Spottiswoode Society > History of the affairs of the Church and State of Scotland from the beginning of the reformation to the year 1568 > Volume 1

154G.] OF CHURCH AND STATE IN SCOTLAND. Ill
Princess being sickly, the marriage went not forward at that
time. There is great probability that the Abbot did remain
in France for some good space after this, daring which, as
tradition, handed down in the family of Balfour, informs us,
he became mighty agreeable to that King, who, perceiving
his mettle and parts, and knowing withal the favour he
had from his own sovereign, the King of Scotland, was de-
sirous to keep him in France, hoping by his influence to re-
tain our King firm to his own interest, in opposition to that
of the King of England, uncle to our King. However, it
appears by Sir David Lindsay's Tragedy that the Cardinal
was in Scotland after Queen Magdalene's death, that he
passed again into France, and returned home in company
with Queen Mary. What former gratifications the King of
France bestowed upon the Abbot I cannot tell, but in the
year 1537 he was consecrated Bishop of Mirepoix in that
kingdom on the 5th December ; and by that King's favour
he was made a Cardinal on the 20th December 1538, by the
title of Sancti Stephani in Monte Coelio. And I see in the
Advocates' Library the copy of a grant, dated the 30th
June 1539, for services the Cardinal had already clone, and
which he might afterwards do, to his Majesty, allowing his
heirs to succeed to his estate in France, although the said
heirs should be born and live within the kingdom of Scot-
land, and though they should have no particular letter or
act of naturalization in France. And this new grant, that
King says, is in consequence of a former one in November
1537, by which the Abbot was allowed to hold benefices, ac-
quire lands, nobility, &c. as a native of France. Thus it is
certain that Mr Beaton was raised to the dignity both of
Bishop and Cardinal, by the means of the King of France.
But the Cardinal, knowing that his uncle, the Archbishop of
St Andrews, could not live many years, by reason of old
age, and that the King's favour to both might make him
hope to become his uncle's successor, he determined to re-
turn to Scotland, where, soon after his arrival, he obtained
an entire management of his uncle's Diocese and Primacy,
having been made Coadjutor of the Archbishopric of St
Andrews ; and being recommended by his uncle to the King
sometime before his decease, the King agreed, and his nomi-
nation to that Primacy was confirmed by the Pope. Upon