Amongst the Minions of the Court, there was one named Monsieur Chattelet, a Frenchman, that at that time passed all others in credit with the Queen: In dancing of the purpose, so term they that dance, in the which man and woman talketh secretly, wise men would judge such fashions not agreeable to the gravity of honest women. In this dance the Queen choose Chattelet, 1and Chattelet took the Queen, for he had the best dress. All this winter Chattelet was so familiar with the Queen, that the Nobility being by this means stopped to have so free access as they thought fit and due unto them, were highly offended; at length Chattelet having conveyed himself privately under the Queens Bed, but being espied, was commanded away: The Brute arising, the Queen called the Earle of Murray, and bursting in a womanly affection,2 charged him, that as he loved her, he should slay Chatelet, and let him never speak word. The other at the first made promise so to do; but after calling to mind the judgement of GOD pronounced against the shedders of innocent blood, and also that none should die without the testimony of two or three witnesses, returned, and fell upon his knees before the Queen, and said, Madame, I beseech your Majesty cause not me to take the blood of this man upon me; Your Majesty hath used him so familiarly before, that you have offended all your Nobility; and now if he shall be secretly slain at your own commandment, what shall the world judge of it? I shall bring him to the presence of Justice, and let him suffer by Law according to his deserving. Oh, said the Queen, you shall not let him speak. I shall do (said he) Madame, what in me lieth, to give your Majesty content. Poor Chattelet was brought back from Kingorne to Saint Andrews, examined, put to an Assize, and so beheaded the two and twentieth day of February, Anno Dom. 1562. He begged license to write to France the cause of his death; which said he, in his Tongue was Pour estre trouve en lien trop suspect; that is, Because I was found in a place too much suspected. At the place of Execution, when he saw that there was no remedy, but death, he made a godly confession, and granted, that his declining from the truth of God, and following of vanity and impiety, was justly repaid unto him: But in the end he concluded, looking unto the Heavens, with these words, O cruel Dame!
Amongst the Menizoons of the Court, there was one named Monsieur Chattelet, a Frenchman, that at that time passed all others in credit with the Queene: In dancing of the purpose, so terme they that dance, in the which man and woman talketh secretly, wise men would judge such fashions not agreeable to the gravity of honest women. In this dance the Queen choose Chattelet, 1and Chattelet took the Queen, for he had the best dresse. All this winter Chattelet was so familiar with the Queen, that the Nobilitie being by this means stopped to have so free accesse as they thought fit and due unto them, were highly offended; at length Chattelet having conveyed himselfe privately under the Queens Bed, but being espied, was commanded away: The Bruit arising, the Queene called the Earle of Murray, and bursting in a womanly affection,2 charged him, that as he loved her, he should slay Chatelet, and let him never speak word. The other at the first made promise so to doe; but after calling to minde the judgement of GOD pronounced against the shedders of innocent blood, and also that none should die without the testimonie of two or three witnesses, returned, and fell upon his knees before the Queen, and said, Madame, I beseech your Majestie cause not me to take the blood of this man upon me; Your Majestie hath used him so familiarlie before, that you have offended all your Nobilitie; and now if he shall be secretly slain at your owne commandment, what shall the world judge of it? I shall bring him to the presence of Justice, and let him suffer by Law according to his deserving. Oh, said the Queene, you shall not let him speake. I shall doe (said he) Madame, what in me lyeth, to give your Majestie content. Poor Chattelet was brought back from Kingorne to Saint Andrews, examined, put to an Assize, and so beheaded the two and twentieth day of February, Anno Dom. 1562. He begged license to write to France the cause of his death; which said he, in his Tongue was Pour estre trouve en lien trop suspect; that is, Because I was found in a place too much suspected. At the place of Execution, when he saw that there was no remedie, but death, he made a godly confession, and granted, that his declining from the truth of God, and following of vanitie and impietie, was justly repayed unto him: But in the end he concluded, looking unto the Heavens, with these words, O cruelle Dame!
- 1Chattelet and the Queen.
- 2The Queens desire concerning Chattelet.
