cũ ada huc facelli regij pre ful effes:paftor vigila SALLUST Translated by BARCLAY and Printed by PYNSON. See Item No. 1668. naline 1703 SCHOOL BOOKS (EARLY). Bird (John, Schoolmaster of Gloucester). Grounds of Grammar. 1704 1705 1706 FIRST EDITION. 12mo, original calf. Printed at Oxford and are to bee sold by William Hope, 1639. £4 4s Comenius (Johan Amos, Moravian linguist, 1502-1671). Porta Linguarum Trilinguis Reserata & Aperta sive Seminarium Liguarum & Scientiarum omnium. London, 1640. The Gate of Tongues unlocked and opened: a short way of teaching the Latine, English, French, and other Tongues. London, 1639. 2 vols. in 1, small 8vo, full calf. £1 10s Twells (J.). Grammatica Reformata; or, A General Examination of the Art of Grammar. As it hath been successively delivered by Franciscus Sanctius in Spain, Gaspar Scioppius in France, Gerardus Joannes Vossius in Germany. 12mo, original calf. London, 1683. £1 5s Greenwood (J.). The London Vocabulary, English and Latin, put into a new Method proper to acquaint the learner with Things as well as pure Latin Words. 26 woodcuts. 12mo, original calf (rebacked). London, 1759. Small piece out of top of title. 15s 1707 SEDLEY (Sir Charles). Bellamira, or the Mistress, A Comedy. As it is Acted by Their Majesties Servants. London, Printed by D. Mallet, for L. C. and Timothy Goodwin, 1687. £3 10s ***"This is the single one of Sedley's plays which may both for better and for worse be said to come near to his reputation; it is both the grossest and, from a literary point of view, the best executed of his plays. The character of the heroine was said to be intended as an exposure of the Duchess of Cleveland. The author, in his prologue, wrote: Is it not strange to see, in such an age, The pulpit get the better of the stage?" (D.N.B.) |