A SIR WILLIAM CECIL
( Original. — Stale paper office de Londres , Scotland. )
Opinion conçue par Marie Stuart, depuis son retour en Écosse , que Cecil avait toujours fait ce qui dépendait de lui pour entretenir la bonne intelligence entre elle et Élisabeth et maintenir la paix entre les deux royaumes. — Intrigues de Ruxby et bruits divers qui vinrent ébranler sa confiance. — Charge qu'elle donna à Robert Melvil , en l'envoyant à Londres , de parler franchement à Cecil de toute cette affaire. — Satisfaction de Marie Stuart en apprenant que Cecil était toujours dans les mêmes dispositions à son égard. — Son espoir qu'il continuera de travailler à maintenir la bonne harmonie entre elle et Élisabeth. — Sa conviction qu'en agissant ainsi il ne peut qu'être agréable à la Reine sa maîtresse. — Invitation qu'elle lui adresse de venir en Écosse assister au baptême de son fils. — Communications intéressantes qu'elle pourra lui donner, si Élisabeth veut bien lui accorder l'autorisation de faire ce voyage.
D'Édimbourg, le 5 octobre 1566.
Riclît Irusty and weilbelovit, we grete zoii hartlie wele. Sen our first arrivall within our reaime of Scotland we evir had a gude opinioun of zou, that ze at all tymes had done ye office of a faithfull minister in ye intertenyng of mutuall intelligence betuix ws and our derrest Suster the Quene zour soverane, and to nurise peax and quietnes amanges ye subjectis of ye twa realmes; quhairin as ze have declarit zour self a trew servand to zour maisteres and com mou n wele of zour native cuntre, sa abaid ws of ye samen opi-
iiioun towartis zow iintill that be ye strange deaîingis of ane Inglishman namyt Rewkisby and uyeris occasionis yan occurring with sum reporlis that wer brocht to our eris, we began a litill to suspend oure judgment, quhill we ressavit forder triall yerin. And yerfor in ye last jornay maid be our servand Robert Mailvile in that cuntre we commandit him to communicat yat mater frelie unto zou, be quhais report we haif understand that ze ar na thing alterit fra zour formar gude inclinatioun ; of ye quhilk we wer not a litill rejosit, and yerupoun hes takin occasioun to write yis present with ye said Robert, so assure zou that we remane of ye samyn gude will towartis zou in all thingis, as we wer of befoir; desiring zow inlik maner as ze began to be ane of ye principall autouris of yis familiarité and mutuall intelligence betuix ws and oure said derrest Suster : sa yat ze will perseveir in nurissing of peax and amytie amangis yesubjectis of ye tua realmes ; quhairin as we dout not bot ze will do acceptable service to zour Maisteres, evin sa may ze be assurit quhair our gude will and favour is nocht sufficient to recompence zou, that we sail pretermit na uyer occasioun to do zou plesure accordinglie. Praying zou alwayis, gif ze may obtene zour Maisteres licence, to cum in Scotland and assist to ye baptisme of our sone, that ze will procure ye samyn. And ze cumand here as we sail mak zou als welcum as we can, sa will ze understand forder of our mynd in sundry behaltfis concernyng our said derrest Suster; quhairupoun ze may heireftir have bettir foundament
to declair unto hir ye sincérité of our gude meanyng and have bettir occasioun to inlerleny hir favour towart ws. The rest we remit to ye sufficiencie of our said servand, to quhom it will pleis zow gif credence as to ourself. And sa fare ze hartlie wele. Of Edimburcht ye fyft day of October 4566.
Zour gud frind ,
Marie R.
Ju dos : To our rycht trusty and weilbelovit Sm William Cecill, Knyt, principall Secretary to the Q. our gude Suster.
A LA REINE ÉLISABETH
( Original. — State paper office de Londres ^ Scotch Royal letters, j
Demande d'un passe-port pour Étienne Wilson, serviteur de Marie Stuart, qu'elle envoie en France pour ses affaires.
De Jedburgh, le 1" novembre 1566.
Richt Excellent Richt Heich and Michtie Princesse our dearest Suster and Cousin. Efter our hartlie
commendationes ; we have directit the berair heirof, Slephin Wilsoun, our servaunt to France for certane our affaires and bissines; prayand zou grant him fre pasport to him self and sic as ar in cumpany with him, with thair horsses, baggis, baggagis, letters dois and patent, saulflie to pas throu thatzour realme to the partes of France and be the same agane within zour realme to returne, and in sic sorte to pas and repas without injurie serche inquietatioun arreist or impediment to be maid to lhame in body is or guidis in thair cuming remanyng or departing, and zour said pasport for the space of ane zeir to indure. Thus Rycht Excellent Rich Reich and michty Princesse our dearest Suster and Cousin, we commit zoutotheprotectioun of Almichtie God.
Gevin at our toun of Jedburgh the first day of November and of our regnne the 24 zeir.
Zour richt gud Sister and Cusignes,
Marie R.
Au dos : To the Rycht Excellent Richt Heich and Michtie Princesse oure dearest Suster and Cousin the Quene of England.
