DONNÉE PAR MARIE STUART A LORD BOYD

[Copie. — Musée britannique à Londres, collection Cotlonienne , Caligula, C. /, foZ. 31 5. )

Demandes de Marie Stuart transmises à la reine d'Angleterre par l'évêque de Ross au mois d'avril précédent. — Réponses favorables faites par Elisabeth , de l'avis de son Conseil. — Conférences qui ont eu lieu à cette occasion et dans lesquelles il a été arrêté que Marie Stuart enverrait en France pour y demander une déclaration formelle au sujet d'une prétendue cession de ses droits au trône d'Angleterre , que des malveillants l'accusent d'avoir faite au duc d'Anjou. — Invitation adressée en même temps au comte de Murray par Élisabeth d'envoyer des commissaires en Angleterre pour procéder à un arrangement entre la reine d'Écosse et ses sujets. — Allégations du comte de Murray contre la possibilité d'un tel arrangement, tirées de ce que la Reine, une fois rendue à la liberté , refuserait de pardonner franchement leurs offenses à ses sujets révoltés, et rappellerait sans doute le comte de Bothvirell pour en faire l'instrument de leur ruine. — Décision qui a été prise par Marie Stuart d'envoyer lord Boyd vers le comte de Murray et ses partisans pour leur assurer que si, conformément aux désirs de la reine d'Angleterre et de son Conseil, ils veulent se ranger entièrement à l'obéissance de leur souveraine et la rétablir dans sa pleine autorité, elle est, de son côté, toute disposée à prendre à leur égard les engagements suivants et à donner toutes les garanties désirables de leur exécution : — Entier oubli de leurs fautes et de leurs offenses passées ; — Assurance de leur rendre même toutes ses bonnes grâces, sous la condition qu'ils persévéreront dans leur obéissance ; — Promesse formelle de ne jamais rappeler le comte de Bothwell ; — Protestation que son mariage avec le comte a toujours été frappé de nullité ; — Offre de le faire rompre juridiquement par une déclaration de divorce. — Recommandation faite à lord Boyd d'insister avec énergie pour obtenir une prompte réponse de Murray, qui devra, s'il consent à l'arrangement, choisir, pour être envoyées comme commissaires en Angleterre , des personnes désireuses du bonheur de leur patrie et bien intentionnées pour la reine d'Écosse. — Injonction faite au comte de Murray, par la reine d'Angleterre, de suspendre toute hostilité pendant les conférences, et spécialement toute attaque contre le château de Dumbarton. — Dé-

claration de Marie Stuart que, si cela est observé, ce sera pour elle un puissant motif d'accepter avec empressement l'arrangement proposé par la reine d'Angleterre et son Conseil.

Sans date ( le 1" juillet 1569).

The CREDIT COMMITTED BY THE QUEENES MaJESTIE OF

Scotland to my Lord Boyd to be declared in Scotland.

Forasmuch as ihe Q. Ma''' of Scotland havinge made earnest sule and supplication to the Q. Ma^'' of Ingland her good Sister for to give her aid and support for her restitution to her authoritie, realme, crowne and government of Scotland, by Her Ma'' writinges speciallie directed sent and presented by her right trustie and welbeloved Counsailor the bishop of Ross in the month of aprill last ; it was answered by the Q. Ma^'^her good Sister w"" the advise of her most hon'^'' Counsaile that she wold gladlie support her in such manner as might stand w'*' her bono', and suretie. And for the accomplishement of both these partis some conference being had therupon, it was thought necessarie that the Q. of Scotland should send in France and obtaine certaine declarations and testimonialles uppon some allégeances invented by some persons envious of the quietnes and concord betwixt these two princes, toward any title to be made by her to the duke of Anjoy ; and also in the meane tyme the said Q. M'^ of England thought it necessarie to send in Scotland and require the erle of Murray to send certaine comissioners in England, for an appointement to be made betwixt the Q. Ma''' of Scot-

land and her subjects. And because that the erle of Murray and others who had highlie oiïended the Qof Scotland their soveraine, had divers time alleaged that they stood in doubt yf she would ever appoint w^*" them , and remitt all olTences bypast freely and hartilie; and allso they had feare, and often tymes alleaged, that if she was restored to her libertie and crowne of Scotland, Her Highnes would call home againe the erle Bolhwell and joyne with him and make him to be an instrument for their overthrowe. In consideration of the w"^ and that all stumbling blockesw''' might make impediment to the appointment should be removed from the way, it was thought good that the sayde lord Boyd should assure the erle of Murray and the rest of her inobedient subjecles, that in case they did appoint with her Highnes, by the advise of the Q. Ma*'' of Ingland and her most hon'''^ Counsail , soe they did agree to her restitution to her crowne, authoritie and government of her realme, freely willinglie and lovinglie as becommelh naturall subjects to doe to their native princes; then and in that case she would not onelie remitt them of all injuries and offences bypast, but alsoe embrace and use them as hartilie and lovinglie as ever she has don her subjects before in anie tymes past; they perseveringe in their good mindes and doinge their dutifull obedience to her Ma*'" in time coming : and was content to make all securitie hereupon by the sight and advise of the Q. Ma"' of England and her Counsaill.

Item , for removing of the impediment aforesaid

against the retorning of the erle of Bothwell to be joyned with her for their overthrowe, as they feared and did alieage: therefore Her Highnes was content to make all kind of security should be thought expedyent to that effect. And because the pretended matrimonie betwixt them was repute and holden never to be good from the begininge -, tlierfore was content that the same should be decerned null, by processe and order of lawe, in forme of divorce, to be layd before whatsoever judge or judges spiritual! or temporall, having power to that effect.

Item, that the appointm^ intended by the Q. Ma'^ of England should not be driven over by time and delay, that the said lord Boyd should desire to knowe resolutelie yf the erle of Murray would send anie comissioners in England for ending of the bissines; and in that case suche sufficient persons should be chosen as was not factious, but that loved the weale of their natyve contrie and zealous to have the Q. their soveraigne restored and all things to be agreed betwixt her and her subjects.

Last, because the Q. Ma*'' of England had written effecluallie to the erle of Murray to abstaine from all pursuit of the Q. of Scotlands faithfull subjects in anie wise duringe the tyme of this conference, and also from the seiginge of the castell of Dumbertane or takinge of anie taxation or composition from her subjectes for the assisting to her Ma*" lieutenants in her service; that they would iherfore obay the said request made by the Q. Ma'^ of England; w''' being

done, would move the 0- their soveraigne to agree more willinglie and hartilie to the appointment to be made by the Q. Ma"' of England and her Counsaill for their weale and suretie in times commynge.

Note de M. Robert Lemon : On the first of July 1569, the duke of Norfolk wrote lo the earl of Murray by the lord Boyd urging the points contained in the above credence; which was therefore probably of the same date.