AUX ÉVÊQUES DE ROSS ET DE GALLOWAY, ET A LORD LIVINGSTON

( Original. — Musée britannique à Londres , collection Cottonienne , . Caligula, C. Il, fol. 120. }

Regret de Marie Stuart de ce que la reine d'Angleterre ne veut pas encore l'admettre en sa présence. — Approbation qu'elle donne aux réponses faites par les commissaires sur les articles du traité. — Ses plaintes contre les retards apportés à la conclusion. — Offres qui doivent être proposées pour le cas où la reine d'Angleterre refuserait d'accorder le rétablissement immédiat de Matie Stuart en Ecosse. — Conduite que les commissaii^es doivent tenir dans le cas où la négociation serait rompue. — Demande qu'ils devront faire alors pour que les articles convenus à Gfaatsworth soient rapportés. — Protection qu'ils auront à demander aux ambassadeurs des rois d'Espagne et de France pour Marie Stuart. — Plainte de lord Shrewsbury , à raison du séjour fait par Thomas Ker auprès de Marie Stuart. — Précautions qui doivent être prises pour que les messagers envoyés par les commissaires puissent rester auprès de Marie Stuart le temps convenable. — Renonciation à la demande qui a été faite d'un passe-port pour Elisabeth Carmichael.

De Shemeld, le 19 mars 1570-71.

Richt traist consalours, we greit zow well. Be zour Jetters quhilk we receavit of the xij and xiij of ihis instant, we ar sory to wnderstand that it is not zit the Quene our gud sisters pleasour lo permit ws cum to her presens quher we haif so long and zit continewally wisshes at ged to be, ffor then we wold not doubt to satisfy her more with one signe only she sould se in ws of the sincère affection we beare to her nor we perceave we can do presentlie be ail olher démonstrations. We haif sene and considerit oure

said gud sisters answer to ail the rest of the poyntis of oure former letters and the conférences ze haif had with ihe lordes her députes conceming the eflfect of ihis treatie and hes found good your reasoning therupone and your answers to thair propositions. But it grevis ws gritlie to perceave our said gud sister and her Gounsale was to cauld in proceiding towart our restitution and libertie and to gif so gud eare to the inventions of the adversares quho studyes be ail meanes to impeshe the same. At the begynning herof in Chattisworlh my lord Burghlie and M'. Myldmaye patt ws in hope of better apperance nor we se zit quhilk (as they sali) roaid ws so willing and is zit to satisfy the Quene our good sister and thame in ail things and as we did se her pleasour in wryt at Ihat tyme so did we gif answer in articles to her desyres subscrivit with oure hands. We tak god be witnes and the said two counsalors how willing they did se ws to proceid uprichtlie in this treatie and quhat deligence we haif used to the furtherance iherof ihe preuf is manifest. Zit we will not despair but hopes that our said gud sister will more pitifully look ai>one our most just and ressonabill swtes and t^kane gud andhaisty resolution thairin for the weill of ws bolhe and the commoun quyetnes of this yle quher apone we await daylie. And if ze s^ll se oure said gud sister not myndit finally to restore ws to our awin reaime and aucthoritie for feir and doubt she maye alledge to haif (albeit she neidis not) of the suretie we can mak ^er, then sali ze essaye ane other waye and desyre ôur

DE MARIE STDART. 2^3

sàid gud sister to agrie with wsapone ail other poyntis and make our name and aucthoritie obeyît in Scotland amongs the whole subjects thair as tliair Quene and only souveraine and not lo maintaine any of thame in the contrarie ether by waye or other and we our self salbe for her suretie content to remane stiil in this reaime during her pleasour protesting alwise for guid intertenement. Otherwise in caise the treatie beis broken and it sali not zit be oure said gud sisters will to agrie and conclude with ws in any raaner, ze sali desyre our saidis articlis maid at Chattisworlh to be randered, lo the effect we maye at the least be left in the same state we was found in to quheir we will with patience abyde farther of Goddis pleasour and our sâid gud sisters. Ând also ze sali mak instance and likwise desyre the ambassadours of the Kinges oure gud brethren thair résident to solicit that we may haif in that caise honest treitnïent and not to be transporled nor putte in the handes of oure innemys quhilk if she do, thair wilbe na Christian prince but will lyke ewill and pitié the same. My lord of Shrewsbery hes meanit to ws that he will not permit any man that is furth of the appoynted nombre of our servands heir, that sali cum toward ws ether from a part or other to remane longar nor v dayes because (sayes he) Thomas Car quha departid heirfra the xv of this instant toward Scotland remanit a whole xiiij nycht. Indeid he could not be sonear despeshit be reason we wrait generally to ail our gud subjects of ihe gud apperance ze did adverteis ws thair wes of

tbe gud and baisty expédition of the yssue of this treatie. Quherfor in tymes cuming when ze sali obteane pasporl to ony messager to cum bidder ze oiust require so many dayes specifeit tberin as ze think or can considder be maye be despescbit in be ibe hand of man ooly , or else ibat it be mente for so lang as wé maye gudiie mak bis dispesbe. Or ellis be wilbe forced to départ wîlbowt a perfyte one or none at ail. As to Elizabetb Garmicbels pasport to go bomeward in respect of tbe gud bope tbe Quene, our gud sisler, puttis ws in, tbat it sali not be neidfull seing we ar so nere to go our sel, we will not tbat ze preas more tberfor. And ibus commîttis zow to tbe protection of God almigbtie.

At Sbefeild , tbe xix daye of marcbe 1570.

Your ricbt good frind and mestres,

Marie R.

Au dos : To oure ricbt trusty counsalors and commissioners toward tbe Quene of England, our good sisler, the bi-

SCHOPS OF Ross AND GaLLOVAY, AND MY LORD LeVINGSTON.

DE MARIE STDART. 21?