Mary Stuart | Page 9

crime Shall plead before a jury of
his equals: Who is my equal in this high commission? Kings only are
my peers.
BURLEIGH. But yet you heard The points of accusation, answered
them Before the court----
MARY. 'Tis true, I was deceived By Hatton's crafty counsel:--he
advised me, For my own honor, and in confidence In my good cause,
and my most strong defence, To listen to the points of accusation, And
prove their falsehoods. This, my lord, I did From personal respect for
the lords' names, Not their usurped charge, which I disclaim.

BURLEIGH. Acknowledge you the court, or not, that is Only a point of
mere formality, Which cannot here arrest the course of justice. You
breathe the air of England; you enjoy The law's protection, and its
benefits; You therefore are its subject.
MARY. Sir, I breathe The air within an English prison walls: Is that to
live in England; to enjoy Protection from its laws? I scarcely know And
never have I pledged my faith to keep them. I am no member of this
realm; I am An independent, and a foreign queen.
BURLEIGH. And do you think that the mere name of queen Can serve
you as a charter to foment In other countries, with impunity, This
bloody discord? Where would be the state's Security, if the stern sword
of justice Could not as freely smite the guilty brow Of the imperial
stranger as the beggar's?
MARY. I do not wish to be exempt from judgment, It is the judges only
I disclaim.
BURLEIGH. The judges? How now, madam? Are they then Base
wretches, snatched at hazard from the crowd? Vile wranglers that make
sale of truth and justice; Oppression's willing hirelings, and its tools?
Are they not all the foremost of this land, Too independent to be else
than honest, And too exalted not to soar above The fear of kings, or
base servility? Are they not those who rule a generous people In liberty
and justice; men, whose names I need but mention to dispel each doubt,
Each mean suspicion which is raised against them? Stands not the
reverend primate at their head, The pious shepherd of his faithful
people, The learned Talbot, keeper of the seals, And Howard, who
commands our conquering fleets? Say, then, could England's sovereign
do more Than, out of all the monarchy, elect The very noblest, and
appoint them judges In this great suit? And were it probable That party
hatred could corrupt one heart; Can forty chosen men unite to speak A
sentence just as passion gives command?
MARY (after a short pause). I am struck dumb by that tongue's
eloquence, Which ever was so ominous to me. And how shall I, a weak,
untutored woman, Cope with so subtle, learned an orator? Yes truly;

were these lords as you describe them, I must be mute; my cause were
lost indeed, Beyond all hope, if they pronounce me guilty. But, sir,
these names, which you are pleased to praise, These very men, whose
weight you think will crush me, I see performing in the history Of these
dominions very different parts: I see this high nobility of England, This
grave majestic senate of the realm, Like to an eastern monarch's vilest
slaves, Flatter my uncle Henry's sultan fancies: I see this noble,
reverend House of Lords, Venal alike with the corrupted Commons,
Make statutes and annul them, ratify A marriage and dissolve it, as the
voice Of power commands: to-day it disinherits, And brands the royal
daughters of the realm With the vile name of bastards, and to-morrow
Crowns them as queens, and leads them to the throne. I see them in
four reigns, with pliant conscience, Four times abjure their faith;
renounce the pope With Henry, yet retain the old belief; Reform
themselves with Edward; hear the mass Again with Mary; with
Elizabeth, Who governs now, reform themselves again.
BURLEIGH. You say you are not versed in England's laws, You seem
well read, methinks, in her disasters.
MARY. And these men are my judges? [As LORD BURLEIGH seems
to wish to speak. My lord treasurer, Towards you I will be just, be you
but just To me. 'Tis said that you consult with zeal The good of
England, and of England's queen; Are honest, watchful, indefatigable; I
will believe it. Not your private ends, Your sovereign and your
country's weal alone, Inspire your counsels and direct your deeds.
Therefore, my noble lord, you should the more Distrust your heart;
should see that you mistake not The welfare of the government for
justice. I do not doubt, besides yourself, there are Among my judges
many upright men: But they are Protestants, are eager all For England's
quiet, and they sit in judgment On me, the Queen of Scotland, and