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

510 PAPAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH MARY
escape both their eyes and their hands. At Lyons we met the reverend
Lord Cardinal of Scotland, and together we handed him the brief which
we carried for him from his Holiness. His advice was that we should in
no wise continue our proposed journey and undertaking . ..
[They then relate their journey to Ireland and experiences there] . . . And
as many good honest Irishmen assured us, that we should best consult for
our lives and the honour of the See Apostolic by returning, and as our
consciences commanded us not to expose ourselves to the probable
danger of death without hope of fruit, we resolved to go back again to
Scotland with caution and despatch. Our return indeed caused wonder
and astonishment to some, who had previously deterred us from entering
Ireland, and who thought they would not see us again till the day of the
resurrection.
With Christ as our leader then, we were soon back in safety, and we are
now in Edinburgh, the royal city of Scotland. After a few days we
intend to visit their Majesties the king and queen, both to explain to
them the reason of our return, and also to see if there be any opening for
us to work fruitfully here. If this does not succeed, we shall sail for
France. If we remain, we shall await your command here : if we do not
remain, we shall do so at Paris, in order that we may understand what
we ought to do and where we should go, and whether we should return
to Rome. If your reverend lordship will be so good as to return us some
answer by word or by writing, be sure to give it or to tell it to Father
Ignatius our Superior, who will take pains that it comes surely and ex¬
peditiously to our hands, wherever we may happen to be staying.
Nothing further occurs to us to write, as this is sufficient. May the
glorious and ever blessed God preserve your reverend lordship every¬
where, etc., etc. . . . From Edinburgh, a town of Scotland, on the day
of the Lord’s Resurrection. Your eminence’s unworthy servants,
etc., Paschase Brouet.
Alonso Salmeron.]
No. 55
THE ‘ RESPONSA ’ OF WILLIAM SETON. Chambery, n.d.
[1562 to 1567].
Father Jerome Nadal was occupied at different times during the years 1562 to 1567
in making visitations of various Jesuit provinces. He used to propose a set
of Interrogationes to the various persons whom he interviewed, and their
Responsa are now among the Carte Gesuitiche of the Archivio di Stato at
Rome. William Seton appears to have been the only Scot whose responsa are
preserved (ii. 568). I do not meet his name again in any Jesuit list, so that
it is probable that he died early or did not remain in their body. He may have
been one of the companions of the Thomas Seaton mentioned in this Appendix,
Nos. 34 and 39.
Responsa.
1. Vocor guilielmus Seton.
2. Novem decern annos natus, et in Scotia, in provincia
Laudoniae.