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

504 PAPAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH MARY
time. I am not wiser than he who frankly owned that he did not
understand the way of a young man in his youth. All that I know
is that he was absent and was busy, at that time, in another part of
the kingdom with matters of no great consequence.
‘ On the Feast of All Saints [1 November] the messenger who had
been sent by the French ambassador arrived to announce the queen’s
illness, and the news which he brought deeply pained the hearts of
all the good. Yesterday a second messenger reached us who brought
tidings of a very different character, which filled us with joy. He says
that the queen has passed the danger, and has now recovered. May
God grant that she may lay to heart this fatherly correction, and that
it may lead her to carry out with greater diligence the work which
hitherto she has only begun, which all men hope and earnestly desire.
Should any further intelligence reach me, I will take care that your
reverence shall hear of it without delay.’
[The original of this letter was not in its proper place in Epistolae
Galliae when I examined that series. I have copied the translation
in Stevenson, Claude Naus Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots, 1883,
p. cxlii.]
No. 41, Manare to Borgia, vii. 73. Paris, 29 November 1566.
Has heard from Father Hay twice, but not yet of their embarka¬
tion. They meant to take ship at Dieppe on the 21st. The ship they
had settled to go in went off without them, which was lucky, as the
captain and crew were cruel heretics.
No. 42, Manare to Borgia, vii. 74 b. Paris, 6 December 1566.
No news from Father Hay and the Bishop of Dunblane since they
left Rouen, but they ought to be in Scotland by this, as the wind has
been favourable for the last fortnight.
No. 43, Manare to Borgia, vii. 76. Paris, 11 December 1566.
News that Father Hay embarked on the 3rd at 4 p.m. As the
weather has been favourable, they should have reached Scotland in
five days.
No. 44, Manare to Borgia, vii. 84. Paris, 28 December 1566.
Disquieting reports of Scotiand.
1567 No. 45, Polanco to Crichton, iii. b. 13. Rome, 10 April 1567.
Send us some certain news about Father Hay and Scotland. The
death of the king is here held as certain, but details are variously
reported.
No. 46, Polanco to Hay. iii.b. 15 b. Rome, 28 April 1567.
Si e ricevuta quella di V. R. di 26, del passato et ci rallegramo in
Domino sia tornato con sanita, benche si rincresce assai che non