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

APPENDIX I
443
Lethington also sends you copies of the letters he has had from Cecil,
and I send another of his. In it she makes him offer the favour of her
ambassador, and not knowing whether [you] would have need thereof,
I would not refuse. No harm can come of it to you for my sake ; but
to serve you, this is my object, according to the obligations under
which I lie. You will have the double of what I write to her by this
bearer, and will learn from him of her answer.
[12] If you have no use for it, you will only have to give her honour¬
able thanks, showing that you feel yourself obliged at it, for she is desirous
of your friendship as far as I can discover. If it seems to you that it may
be of service to you, accept it, as if it were done by me and at my request.
I think that they cannot but thank you, if [through] my favour you have
friends whom the others have so much sought for.
[13] Even now at this [hour], I write letters of credence to all three.
You will see them and will do as seems good to you. This bearer will
communicate his credentials according to what you shall instruct him,
and will speak the language which you shall like. If you have need of
him, for God’s sake make use of him and of her also, for I much wish
that people should know that I, and such friends as I may have, will go
bail for you, and take the side that seems good to you. If they do you
wrong, it is for me the same as done to myself. You can think how
the others will be astonished if they see us, the Queen of England and 1,
[getting on] so well, that she desires her ambassador to serve you as you
appoint him.
[14] Sieur de Foix one day in conversation (for he came in private
once a day without giving notice) attacked me [about this, saying] that
peace could never be so secure between neighbours so close as she and I,
as between me and the King of France. For to say nothing of our old
alliance, he could never have an interest in making war on me. De
Foix said to me plainly that I ought not to forget France for England,
my ancient enemy. He told Le Croc that if I did I would repent it. I
strongly assured him that I would not do so, but that I desired to main¬
tain her friendship as securely as I could, seeing that the king and she
were at peace. That she sought to win me by the numerous good offices
which she did me, and that the queen [mother] herself had counselled
me this, saying that she had no means of doing anything for me at this
time. This alliance too would in no wise injure that one, which I held
to be the better for so many reasons. Also that all, who were my
relatives, solicited me much for it, and they were the council from
whom I received most. In truth I did not oblige myself any way.
You will see, from what passed between us, that there was more [talk]
of good wishes than of anything else.
[15] As for what has been commenced herein, you will have the copy
of that which she has written to me about it and my answer. I shall do
nothing to break off [the negotiation] unless some one [attacks] that
which concerns me. If that should be, I should take pains (according