A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Lambrun, Margaret
LAMBRUN, MARGARET,
Was a Scotchwoman, one of the retinue of Mary, Queen of Scots, as was also her husband, who died of grief on account of his queen's execution. Margaret Lambrun then resolved to avenge the death of both by assassinating Queen Elizabeth; she therefore dressed herself like a man, took the name of Anthony Sparke, and went to the court of the English queen, carrying with her a brace of pistols; one for the queen, and the other for herself. But, as she was pressing through the crowd to get near her majesty, who was then walking in her garden, she dropped one of her pistols. This being seen by the guards, she was seized, and brought before the queen, who wished to examine the prisoner herself. When Elizabeth demanded her name, country, and condition, Margaret replied with great firmness:
"Madam, though I appear in this habit, I am a woman; my name is Margaret Lambrun; I was several years in the service of Queen Mary, whom you have so unjustly put to death; and, by her death, you have caused that of my husband, who died of grief to see so innocent a queen perish so iniquitously. Now, as I had the greatest love and affection for both these personages, I resolved, at the peril of my own life, to revenge their death by killing yon, who are the cause of both, I confess to you, that I suffered many struggles within my breast, and have made all possible efforts to divert my resolution from so pernicious a design, but all in vain. I found myself necessitated to prove by experience the certain truth of that maxim, that neither reason nor force can hinder a woman from vengeance, when she is impelled thereto by love."
The queen heard this bold address with composure, and answered calmly: "You are then persuaded that, in this action, you have done your duty, and satisfied the demands which your love for your mistress and your spouse indispensably required from you; but what think you now is my duty to do to you?"
Margaret replied with the same unmoved hardiness: "I will tell you frankly my opinion, provided you let me know whether you put this question in the quality of a queen or in that of a judge?"
To which her majesty professing that of a queen: "Then," said Margaret, "your majesty ought to grant me a pardon."
"But what assurance can you give me," said the queen, "that you will not make the like attempt on some other occasion?"
"Madam," replied Lambrun, "a favour given under such restraint is no more a favour; and, in so doing, your majesty would act against me as a judge."
The queen turned to some of her council, and said, "I have been thirty years a queen, but do not remember to have had such a lecture ever read to me before;" and immediately granted an entire and unconditional pardon. Margaret Lambrun shewed her prudence by begging the queen to extend her generosity still farther, and grant her a safe conduct to the coast of France; with which request Elizabeth complied.