Series 1 > Papal negotiations with Mary Queen of Scots during her reign in Scotland, 1561-1567

1565] § VI. THE DISPENSATION FOR DARNLEY 195
Regina dTnghilterra, alia quale il Conte e particolare inemico,
6 almeno facilitare la strada a Catholici di uscir di servitu in
quel regno, siccome gia pare che ne scorga qualche bon segno.
f iv. Avvisi di Roma, 21 di Luglio 1565.—Gionse qui hieri
un corriero del Signor Cardinale di Loreno con nome d’alcune
espedittioni, ma infatti per tentare la dispensa fra la Regina
di Scotia et il Conte di Linois che l’e stretto parente, et si
spera che I’haura.
v. Di Roma, 23 Giugno [Giuglio] 1 1565.—Di Francia per
Elizabeth, vol. Ixxix. ff. 86 and 88. The documents are calendared in inverse
order, Nos. 1339, 1280.
(r) August 25, Venice. Lord Paget to Cecil.—‘ There is at Rome arrived a
Scottish bishop. They say he comes for a dispensation for the queen’s marriage,
yet as it is more than six weeks since that was procured by the Cardinal of
Lorraine’s means and sent away, it is to be thought that he has some other
errand.’—Foreign Calendar, 1564-5, No. 1414.
(d) August 27. St. Sulpice beside Cognac. Smith to Cecil. —‘ Thembassadours
of Scotlands secretarie Thornton is to com shortelie, with a depeche of bills,
licences, and dispensacions from Rome, he goeth by the Cardinall of Loreigne.
[In cipher deciphered] it were well done if it could be that those things were seen.
You should peradventure leme some thing of some of your neighbours, which you
would not think. This bearer can tell you more of the matter and meanes if ye
will common with him’ (R. O. Foreign, Elizabeth, vol. Ixxx. No. 1136; Calendar,
No. 1419 (2)). On the 29th of August Smith adds that Thornton will not start
so soon, but ‘ brings enough to discover the papistical treasons both of the Scots
and English, and the complot which the Pope and the King of Spain have with
them.’—Calendar, No. 1430 (1).
(<?) September 19. Smith to Cecil (being part of a table of occurrents sent
on October 15 from Nantes)-—‘Septemb. 190. De Mauvisierres errand is to
here the Quene of Scotts the ratification of her mariage, or els she cannot
enioye her dowrie here, as thei say, after she is remaried to an other.’—R. O.,
Foreign, Elizabeth, vol. Ixxx. No. 1203; Foreign Calendar,'Ho. 1512.
(/) December 1566.—During the conferences at Craigmillar Lethington is said
to have suggested a divorce between Mary and Darnley, because (amongst other
reasons) ‘ thay alledgit the dispensatioun was not publishit. ’—Goodall, Examina¬
tion (ed. 1754), ii. 359.
It might have been expected that much light would have been thrown on this
negotiation by the correspondence of d’Oisel the French ambassador at Rome,
who had fought so well for Mary in Scotland during her mother’s life. Unfortu¬
nately there is a lacuna in the correspondence from February to November 1565.
—Paris, Bibliothkque Nationals, Ponds Frattfais 16,039.
1 On the 30th of May Charles ix. of France and Catherine had just come to
Bayonne, in order to stay in that neighbourhood a month. It was only at the
end of June, after the celebrated conference, that they resumed their progress
through the provinces. News of their start could not have reached Rome till
July. Hence the word Giugnio in the date must be a mistake for Giuglio.