Stuart dynasty

MARY STUART'S CAPTIVITY AND DEATH. 189
tried, either at York or at Westminster, when
Murray produced what he declared to be the original
letters and sonnets, but declined to allow the accused
party a sight, or even a copy, of them,* must be
patent to every one eognisant of the most ordinary
paths of public justice. On the other hand, as has
been stated, the nature of the tribunal, and its un-
wonted secrecy, detract from the value of the
verdict which technically relieved Mary from the
suspicions under which she laboured, while hostile
critics altogether disregard this justification on the
ground that Elizabeth and Cecil never intended to
pronounce their adversary guilty. The Duke of
Norfolk addressed the Regent Murray before the
inquiry commenced at York in the following
terms: — "I am sent to hear your accusation, but
neither will I nor the Queen my mistress give any
sentence upon your accusation." f Be that as it
may, the official verdict was to this effect, " That
there had been nothing produced or shown whereby
the Queen of England should conceive or take any
evil opinion of the Queen, her good sister, for any-
thing yet seen." Nevertheless, a powerful band of
historians calmly continue to declare their implicit
belief in the contents of Murray's casket, which he
carried off to Scotland forthwith, together with
5000£. as a douceur from England, pausing only in
the north to conduct an intrigue with the Duke of
Norfolk regarding his marriage with that sister who
* Good.ill, vol. ii. p. 297.
t Sir James Melville's ' Memoirs,' e.lition 1683, p. 9.".