Description of Queen Mary's first Parliament—Queen Mary's Proclamation anent religion—Her second Proclamation anent religion—Her third Proclamation anent religion—Declaration as to religion by Mary and Darnley—Text of her compulsory abdication—Procuratory signed compulsorily—Plots for her liberation—Text of letters in handwriting of Phillips:— Queen Mary to Charles Paget, 20th May 1586 Charles Paget to Queen Mary, 29th May " Queen Mary to Charles Paget, 27th July " Queen Mary to Mendoza, 27th July " Queen Mary's mottoes and devices, with translations Queen Mary's Will There are certain documents connected with the history of Queen Mary, not easily found elsewhere, documents which are of the very highest importance in estimating her character and the adverse criticism to which she has frequently been subjected. Specially we refer to her attitude on the question of religion, a point that has given rise to much controversy. No less than three proclamations were issued by Queen Mary, all of which we reproduce, and to which we direct the reader's attention. Each of them is conspicuous for the liberality of her opinions. It is evident from these that no attempt was ever made by her to impose the Catholic religion on the nation. The proclamation regarding Moray's Rebellion is a document that is not usually included in the biographies of Queen Mary. This proclamation was the result of Moray and Morton's conduct in opposing to the very last Mary's marriage with Darnley and taking steps to create a rebellion in the kingdom. The Queen keenly resented this conduct, and although her position and influence were much stronger than that of the rebels, these two nobles were vindictive, unforgiving, and tyrannical to a degree. They both led the conspiracy which resulted in Darnley's murder, and Morton was the man who behaved so treasonably and disgracefully at Carberry Hill and betrayed the Queen, an event which was followed by all her troubles. We also give the text of the two fabricated documents—the Abdication and the Procuratory—signed by her at Lochleven on 24th July 1567, when Lord Lindsay of the Byres committed the outrage on the Queen by forcing himself into her bedchamber and compelling her to sign these papers under pain of death. The letters in the handwriting of Phillips the spy, as also the text of Queen Mary's Will, are reproduced as being rather uncommon papers. Queen Mary's Devices and Mottoes, which once adorned her private apartments, have, very fortunately for posterity, been carefully deposited in the State Paper Office. They have been specially translated for this volume, and must be admitted to be very ingenious and very curious, and full of pathetic interest. The translation was difficult on account of the age and obscurity of the text; but in their new form they are an invaluable addition to the history of the Queen.