Old family; or, The Setons of Scotland and America

1584] LETTER TO POPE GREGORY XIII. 89
" Having been sent hither by my most serene master, the King of Scots,
to implore the aid of the most Christian King, in our dreadful emergencies,
I could not do otherwise than write to your Holiness some account of the
state of our affairs. Briefly, after the ministers had succeeded in sending the
Duke of Lennox away from Scotland, the King was so offended that he would
hold no communication with them, though previously he had always acted
in accordance with their advice. They took offence in turn, and set on foot a
violent insurrectionary movement against his authority, partly by means of the
agents of the Queen of England, and partly through their own rebel leaders.
" Being reduced to extremity, he has implored the aid of the most Chris-
tian King, and more particularly that of his relative, the Duke of Guise ; a
proceeding which has raised the hopes of Catholics to the highest point.
" So favourable an opportunity never occurred before, and could not have
been expected or looked for ; and it is doubly important that it should not
be lost. The King has so high an opinion of the Duke of Guise, that we
are in hopes he will be guided in everything by his advice ; indeed, he has
not only written as much to the Duke, but has charged me with a message
to the same effect.
" Our hope is that your Holiness will both animate and encourage the
Duke to make some effort in the cause of religion, and also give him sub-
stantial assistance.
" God himself, beyond all our hopes, seems to have provided your Holi-
ness with this opportunity of extending religion and obtaining never-ending
glory. The King's age, his perilous and critical position, the unbridled
insolence of the ministers, are all circumstances in our favour. But it is of
the utmost importance to lose no time, or the chance will pass away.
" The Queen of England is straining every nerve to crush the King of
Scots by a rebellion in his own country, and if successful, she will suppress
the Catholic religion altogether. The Duke of Guise, to whom I have
transmitted the King of Scotland's letter for your Holiness, will doubtless
explain matters in detail. But I would implore your Holiness not to let the
existence of these communications be known to anyone, for this would, at
the present juncture, place the King in the most extreme difficulty.
" At a later period we hope, by the aid of your Holiness, that he will be
free to declare himself openly a son of your Beatitude. At present he is so
situated and so completely in the power of his enemies, that he is scarcely
at liberty to do anything whatever ; from this condition it is for your
Beatitude to rescue him. God preserve you long to his Church.
" Your Holiness's most humble servant,
" Seton."
" Paris, March 14, 15S4."
A portrait of this nobleman by Holbein was long in the
possession of the Somervilles; but bv far the most interesting