The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

This tragical end had Henry Steward, after he had been King eighteen months. A Prince of great Linage, both by mother and father: He was of a comely stature, and none was like unto him within this Island; he died under the age of one and twenty years; prompt and ready for all Games and Sports much given to Hawking and Hunting, and running of horses, and likewise to playing on the Lute, and also to Venus Chamber; he was liberal enough: He could write and dictate well; but he was somewhat ⟨p. 436⟩given to wine and much feeding, and likewise to inconstancy; and proud beyond measure, and therefore contemned all others: He had learned to dissemble well enough, being from his youth misled up in Popery. Thus within two years after his arriving in this Realm, he was highly by the Queen alone extolled; and finally, had this infortunate end by her procurement and consent. To lay all other proofs aside, her Marriage with Bothwell, who was the main executioner of the King, notwithstanding all the advices and counsels that the King of France and Queen of England did earnestly & carefully give her, as other friends did likewise, witness anent their guilt. Those that laid hands on the King to kill him, by Bothwell's direction, was Sir James Balfour, Gilbert Balfour, David Chalmers, black John Spense, Francis Sebastien, Jo. de Bourdean, and Joseph the brother of David Rizio: These last four were the Queens domestics and strangers. The reason why the Kings death was so hastened, because the affection or passion of the Earl Bothwell could not bear so long a delay, as the procurement of a Bill of Divorce required, although the Romish Clergy offered their service willingly to the business, namely, Bishop Hamilton, and so he came great again at Court; and he for the advancement of the business, did good Offices to increase the hatred betwixt the King and Queen; yea, some that had been the chief instruments of the Marriage of the King and Queen, offered the service for the Divorce, seeing how the Queens inclination lay: So unhappy are Princes, that men, for their own ends, further them in all their inclinations and undertakings, be they never so bad or destructive to themselves.

This tragicall end had Henry Steward, after he had been King eighteen moneths. A Prince of great Linage, both by mother and father: He was of a comely stature, and none was like unto him within this Island; he died under the age of one and twenty yeers; prompt and ready for all Games and Sports much given to Hawking and Hunting, and running of horses, and likewise to playing on the Lute, and also to Venus Chamber; he was liberall enough: He could write and dictate well; but he was somewhat