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

(Original. — Musée britannique à Londres , collection Cottonienne , Caligula, C. II, 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 Marie Stuart en Ecosse. — Conduite que les commissaires doivent tenir dans le cas où la négociation serait rompue. — Demande qu'ils devront faire alors pour que les articles convenus à Chatsworth soient rapportés. — Protection qu'ils auront à demander aux ambassadeurs des rois d'Espagne et de France pour Marie Stuart. — Plainte de lord Shrev^'sbury , 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 Sheffield, le 19 mars 1670-71.

Richt traist consalours, we greit zow well. Be zour letters quhilk we receavit of the xij and xiij of this instant , we ar sory to wnderstand that it is not zit the Quene our gud sisters pleasour to permit \vs eu m 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 ^vith 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 other démonstrations. We haif sene and considerit oure

said gud sisters answer to ail tlie rest of the poyntis of oure former letters and the conférences ze haif had wilh ihe lordes lier députes concerning the effect of ihis treatie and lies found good your reasoning iherupone and your answers to ihair propositions. But it grcvis ws gritlie to perceave our said gud sister and her Counsale was to cauld in proceiding towart our restitution and libertie and lo gif so gud eare to the inventions of the adversares quho sludyes be ail nieanes to impeshe the same. At the begynning herof in Chattisworth niy lord Burghlie and M'. Myldmaye patt ws in hope of better apperance nor \\e se zit quhilk (asthey sali) niaid ws so willing and is zit to salisfy the Quene our good sister and thanie in ail things and as \vc did se her pleasour in wryt at ihat tynie so did wegif answer in articles to her desyres subscrivit wilh oure hands. We lak god be witnes and the said two counsalors how willing theydid se ws to proceid uprichllie in this treatie and quhat deligence we haif used to the furtherance iherof the preuf is nianifest. Zit we will not despair but hopes that our said gud sister Avill more pitifully look apone our niost just and ressonabill swtes and lak ane gud andhaisty resolution ihairin for the weill of ws bolhe and the cominoun quyetnes of this yle quher apone we await daylie. And if z^ sali se oure said gud sister not myndit linally to restore ws to our awin reaime and auclhorilie for feir and doubt she maye alledge lo haif (all)eit she neidis not) of the suretie we can mak lier, llien sali ze essaye ane other waye and desyre our

said gud sister to agrie ^^ith wsapone ail otlier poyntis and inake our uame and auclhorilie obeyit in Scotland amongs the whole subjects tliair as thair Quene and only souveraine and not lo maintaine any of thame in the contrarie ether by waye or olher and we our self salbe for her suretie content to reniane still in this reaime during her pleasour protesling aiwise 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 wilh ws in any maner, ze sali desyre our saidis arliclis maid at Chattisworth lo be randered, lo the effect we niaye at ihe least be lef't in the same slate we was found in to quheir w^e will w ilh patience abyde farther of Goddis pleasour and our said gud sisters. And also ze sali mak instance and likwise desyre the ambassadeurs of the Kinges oure gud brethren thair résident to solicit thaï we may haif in that caise honest treitment and not lo be Iransporled nor pulte in the bandes of oure innemys quhilk if she do, ihair wilbe na Christian prince l)ul will lyke ewill and pille the same. My lord of Shrewsbery lies meanit to ws that lie will not permit any man ihat is furth of ihe appoynled nombre of our servands heir, ihat sali cuni toward ws ether froni a part or olher lo remane longar nor v dayes because (sayes he) Thomas Car qulia departid heirfra the xv of this instant toward Scotland remanit a whole xnij nycht. Indeid he could not l)e sonear despeshit be reason we wrait generally to ail our gud subjecls of ihe gud apperance ze did adverteis ws thair wes of TOM. m. 14*

ihe gud and haisty expédition of ihe yssue of this treatie. Quherfor in tymes cuming ^hen ze sali obteane paspoiL to ony messager lo ciim hidder ze must require so many dayes specifeit iherin as ze think or eau eonsidder lie niaye be despeschit in be ihc hand of man only , or else ihat it be mente for so lang as \\e maye gudlie mak his dispeshe. Or ellis he wilbe forced to départ withowt a perfyte one or none at ail. As to Elizabeth Carmieliels pasport to go homeward in respect of ihe gud hope ihe Queue, our gud sister, putlis ws in, tliat it sali not be neidfull seing we ar so uere to go our sel, ^e ^vill not ihat ze preas more therfor. And ihus committis zow to the protection of God almiglitie.

At Shefeild , the xix daye of marche 1570.

Your richt good frind and mestres,

Marie R.

Au dos : To oure richt trusly counsalors and commissioners toward the Quene of England, our good sister, the bi-

SCIIOPS OF Ross AND GaLLOVAY, AND MY LORD LevINGSTON.

DE MARIE STUART. 2lti

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