270
NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. i. APRIL i, im.
Cafrey had written to James and " certified
him in what state " Elizabeth was. At
the same time he arranged to have relays
of horses along the whole of the North
Road in case he himself should require
them. In the Camden Society volume,
Bruce's * Correspondence of James VI.
with Cecil and Others,' 1861, there is a
letter quoted from the Hatfield MSS. which
illustrates what was happening. It is
partly in cipher :
- Efter the date of this dispache you send me
now, there was a gentilman direct from riehmont the 19 of this instant at 2 hours efter diner, who arriued the night befor your packet lat, and had audience of 30 (King James) in his bed at 7 in the morninge ; his credit was from Sir Robert Carie to giwe 30 (King James) assurance that 24 (Queen Elizabeth) could not owtliwe thre dayes at most, and that he stayed only at court to bring to hem the first newes of her dethe, and had horses plased in all the way tomak hem speed in hes post." 'Cor- respondence of James VI.,' pp. 48-9.
By Wednesday, March 23, the Queen had become speechless, and at six that night Whitgift the Archbishop was sent for, and remained with her for some hours. Carey stayed at the palace ; and on going to his room on this critical Wednesday night he
"left word with one in the cofferer's chamber to call me, if that night it was thought she would die, and gave the porter an angel to let me in at any time when I called."
In the middle of the night this gentleman who had been so effectually tipped with " an angel " came to Carey's room to say that the Queen was dead. Instantly the Queen had passed away, the Lords of the Council had given directions that no one was to go in or out of the palace. The Comptroller of the Council knowing Carey's game, and meeting him at the gate in the middle of the night, endeavoured to put him off the scent by saying that the Queen was " pretty well," at the same time inviting him to come inside, thinking it would be safer to have such a swift rider locked within the gates. Carey, not fully perceiving what was being done, entered, and was then informed that he would not be allowed to leave. Now Carey's brother, George, second Lord Hunsdon, a Privy Councillor and an official of great im- portance at the Court, was lodged within the palace at that moment. Robert therefore woke his brother :
" I went to my brother's chamber, who was in bed, having been over-watched many nights before. I got him up with all speed, and when the Council's men were going out of the gate, my brother thrust to the gate. The porter, knowing him to be a great
officer, let him put. 1 pressed after him, and was
stayed by the porter. My brother said angrily to
the porter, ' Let him out, I will answer for him.'
Whereupon I was suffered to pass, which I was not
a little glad of."
'* I got to horse, and rode to the Knight Marshal's lodging, by Charing Cross, and there stayed till the Lords came to Whitehall Garden. I staid there till it was nine o'clock in the morning, and hearing that all the Lords were in the old orchard at Whitehall ; I sent the Marshal to tell them, that I had staid all that while to know their pleasures, and that I would attend them if they would com- mand me any service. They were very glad when they heard I was not gone, and desired the Marshal to send for me, and I should with all speed be dispatched for Scotland. The Marshal believed them, and sent Sir Arthur Savage for me. I made haste to them. One of the council (my Lord of Banbury that now is) whispered the Marshal in the ear, and told him, if I came they would stay me, and send some other in my stead. The Marshal got from them, and met me coming to them between the two gates. He bade me begone, for he had learned, for certain, that if I came to them, they would betray me.
" I returned and took horse between nine and ten o'clock, and that night rode to Doncaster. The Friday night, I came to my own house at Wither- ington, and presently took order with my deputies to see the Borders kept in quiet, which they had much to do : and gave order the next morning, the King of Scotland should be proclaimed King of England, and at Morpeth and Alnwiek. Very early 6n Saturday I took horse for Edinburgh, and came to Norham about twelve at noon, so that I might well have been with the King at supper time : but I got a great fall by the way, and my horse, with one of his heels, gave me a great blow on the head, that made me shed much blood. It made me so weak, that I was forced to ride a soft
re after, so that the King was newly gone to bed the time that I knocked at the gate. I was fuickly let in, and carried up to the King's chamber, kneeled by him, and saluted him by his title of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. He gave me his hand to kiss, and bade me welcome, After he had long discoursed of the manner of the Queen's sickness, and of her death, he asked what letters I had from the council? I told him, none : and acquainted him how narrowly I escaped from them. And yet I had brought him a blue ring from a fair lady, that I hoped would gi\e him assurance of the truth that I had reported. He took it, and looked upon it, and said, 'It is enoigh : I know by this you are a true messenger.' Then he committed me to the charge of my Lord Hum, and gave straight command that I should want nothing. He sent for his chirurgeons to attend me, and when I kissed his hand at my departure, he said to me these gracious words : ' I know you have lost a near kinswoman, and a loving mistress : but take here my hand, I will be as good a master to you, and will requite this service with honour and reward.'
" So I left him that night, and went with my Lord Hume to my lodging, where I had all things fitting for so weary a man as I was. After my head was drest, I took leave of my Lord, and nuny others that attended me, and went to my rest."
- Memoirs,' 1808 ed., 124-9.
