During the six months over which our narrative extends, probably the most imposing document that was issued was the proclamation by the Queen of England announcing the sentence of Queen Mary. This remarkable paper was drawn up with consummate ingenuity, and no doubt represented the combined skill of Elizabeth, Burghley, and Walsingham. It is founded ostensibly on the so-called Babington Conspiracy. In the full knowledge of that plot which these three persons possessed, and in the circumstances as now disclosed, the issue of this proclamation was an audacious and an unwarrantable act, and cannot be defended. The document may be summed up in one word, “infamous.” No one can blame the Scottish Queen for encouraging every plot formed for her release from the miserable life she was compelled to lead for the long period of nineteen years. Not one of these plots, to her knowledge, had anything to do with Elizabeth, and up to the day of her death she repudiated the charge that she ever did anything against Elizabeth's life. When this denial was so repeatedly given, Elizabeth's duty was to produce proof in support of the charge, or, failing that, to release the Queen. She neither did the one nor the other. Nothing was ever produced but these notable “interpolations.” Notwithstanding these, she kept nagging and torturing the Scottish Queen to confess her guilt; and when that failed she executed her. During the captivity of Mary many plots were formulated for her release, principally by the Catholic party or individual members of that party, all of which are not recorded. It is natural to suppose that the patience of the Catholics was exhausted at the conduct of Elizabeth. Who could blame them if they got up a rebellion or an invasion of England by the aid of France and Spain to compel Queen Mary's release? And who could blame Savage and Ballard, two noted Catholics, if they said they would themselves assassinate Elizabeth, in order to release Mary? There might be reasons for assassinating Elizabeth; there were none for assassinating Mary. When we further consider this proclamation of the Queen of England, that it is full of misstatements from beginning to end; when we also consider the mock trial of the Scottish Queen, and the sentence made up and delivered to Burghley, by royal command, before any trial took place, we shall be surprised if any student of Scottish history will fail to see that the Queen of England was herself the prime mover in the matter for which she executed the Queen of Scots. We now reproduce this document, which must at the time have greatly surprised and shocked the English people:—