So soone as report (the messenger of this death) had brought the newes thereof to Queene _Elizabeth_, who not so much as thought of any such matter, she tooke it most impatiently: her speech and countenance, at once failed her: through the extremitie of her grievous discontent, shee became quite comfortlesse and disconsolate; and attired her selfe in mourning weedes, bitterly lamenting, and sheading many brinish tears from the compassionate rivers of her eyes. Shee sharply rebuked her Councell, and chased them out of her sight, commanding they should be questioned. And as for _William Davison_, he was brought into the Starre-Chamber to be tryed. And as soone as her passionate anguish and excesse of sorrow suffered her to write, she suddenly addrest (by sir _Robert Carey_) to the King of _Scotland_, this Letter following, of her owne hand-writing: _Queen Elizabeth’s Letter to King James._ MOST DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER: Would to God you did know, but not feele, with what incomparable sorrow my sad-afflicted heart is troubled, by the late lamentable event, which hapned contrary to my minde and meaning: but because my Penne abhorreth the recitall thereof, you shall understand it by this my kinsman. I beseech you, that (as God and many good men are witnesses with me of my innocence) you also would believe, that if I had once commanded it, I would never have denyed the same. I am not so base-minded, nor of such a degenerate or ignoble spirit, as that either I am affraid to do the thing that is just, or to disclaime it being done. But as it is most dishonourable in Princes, to cover or colour the conceptions of their heartes, in disguised words: So will I never dissemble any action of mine, but let it appeare in its owne lively colours. Know this for certainty, that as I am sure, it hapned not by any fault of mine; so if I had ever intended such a deed, I would not have imputed it to others. Nor can I assume that to my selfe which I never thought. The rest, the Deliverer of these lines will impart unto you. For my part, I would have you believe, that there is none more intirely loving you, nor more studiously carefull for the good of you and yours, than my selfe. If any have suggested to you the contrary, be you perswaded, that such a one beareth more affection to others, than to you. God keepe you long safe and sound. * * * * *