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

APPENDIX
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that if I were to say not one month I should not be far wrong. Pain of
the heart is worse than any other ill, and I can assure you that my
brothers’ expedition assuages nothing of my grief.
[6] I pray you think of this. It seems to me even those who favour our
king and wish most to have him in Italy do not want to see him prosper
there. I doubt not but that they are happy to see these two great
princes cross one another and ruin each other’s projects. Nothing good
will ever be got from them, of this you see the proofs daily. I know,
monsieur my brother, that you understand all this better than I do, but
I pray you forgive my heart’s affection which makes me so outspoken.
I will now leave this subject to speak to you of the state of things
over here.
[7] Our condition is such that unless the king is pleased to change his
mind, it is impossible for me to put things in such good order as I should
desire. For, as I have just told you, the taking away of forces from me
last year has much hindered my enterprises, and put new heart into
evildoers and into my neighbours, who are the continual stay and
strength of my rebels. I had commissioners on our borders the whole
of this summer to set all in order in conjunction with those whom the
Queen of England deputed on her side for this purpose. As far as words
went they agreed as well as possible, and even allowed and signed
everything. When, however, the question of executing came, all proved
collusion on their part.
[8] As for building forts for the security of the country, even though I
had the money ready, I should not dare meddle with them, as I have no
men to garrison them. I do not, in fact, know whether it would he
for the benefit or service of the king to build them, and put them into
the hands of this nation, which moreover has but small experience in such
matters. Besides, no small sum of money would be necessary for such a
work. I had hoped that the affair, which had been put before the last
Parliament, would have satisfied them, seeing that the great lords had
found it as satisfactory as possible. But the commonalty {la commune),
both the lesser lords {la noblesse) and the people, have become so
suspicious as to think that it would be a perpetual tax on them. On the
other hand, seeing that I am weak, that I am more alienated [from them]
than I was at first, the business will take much longer than I had hoped.
[9] Nor must I conceal from you, what some have said to me, when I
spoke to them about it—(I do not refer the matter to you from a wish
to accelerate or hasten it, but in order to make you acquainted with the
temper of this country),—that it would be putting the cart before the
oxen, and deceiving myself, if I thought of settling anything before the
marriage is accomplished, for they are still doubtful under which lord
they shall fall. I should not venture to write such things to the king”
for fear he should imagine I said them from interested motives, but God
knows the truth of the matter.
[10] Moreover, my daughter’s illness has put many things in doubt,