ADRESSÉ PAR MARIE STUART A L'ÉVÊQUE DE ROSS

(Copie officielle. — Musée britannique à Londres, collection Cottonienne, Caligula, C. II, fol. 469. )

Désir de Marie Stuart de suivre les conseils du duc de Norfolk et de l'évéque de Ross. — Méfiance qu'elle conçoit contre la France. — Fâcheuses conséquences qu'aurait pour elle le mariage d'Elisabeth avec le -duc d'Anjou. — Motifs qui ont déterminé la France à approuver le mariage de Marie Stuart avec le duc de Norfolk , dans la crainte qu'elle n'épousât don Juan — Déplaisir avec lequel on verrait , en France , ce mariage , si on n'y avait pas cette crainte. — Opinion du duc d'Albe sur le traité proposé par Elisabeth, et les conséquences funestes qu'il doit avoir pour Marie Stuart. — Conseils qui sont donnés de toutes parts à Marie Stuart de fuir d'Angleterre. — Peu de sûreté qu'il y aurait pour elle à retourner en Ecosse, sans avoir les forces nécessaires pour combattre les rebelles. — Motifs qui ne lui permettent pas de chercher un asile en France , dont elle ne peut espérer aucun secours en présence des troubles qui agitent ce pays. — Ombrage que cette résolution pourrait d'ailleurs porter au roi d'Espagne. — Considérations qui la détermineraient à choisir l'Espagne pour asile , préférablemcnt à la Flandre , et résolution prise par Marie Stuart dç chercher à s'y rendre, afin de solliciter en personne le secours du roi. — Charge qui doit être donnée à une personne de confiance de se rendre auprès du roi d'Espagne afin de lui exposer l'état des affaires en Ecosse et en Angleterre , lui rendre compte de l'appui que Marie Stuart peut trouver dans ses amis et des ressources dont ils peuvent disposer pour se mettre en campagne et opérer sa délivrance , si le roi veut embrasser sa cause et la leur. — Proposition qui a été faite par la dernière reine d'Espagne de marier le fils de Marie Stuart avec l'une des infantes et de l'envoyer en Espagne pour y être élevé dans la religion catholique. — Pensée de Marie Stuart que Philippe II désirerait qu'elle épous&t don Juan. — Consentement qu'elle donnerait à ce que son fils fût conduit en Espagne. — Espoir de Marie Stuart que le roi ne l'abandonnera pas, parce qu'elle ne peut consentir à se marier avec don Juan. — Vive assurance que l'époux qu'elle choisira ne séparera jamais sa cause de celle de la religion. — Sollicita-

' Le texte de ce mémoire est le déchiffrement original qui fut produit dans le procès du duc de Norfolk, et que Higford, son secrétaire, certifia lors <Ic ses interrogatoires.

tions que doit faire le Pape auprès du roi 4 S^P^gne. — Désignation de Ridolfi , comme étant seul capable de remplir une mission aussi importante. — Détails qu'il pourra donner de vive voix, par suite de ses relations avec le duc de Norfolk et les autres amis de Marie Stuart. -^ Mémoire qu'il a adressé à ce sujet à Marie Stuart. -* Assurance que le duc de Norfolk abandonnera la religion protestante. — Engagements personnels que le duc de Norfolk doit prendre à cet égard vis-à-vis du roi d'Espagne et du Pape , afin de détruire leurs soupçons et obtenir leur consentement pour le mariage. — Secret qui doit être gardé sur cette négociation — Extrême réserve que Ridolfi doit mettre en France dans sa conduite. — Nécessité d'accélérer le départ de Ridolfi, si le duc de Norfolk approuve son voyage.

i Le 8 févner 1570-71.

By the dispatches that I hâve the dayes

by past conteaning sondry memories that

for the prolixité of the same, and to spare the hazard ofthe delay I wold not send .... you counseli al

this tyme, but I hâve merket d affections,

which as I hâve collected briefly and therunto sett

myn opinion to ihe effecl I may under-

sland and folow R. [duke of Norfolk] good advyse over yours. •

The apointment that is agatward betwen the V. [Queen of England] and me is , . . . to G. [France] by exterior demonsftrations the which being wisely considered . . . rather to be for their exempting of the support required of ihem, th . . . any great will they hâve the same should take effect , onles it be

pe lure to break the cours of practizes and

secret intelligence that is I hâve in this

contrée , for fear that my erabassador shold succède towell. . . . The purposof Y. [Queen of England's] marriage with Monsieur d'Anjou wherunto care is

given in the A. [Frencb King's] Gounsell, is nothing to

my advanlage by this nieanes will

divert ail succours and support ihat I may looke for of G. [France] and . . . . of that which is proponed louching ihe league in the end apointment is

the that makelh them flatter, and seke V.

[Queen of England] temporising with her of the overture of the duks marriage albeit they looke not for it.

Lykwise G. [France] fynds good the D. [Queen of Scotts] marriage with R. [duke of Norfolk] to the which the extrême jalousy [of ] don John de Austria brought them, being surly advertised that if he thought that I were inclined to that syde, they would embrace my rebelles playnly against me. And if they did seé

things in such termes were no more meane

with the duke John, they would not faile to impede that they cold D. [Queen of Scotts] marriage with R. [duke of Norfolk] which presently they make shew to désire.

B. [duke of Alva] hath declared openly he is of opinion that if the former apointment has effect, it shalbe to my destruction and ruin , wherupon it may be that peradventure he wold see the controversies of the M. [king of Spaine] his master reconciled with V- [Queen of England] before any other accord. But methinke this is the principall occasion that moveth him not to désire L. appointment ; the deliverie of my sonne his person in the V. [Queen of England's] handes, and exposition of my owne hazard to fawle

againe under the power of my cruell rebells , and susteyned and fortified by V. [Queen ofEngland] în ail their wickednes , laketh ail espérance away. from him of any restablishment of the catholique religion which assurance of his maislers estât, specially in the Low Contrées.

Ail the advises cornes from the seapartes tendes to perswade me to fynd the meane to escape furth of the contrée. And as to the places for my retraite in ihat cas they fynd it not good, that I entre into Ts. [Scotland] without forces, for to enclose myself in a fortres I shalbe in daunger to remayn there without succors. And in the mean tyme my rebels continuing in their usurped authoritie, I may fall in such inconveniences, that before I be supported the place must be rendred by hunger or otherwise. And to kepe the field without the favor of my good and obedient subjects, I shall be constreyned to susteyn batt€;ll, wherof the issue may be perillous for me , for notwithstanding the treason that is to be feared, my rebells may hâve suçh and so prompt favor, that they might be made the strongest partie before I gett any meane to hâve foren ayde. To retyre my self into Fraunce, albeit I hâve frends and rents there, the place which I held, the stat I am reduced into, and that wherein things of Fraunce dependeth presently are sufficient considérations to cause the désire pass from me to remayn there. And to think for to obteyn succors in those partes to retorne and establish my self in my own reaime, the affaires that the Kingof Fraunce is within

18i RECUEIL DES LETTRES

his own contrée, and the appearance there is of new affections shall not permitt him, allthowgh he wold, to help me. And in the ineane while the jalousie which the King of Spayne wold take to see me take that way, woold be occasion lo make him retyre him self wholy from me. And so I shold remayn destitut of ail sydes.

There rests furthermore Spayne where I may save my self, and hâve succours of the King of Spayne, a prince full of pitié, and that his contrées yi\xo\e quiet and florishing, outofthe which meanes maybeeasely drawen. As to Flaundres the ncgotiation wold not be so cpmmodious nor expedicious in absence, as in my présence And therfore they are of advise that I should pass the high way to Spayne, where I may treat with my frend the King of Spayne my self, and obteyne promptiy of him more nor I coold in a long tyme by the embassadour or députes , alleging the goodnes , conscience, and uprighteousnes of him may be pledg for the suerty of my person. And what soever I accord lo him I neede not feare, that he woold usurpe the same upon my states. To speke truly I hâve betler hope to be supported by that syde , nor by any olher waye. And in what sort that ever it be, me think it is nedefull to folow that part. And therfor I wold be of advise to seiid som faithfull man towards the King of Spayne, whome he might trust, to make him understand of the state of my reaime and of this allso, the frends that I hâve hère, the délibérations, and the meanes they may hâve to sett them selves in

the fieldes, and saise them ofrae, if the sayd King of Spayne will susteyn and embrace my causes and thetrs.

The last Queen of Spayne who resteth wilh Gôd, a litle before hir death, wrote a very amiable letter lo me, which I believe was noi without the knowleg and good pleasure of the King hir husband, by the which she promised tô me the marriag of my sonne with one of hir dawghters. And that wilh hir husband desired instantly to hâve my sonne in his bandes, to make him be nourished and instrucled in the catholique religion. Ther hath bene toched to me from divers places of the marriag of John d'Auslria to the which I esteeme that the King of Spayne wold • . . . hâve me to consent.

As to my sonne, me think that both this suerty,

and myn shold be that in Spayne for som

yeres, forth of the daungers and perills that may be during his infancie in this isle. His absence wo!d cutt the way of the sayd trobles, my rebells finding them selves désolât of the coverture and pretext of his name. And to the marriag of the sayd don John d'Auslria, albeit that I will heare nolhing therof, the King of Spayne may not leave to succour and embrace my câ'uses, so being that he may be assured that they shall not be separated from the religion, and ihat he whome I mary . . hold the same course. And albeit the King of Spaine wold hâve no will to, yet the Pope will write to him the same , and hold hand to him in that cause, and for his owne part em-

ploye ôf his propre goods therupon , yea , even his

owne cape.

I think that Rodolphi rnay best acquilt him self of this charge secr . . . . of any ihat I know. I3ndercolour of his own trafique, and being knowen as he is , ihe King of Spayne and the Pope will give him .... and creditt that which shall be proponid by him to them. And allso his intelligence of the affaires of this contrée and of my reaime and by the

one that he shall take R. [duke of

Norfolk] and of frends he may answer to the objections that shall be made to him. He sent me a memorye by the which he describes the personages , such he thinketh are required unnaming any man. For my part, I know not of whome to make élection

less nor it be of him The feare that they

hâve on yonder syde the R. [duke of Norfolk] will remayn protestant stayes, and holdeth ail things in suspence, and makelh that my propre servants, and ministers, what to belîeve , to faveur his desires are suspect in such sort, that they wold not that they shold hâve any knowleg of it , that shall be practîsed hère among them. To take away wholly the sayd suspicion , and accommode the whole to the contentment and satisfaction of the sayd King ofSpayne and Pope, 1 see no other meane but to assure them of R. [duke of Norfolk] for that is the knott of the matter, and on the which resolution must be taken , olherwise not to look for any succors of them , but by the contrary, ail the traverses that they may makeby the

meanes of the catholiques of this contrée, in whome is my wbole espérance , to impeach the marriag , ^hich this only respect of rellegion makes them to feare.

The negoteation must be holden very secret , and that Ridolphi keep him self well , that he make no semblance therof in G. [France] nor yet to semé to medie in any wise in my affaires, for the jalousie that is betwixt G. [France] and the King of Spayne, wold be the occasion that there shold not be a stône but il shold be removed for to breake ail , and occasion to cause advaunce the marriag of V. [Queen of* England] and Monsieur d'Anjou , if it be a thing that shold be, or any effect may procède of the same.

The season requires dilegence and celeritie, and there where if the R. [duke of Norfolk] thinkes the voyage of the said Ridolphi good, I am of advise it be rather sooner nor later, and not to tyne more tyme. I remitt to R. [duke of Norfolk] wisdome to dispatch, and make him départ, when he thinkelh good.

Al the viij*^ of february 1570.

Ju-dessoîis de la main de lligford : This copie being conferréd word by word wilh the originall copie is agreing in ail poincts with the sayd originall. This x^^of january 1571— (1572).

RO. HiGFORD.

Au dos : A discourse sent from the Queen OF ScoTTS , touching the sending of Ridolphi «