[1558/11/14]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Henry [II], by the grace of God, king of France. Dearest and great friends, by your letters written to us and by what these lords, your ambassadors and deputies, the present bearers, told and revealed to us on your behalf, we know well with what zeal and affection you continue to maintain, strengthen and develop, in general and in particular, the ancient and inviolable timeless friendship between this our crown and that of Scotland. And in order to link and unite them more closely, you have voluntarily and willingly accepted to that effect the marriage of our dearest and well-beloved son [Francis Valois], the king dauphin, and of our dearest and well-beloved daughter [Mary], the queen dauphiness, your sovereign. By the grace of God, it has been done, solemnized and accomplished (as we had wished for a long time) with the opinion, advice and consent of the lords, your deputies, who, under your charge, have accomplished the worthy, wise and honourable duty which became and pertained to the honour, greatness and advantage of these two kingdoms and their subjects as you will hear from those departing in the knowledge of everything that happened there, so that there is no need for us to elaborate upon telling you more about it. We are willing to assure you, dearest and great friends, that you will receive out of that alliance all the good, favour and gratuitousness that you could wish, and will find in our son and daughter such a gentle and benign usage, continuation and maintenance of your freedoms, liberties and privileges that as far as you will have the opportunity to love, honour and cherish them in as much as we know that they will ever have you in favourable protection and recommendation, preserving the faithful and devout affection to them as you have customarily showed to your sovereign princes. As for ourselves, we resolutely embrace the good, surety and defence of the said kingdom as our own and spread through good and fatherly offices and manners to its princes, lords and estates how agreeable is this new bond of friendship and union to us in order to bring to expected fruition such a noble alliance as we have already told the lords, your ambassadors, to whom we are leaving it. Praying God, dearest and great friends, to have you in his most holy and noble keeping. Written at Villers-Cotterêts, 25 June 1558.
[1558/11/15]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Henry [II], by the grace of God, king of France, to all men who see these letters, greeting. As at the convention and assembly of the three estates of the kingdom of Scotland held on 7 July 1548 at the convent near Haddington in the said kingdom of Scotland, the late André de Montalambert, seigneur d'Esse, sometime knight of our order and then our lieutenant general for our army in the said country of Scotland, accompanied by our friendly and loyal ordinary gentleman of our chamber [Henri Cleutin] seigneur D'Oisel, then our councillor and ambassador in the said country, had made some statements in our name concerning the union of our kingdom and that of Scotland, the establishment and corroboration of their ancient alliance, inviolable friendship and confederation, our dearest and well-beloved good sister and cousin [Mary of Guise], the queen dowager, now regent of Scotland, and our dearest and well-beloved cousin James [Hamilton], earl of Arran and lord Hamilton, tutor to our dearest and well-beloved sister and cousin, the young queen, Mary, heir to the said kingdom of Scotland, and governor of the said kingdom, with the people from the said three estates, would have found it very good, useful and relevant for the good, benefit and usefulness of the said kingdoms and in agreement with what had been proposed at the said assembly by the said late Seigneur d'Esse that the said young queen of Scotland be united by marriage with our dearest and well-beloved eldest son Francis [Valois], dauphin of Vienne, they being of age though under the conditions written in the act made in the said assembly relating thereto. On this conclusion and following conferences, this foresaid marriage between our said son and the said queen of Scotland by the words of the present has now been solemnized on this day by the grace of God, to our great desire and satisfaction, and also to the lord deputies of the said kingdom of Scotland who had come across for the completion of this marriage, and to those of all the estates of the said two kingdoms. And, moreover, in consideration of the ancient, timeless alliance and confederation between our said two kingdoms, this new bond and constitution of the union effected by the approach of our houses has not diminished our attachment to the good of the said kingdom of Scotland, the preservation of its honour, freedom and greatness as our own. We also wish to fulfil the content of the said act and conclusion of the said estates of Scotland. For these causes and other good, great and reasonable considerations which move us, after having communicated with the princes of our blood and others, good and great figures of our privy council being at hand, whereupon we have taken good and careful deliberation, we have praised, agreed, ratified and approved, and by these presents praise, agree, ratify and approve all that is written in the said act as much for us as for our successors, by which we promise, in good faith and by the king's word, to maintain, keep and observe and to have all their content inviolably maintained, kept and observed without ever opposing these whatsoever. In witness hereof, we have subscribed these presents with our own hand and to these have appended our seal. Given at Paris, 19 April 1558, and of our reign the twelfth year.
[1558/11/16]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Francis [Valois], eldest son of the king, dauphin of Vienne, to all men who see these letters, greeting. As at the convention and assembly of the three estates of the kingdom of Scotland held on 7 July 1548 at the convent near Haddington in the said kingdom, the late André of Montalambert, seigneur d'Esse, sometime knight of the order of France and lieutenant in the army then sent by our dearest and right honourable lord father [Henry II], king of France, to that kingdom, accompanied by our beloved [Henri Cleutin], seigneur D'Oisel, gentleman of the order of the chamber of our said lord and father and then his councillor and ambassador in the said country, made some statements in the name of our said lord and father concerning the union of the two kingdoms of France and Scotland, the establishment and corroboration of their ancient alliance, inviolable friendship and confederation, our dearest and right honourable cousin [Mary of Guise], the queen dowager, now regent of Scotland, and our dearest and well-beloved cousin James [Hamilton, duke of Chatelherault], earl of Arran and lord Hamilton, then tutor to our dearest and well-beloved cousin Mary, queen and heir to the said kingdom of Scotland, and governor of that kingdom, with the people of the said estates, found it very good, useful and timely for the common welfare, profit and usefulness of the said kingdom, and according to what had been proposed at the said convention by the said Seigneur d'Esse, that the said young queen, our cousin, and us having become of age be united together by marriage, though under the conditions written in the act which was then passed at the said assembly. On this conclusion, the foresaid marriage, by the grace of God being so well under way, is now ready to be accomplished to our great wish and satisfaction and that of the lord deputies of the said kingdom who have come across for the completing of this marriage. Moreover, for the old timeless alliance and confederation between the said two kingdoms, this new union effected by the closeness of our houses makes us more attached to the common welfare of the said kingdom of Scotland, the preservation of its honour, freedom and greatness. For these causes and other good, great and reasonable considerations which have moved us, after having communicated all and taken good and careful considerations thereby with some great and notable figures of our council, we have praised, ratified and approved and, by these presents, praise, ratify and approve all that is written in the said act, as much for us as for our successors, by the which we faithfully promise to maintain, keep and observe inviolably all their content and to have the same inviolably maintained, kept, and observed without ever opposing them whatsoever. In witness hereof, we have subscribed these presents with our own hand and to these have appended our seal. Given at Paris, 19 April 1558.
[1558/11/17]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Henry [II], by the grace of God, king of France, to all men who see these letters, greeting. As our dearest and well-beloved cousin James [Hamilton], duke of Chatelherault, earl of Arran and lord Hamilton, knight of our order, sometime governor of Scotland, showed us that as early as 17 June 1549 we sent him our letters patent whereby we agreed that in case of the death of our dearest and well-beloved sister and cousin Mary, queen of Scotland, without heirs of her own body, as God forbid, he would succeed to the crown of Scotland; and to achieve it, to help and assist him, begging us and entreating us and, now agreeing to the marriage of our dearest and well-beloved eldest son Francis [Valois], dauphin of Vienne, with the said lady, the queen of Scotland, that the said promise be ratified and of new approved at our pleasure. Be it known that we singularly wish to maintain and observe our faith and word. And for the particular respect which we have also shown and show to our said cousin and his house, for the great affection for which he has ever shown to us and the good of our crown, these causes and other great considerations have moved us and we have of new, as need be, as much for us as for our successors, confirmed and ratified and, by these presents, confirm and ratify the content of our said letters of the date 17 June 1549, promising in the king's good faith and word that in case of the death of our said sister and cousin the queen of Scotland, without heirs of her own body, we would leave him to enjoy the same kingdom, and to that effect, to succour and help him according to the content of these letters. We also promise to have them ratified and approved by our said son after the said marriage by letters patent in the best form as could be. In witness hereof, we have subscribed these presents with our own hand and to these have appended our seal. Given at Paris, 19 April 1558 and of our reign the twelfth year.
[1558/11/18]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Francis [Valois], eldest son of the king [of France] and dauphin of Vienne, to all men who see these letters, greeting. Forasmuch as it is heard by us from our dearest and well-beloved lord and father the King of France, that on 17 June 1549 he had his letters patent sent to our dearest and well-beloved cousin James [Hamilton], duke of Chatelherault, earl of Arran and lord Hamilton, knight of his order, sometime governor of Scotland, and by these letters he was granted, in case of the death of our dearest and well-beloved cousin Mary, queen of Scotland, without heirs of her own body (as God forbid), he would succeed to the crown of Scotland. And to achieve it, to help and assist him, we wish our said lord and father that we want to ratify and approve the said promise he made to our said cousin. Be it known that we singularly want to maintain and observe the faith and word of our said lord and father and obey him in everything he has effected and recommended. And also for the special love that we have shown and show to our said cousin and to his house, for the affection which he has always shown towards our said lord and father and for the good of the crown of France for these causes and considerations, we have been moved and have, as need be, as much for us as for our successors, confirmed and ratified and, by these presents, confirm and ratify the content of the said letters of our said lord and father of the date 17 June 1549, promising in good faith that in case of the death of our said cousin the queen of Scotland without heirs of her own body, we would leave him to enjoy the said kingdom, and to that effect, to succour and help him according to the content of these letters. In witness hereof, we have subscribed these presents with our own hand, and to these have appended our seal. Given at Paris, 19 April 1558.
[1558/11/19]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Henry [II], by the grace of God, king of France, to all who see these letters, greeting. While treating the marriage of our dearest and well-beloved son Francis [Valois], dauphin of Vienne, with our dearest and well-beloved sister and cousin Mary, by the grace of God, queen of Scotland, with the lords commissioners and delegates of the said kingdom, they have showed us, among other things, that in case of the decease of our said sister the queen of Scotland without heirs of her own body, it is quite reasonable that the nearest of blood to her and her crown would succeed to the said kingdom, which, as the right thing, we have praised and approved. And for the ancient, perfect and inviolable timeless friendship between our said two kingdoms, we would wish as much as them, being willing to show them a greater token of our affection and good will, to make here and then a declaration of intention. Be it known that, having such a great and particular recommendation of the establishment and preservation of the estate of the said kingdom of Scotland as our own, for the respect of our said ancient and mutual friendship as pleases God to dispose and having the said execution of marriage succeed, we retain our ever-committed will to the commonwealth of the said kingdom and of its princes and lords. For these causes and other good and great considerations which move us, we have wanted and granted, and want and grant, that, in case of the death of our dearest sister and cousin without heirs of her own body, the nearest of blood to her and her crown would succeed to the said kingdom without any impediment. This we promise to observe in good faith and in the king's word for us and our successors and, to that effect, to aid, support and fortify him with all our power, nevertheless keeping the ancient leagues between our said two kingdoms in similar estate, strength and power as they were before the completion of the said marriage. In witness hereof, we have subscribed these presents with our own hands, and to these have appended our seal. Given at Paris, 19 April 1558, and of our reign the twelfth year.
[1558/11/20]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Francis [Valois], eldest son of the king [of France] and dauphin of Vienne, to all men who see these letters, greeting. While treating the marriage between our dearest and well-beloved cousin Mary, by the grace of God, queen of Scotland, and us with the lords commissioners and delegates of the estates of the said kingdom, they have shown us, among other things, that in case of the death of our said cousin without heirs of her own body, it is quite reasonable that the nearest of kin to her and her crown would succeed to the said kingdom, which, as the right thing, we have praised and approved. And for the ancient, perfect and inviolable timeless friendship between our said two kingdoms of France and Scotland, we are quite willing to show them a greater token of our affection and good will, and to make a declaration of intention now in this place. Be it known that we wish to see the said kingdom, as pleases God, to dispose and have the said execution of marriage succeed and be preserved, and to remain with the true and lawful heirs of the said crown of Scotland. For these causes and other considerations which move us, we have wanted and granted, and want and grant, that, in case of the death of our cousin without heirs of her own body, the nearest of blood to her and her crown will succeed to the said kingdom without any impediment. This we faithfully promise for us and our successors to observe and, to that effect, to aid, support and fortify him with all our power. In witness hereof, we have subscribed these presents with our own hands, and to these have appended our seal. Given at Paris, 19 April 1558.
[1558/11/21]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The right high, right excellent and almighty Prince Henry [II], by the grace of God, king of France, the right high, right excellent and almighty Princess Catherine [de Medici], by the same grace, queen of France, and the right high, right excellent Prince Francis [Valois], dauphin of Vienne, their eldest son, on the one part, and the right high, right excellent Princess Mary, also by the grace of God, queen of Scotland, the high and mighty lady Antoinette de Bourbon, duchess dowager of Guise, maternal grandmother of the said lady, queen of Scotland, in her name and on behalf of the right high, right excellent princess lady Mary of Lorraine [Guise], now queen dowager regent in the kingdom of Scotland, her daughter, and the most reverend and reverend fathers in God James [Beaton], archbishop of Glasgow, Robert [Reid], bishop of Orkney, noble and mighty lords George [Leslie], earl of Rothes, Gilbert [Kennedy], earl of Cassilis, James [Stewart], commendator prior of the conventual priory of St Andrews, James [Fleming], lord Fleming, George [Seton], lord Seton and John Erskine of Dun, for and on behalf of the estates of the kingdom of Scotland on the other hand, being personally present, the said lord and lady, king and queen, said that the timeless and sustained confederations and friendships between the kingdoms of France and Scotland were notorious and known to each one and were so plain an evidence and convincing a proof that more cannot be done. From these developed the whole and perfect benevolence which the kings of the said kingdoms of France and Scotland who have ruled until now naturally and mutually lend to one another, both have always regarded their own affairs to be shared with the other until this day and that for the last eight hundred years they were willing to follow and run a same fortune not only during peacetime, but also during the greatest war, risks and hazards. As the late king Francis [I], lately deceased of praiseworthy memory (may God bless him) granted in marriage [Madeleine Valois], his eldest daughter, to the late James V, king of Scotland of praiseworthy memory, for the maintenance and augmentation of the said friendship, as the marriage was dissolved by the death of his said daughter and wanting to renew this alliance and to continue their common and perfect friendship for ever, he granted him since then the above-named lady Mary of Lorraine, now queen dowager and regent in Scotland, in marriage. Out of that marriage the queen of the said kingdom of Scotland now reigning was descended. With the death of the said King James, the king continued and followed in the devotion of the late King Francis, his father, and took the said kingdom of Scotland, then invaded, infested and assailed by the English, the ancient and common enemies of both kingdoms, in his protection. In order to prevent the said lady, the queen of Scotland, then forsaken since the early years of her childhood, from falling into their hands and power, she was brought to this kingdom from her childhood, with the consent of the said queen dowager, her mother, and the estates of the said kingdom of Scotland, to the intent and purpose of marrying her (to the highly acceptable opinion of anyone) with my lord, the dauphin, their eldest son, since which time the said lady, the queen of Scotland, was so nourished at the side of the queen and with years has grown so much in good manners and praiseworthy and commendable virtues that the said lord and lady, king and queen, now seeing that my said lord, the dauphin, and she have reached their competent and capable age, have been more to their advantage moved and prompted to promote the perfection and consumption of their marriage. The above-named lords commissioners and deputies of the princes and members of the three estates of the said kingdom of Scotland have come and crossed into this kingdom towards that end, backed with sufficient power and a mandate to that purpose, the copies of which will be inserted at the end of this document. These men, who have been received in great honour at the good pleasure of the said lord and lady, the king and queen, have requested, consented and agreed to the said marriage according to the former treaty made at Haddington on 7 July 1548, which has been approved and ratified by the parties respectively. And after having extensively discussed with the said lady, the queen of Scotland, their sovereign, according to their commissions and instructions, and heard her will and intention together with the advice of the said lady, duchess dowager of Guise, with whom they have since convened, along with the right high, right excellent prince Antoine [of Bourbon], by the grace of God, king of Navarre, my lords the cardinals [Charles de Guise] of Lorraine, [Jean Bertrandi] of Sens, keeper of the seals of France, [Odet de Coligny] of Châstillon and of Guise, my lord [Louis de Guise-Lorraine], the duke of Guise, Monsieur [Charles I de Cossé] the Marshal of Brissac, the président à mortier,† the archbishops of Vienne and bishops of Orléans, and the Lord of Avanson, councillors of the privy council of his majesty and appointed commissioners and deputies by him to treat the said marriage. The following treaties, promises and compacts have been concluded and agreed upon to bring the said marriage to completion. That is to say, my said lord the dauphin will take the queen of Scotland as spouse and by marital law, and the queen of Scotland will take my said lord the dauphin as husband and spouse before the holy church next Sunday, 24 April 1558, and will be one and common as prince and princess of their quality must and are used to be in all goods and things in which community can be and escheated by the laws and statutes of France. In favour of the said marriage, the said lord and lady, king and queen, and my said lord the dauphin, by the authority of the said lord king, have granted to the said queen of Scotland a dowry of sixty thousand pounds tournois in case my said lord the dauphin succeeds to the crown and is predeceased whilst king of France, or such other bigger dowry found to have been bailed to the Queen of France of the choosing and electing of the said lady queen of Scotland. In case he is predeceased whilst dauphin, she would obtain thirty thousand pounds tournois wholly in rent or revenue for each year in common and suitable asset. They have now set and assigned this dowry in and on the duchy, earldom, lands and lordships of Touraine and Poitou, and nearby lands, to be enjoyed by the said lady queen of Scotland in her own right or by her people and agents, as soon as the dowry will take place, without other interpellation and denunciation. Towards that end, now as then and then as now, she will be and is by these presents possessed, although it is tied to its future assessment, the dowry being subject to reduction if the said lands are then worth more and to increase with nearby lands if they are worth less. And this will be provided with all the rights of presentation, nomination and collation of all benefices, offices and other profits, revenues and emoluments from the lands and lordships of Touraine and Poitou, and other nearby lands which will be bailed to her, as and in the form and manner lately enjoyed, as similarly entitled, by the late Queen Eleanor [of Austria], dowager of France. And the king has promised that he will goodly and honourably entertain my said lord the dauphin and the said lady queen of Scotland, so that the regent queen dowager and the lords of the estates of Scotland will have occasion to be content as the aforementioned deputies of the estates of Scotland have been content at the command of the said queen of Scotland, their sovereign. And it has been agreed that in case the said queen of Scotland survives my said lord, she will be allowed to remain in France or return to her kingdom with her servants and officers as she chooses, and to marry as she pleases by the advice of her estates. Moreover she will bring along with her her last vessel, rings, jewels, clothing, precious furniture, goods and other things which the queens of France must and are used to having after the death of the kings of France, their husbands, and will enjoy her rights and assignations whether there be children or not. Furthermore, it has been agreed that in case there be a male heir or heirs begotten out of the marriage, the eldest, or whoever will represent the eldest for the kingdom of France, will succeed to the kingdom of Scotland and will take the arms of both kingdoms linked together and under the same crown. And if this marriage produces only a daughter or daughters, the eldest, or whoever will represent the eldest, will succeed to the said kingdom of Scotland and will be married under the advice of both the then king of France and the three estates of the said kingdom of Scotland. And, nevertheless, the said lord and lady, king and queen, and my said lord the dauphin have desired and promised, as much for themselves as for their successors, that the daughter who will be or represent the eldest also has in dowry and marriage the sum of four hundred thousand gold crowns. And each of the cadets will have three hundred thousand gold crowns, for all succession rights that they might claim to paternal goods and those of their grandfather and grandmother. These and each of these things being procured, the aforementioned lord deputies have promised and become bound to do and take an oath of fidelity in the name of the estates of Scotland and immediately after the marriage is solemnized to my said lord the dauphin in consideration of the said queen, his wife and consort, their sovereign, during and in the course of the said marriage. And in that respect, the lord deputies will take an oath to serve, obey and honour them together with the heir issued and begotten from the marriage to whom the kingdom of Scotland will fall, as they and their predecessors have loyally served and honoured the noble begetters and ancestors of the said queen of Scotland. And thus, it has been agreed by the king and the said lady queen of Scotland that my said lord the dauphin will bear the name and title of king of Scotland and will bear his arms quartered with those of Scotland. And if he is to become king, he will bear the title and arms of both kingdoms linked under the same crown. All and each of these things, the appearer and each of the said aforementioned have promised and sworn in their faith respectively and each one in their own right faithfully to keep, observe and accomplish according to their form and content without breaching them whatsoever under the obligation and mortgage of all and each their current and future goods. And for the execution of these presents in the expectation of the solemnization of the said marriage before the holy church, my said lord, the dauphin, in his pure and frank willingness, with the consent and accord of the said lord and lady, king and queen, his father and mother, and duly authorised by the said lord king has now taken and takes by the words of the present the queen of Scotland as his legitimate wife, spouse and partner, and similarly the queen of Scotland, in her pure and frank willingness and on the advice of the said lady duchess dowager of Guise and the deputies of her estates, the aforementioned being present and attending, has taken and takes by the words of the present my said lord the dauphin as her legitimate lord, husband and spouse and all the parties have agreed that these presents (which will be sent in duplicate) be put in the treasury of royal charters of each kingdom after being registered in the registers of the court, parlement and the chambre des comptes of Paris and in the council and session of Scotland. And, for the greater approbation, they have signed them in duplicate with their own hands, and have wanted and agreed these respectively to be received, passed, sent and delivered to each of the parties by us, underwritten notaries and clerks of the crown of France. Signing in office and authority, present and attending, the right high and almighty princes my lords Charles Maximilian, duke of Orleans, Alexandre-Edouard, duke of Angoulême, son of the king, right high and right excellent princesses my ladies Elizabeth and Claude, daughters of the king, my Lady Marguerite, sister of the king, duchess of Berry, and right high and almighty Prince and Princess Antoine and Jane, by the grace of God, king and queen of Navarre, my lords the most reverend cardinals of Lorraine, of Bourbon, of Sens, keeper of the seals of France, of Châstillon and of Guise, the right high and mighty prince my lord Charles, duke of Lorraine and of Bar, my lords [Louis I de Bourbon] prince of Condé, the dukes of Guise, [Jacques de Savoie] of Nemours, [Francis Cleves I] of Nevers, [Claud de Guise] d'Aumale and [James Hamilton], earl of Arran, my ladies the duchesses [Adrienne d'Estouteville] d'Estouteville, [Eleanor de Roye] princess of Condé, [Marie II de Bourbon] of Saint Pol, [Anna d'Este] of Guise, [Margaret de Vendome] of Nevers, [Louise de Brézé] d'Aumale and [Diane de Poitiers] of Valentinois and other dukes, lords, knights of the order and men of the privy council of the king, my lord Anthony Ménard, president of the court of the parlement in Paris, curator of the said lady, my lord Yves de Rubay, keeper of the seals of the said lady, and others of her council. There follows the substance of the said powers and procurements: Mary, by the grace of God, queen of Scots, gives greeting to each and every person who shall see or hear our present letter. Since, when we were still of childish age, in our parliament or session of the three estates of our realm held in Haddington on 7 July in the year of the Lord 1548, there compeared the late honourable man André de Montalembert, seigneur d'Essé, prefect of the French fleets, as lieutenant general of the army of the Most Christian King of France, our father, and serving in our realm as his special commissioner; in accordance with his singular affection and love for the commonwealth, our realm and us, he presented and declared that he had then sent a not unsubstantial supply of troops, and would send a larger one afterwards if there should be a need, as should seem opportune to us to repress our ancient and old enemies. Next, the same d'Essé, in the name, on the instruction and on behalf of the said Most Christian [King], during whose lifetime a better and indissoluble pledge of eternal friendship and treaty between the realms would more likely last, and so that he might serve the perpetual honour and advantage of both peoples, sought our marriage to the Dauphin of France, and demanded that we be joined in matrimony with him as soon as our age permitted. Because the illustrious prince and our kinsman James [Hamilton], earl of Arran, guardian of our realm, with the consent of the three orders or estates of our said realm, supported this request, in the presence of our dearest mother, dowager of the realm, and of [Henri Cleutin], seigneur D'Oisel, the [Most] Christian [King's] spokesman acting as an agent at the time, it was agreed that these things should take effect as soon as we had reached our maturity, in the way and form which are set out at greater length in the act of the same parliament issued on that subject. Further, because the same three estates of our realm had learned from letters from the Most Christian [King], not having been informed long before, that the Dauphin of France had already reached the age at which marriage could legally be completed, and that for that reason the Most Christian [King] desired that some distinguished men should be identified from our estates to be involved in our engagement, wedding and marriage along these lines, and be entrusted with lawful authority and power in our name to treat, agree and come to agreement on points, articles, methods and conditions as required and customary, therefore, by the contents and meaning of the present document, we do make, create and ordain the most noble, illustrious and powerful Antoinette de Bourbon, duchess of Guise, our dearest grandmother, the most reverend and reverend fathers in Christ James, archbishop of Glasgow, David [Panter], bishop of Ross, our first secretary, Robert, bishop of Orkney, our beloved kinsmen George, earl of Rothes, lord Leslie, Gilbert, earl of Cassilis, lord Kennedy, our treasurer, James, commendator of the priory of St Andrews, James, lord Fleming, George, lord Seton, and John Erskine of Dun, with powers to them as commissioners, and to any six, five or four jointly, on behalf of us and in our name, with sufficient days, and in suitable places, in the town of Paris or anywhere else within the realm of France, with our Most Christian Father Henry, king of France, and the most serene Dauphin, his first born son, and others who have their lawful authority and power, concerning and about all things, points, articles, methods and circumstances which in any way shall be able to concern, or shall seem to relate to, the contacting, embarking upon, celebrating or completing engagement, wedding and marriage between us and the Dauphin of France, to agree or finalise them. They shall also have authority to treat, agree, settle and complete, in relation to the same engagement, wedding and marriage, their accessories, dependencies and appendices, and all their solemnities and circumstances and methods which are customary in this regard, and in relation to each and every other thing which in any way concerns or affects the commonwealth of our realm, laws, rights, liberties, immunities and privileges of the same, and also in relation to the ancient bond, treaty, love, goodwill, connections and friendships between the realms; also generally to do, carry out, exercise and use each and every thing which in regard to the foregoing is necessary or opportune in any way. We do and shall confirm whatever the said commissioners and any six, five or four of them jointly have considered it proper to do for us and in our name in relation to the foregoing. In testimony of this we have arranged for our great seal to be applied to the presents, signed by us. At the castle of Fontainebleau on 16 March in the year of the Lord 1557 [1558]. Thus signed Mary and countersigned by Reginald to Grantrye and sealed with the great seal of the said lady queen of Scotland attached to a tongue. Mary, queen dowager and regent of Scotland, duchess dowager of Longueville, to the right high and almighty princess my lady Antoinette de Bourbon, duchess dowager of Guise, our dearest and right honoured lady and mother, greeting. Knowing perfectly well that it has always pleased you to have and feel the good, sincere and maternal affection for all which has concerned and concerns our good honour, greatness and reputation, and all which touches and belongs to us, we beg you and very humbly beseech you to be willing to represent our person at the marriage contract, which has been under negotiation for a long time, between the most high and almighty prince my lord Francis, dauphin of Vienne, eldest son of the Most Christian King, our most honoured lord and good brother, on the one part, and our dearest, well-beloved and unique daughter Mary, queen of Scotland, on the other part, to assist, accompany, advise and authorise her as much in our own and proper name as undividedly with the lords deputed by the estates of her kingdom who will be found there, to consent, accept, compromise, contract, accede and agree, grant and favour the said future marriage in every possible thing. And as for us, we are willing to lease our faith and promise and, if need be, oblige us and our goods, present and future, moveable and immoveable, swear in our soul to appoint such people as you will please to assist you in the above things or part of these and to substitute these with similar or limited power, and generally to let it be said and supply there everything that can, and must, be required from our part, as we ourselves would do and make do if we were personally present, although the case requires more special summons than is formally carried by these presents. By these, we have granted and grant you full power and authority over all the above, promising in our queen and princess's faith to hold as agreeable, firm and stable everything that will be done, said and supplied by you and your substitutes to ratify and approve it afterwards if need be and to keep you scatheless. In witness hereof, and to make the content of the above notable, plain and manifest, we have subscribed the present with our hands, and to these have appended our seal. At Edinburgh, 4 February 1557 [1558]. Thus signed Mary and countersigned by the commandant of the said lady Raulet, and sealed with red wax attached to a tongue. To each and every person who shall inspect the present document, we, the prelates, magnates and communities of all the realm of Scotland, give greeting. We wish it to be known to you and attest that we, by the force and contents of the present document, do make, establish and solemnly ordain the most reverend and reverend fathers in Christ and lords James, archbishop of Glasgow, David, bishop of Ross, the first secretary of our serene mistress the queen, Robert, bishop of Orkney, the noble and powerful lords George, earl of Rothes, lord Leslie, Gilbert, earl of Cassilis, lord Kennedy, treasurer of our said most serene mistress the queen, James, commendator of St Andrews, James, lord Fleming, George, lord Seton, and John Erskine of Dun, as our lawful and irrevocable procurators, commissioners and holders of mandate special and general, with authority to our same commissioners and to any six, five or four of them jointly, on behalf of us and in our name, with sufficient days, and in suitable places, in the town of Paris or anywhere else within the realm of France, with the Most Christian and powerful prince Henry, king of France, and the most serene Dauphin, his first born son, or with others who have their lawful authority and power in this regard, concerning and about all things, points, articles, methods and circumstances which in any way shall be able to concern, or shall seem to relate to, the contacting, embarking upon, celebrating or completing engagement, wedding and marriage between our mistress Mary, queen of Scots, and the Dauphin of France, and to agree or decide them. They shall also have authority to treat, agree, settle and complete, in relation to the same engagement, wedding and marriage, their accessories, dependencies and appendices, and all their solemnities and circumstances and methods which are or have been customary in this regard, and in relation to each and every other thing which in any way concerns or affects the commonwealth of our realm, laws, rights, liberties, immunities and privileges of the same; also in relation to the ancient bond, treaty, love, goodwill, connections and friendships between the realms; also generally to do, exercise and procure each and every thing which concerns or relates to the commonwealth of the realm of Scotland, its laws, rights, privileges, liberties and immunities. We shall in perpetuity confirm whatever has been done or carried out by our commissioners or any six, five or four of them jointly in relation to the foregoing, with a pledge and undertaking of all our goods, movable and immovable, present and future. As surety of this we have arranged for this charter of commission of ours, with the handwritten signatures of six leading individuals of each estate, to be corroborated by their signets on behalf of them and in the name of us all, in the town of Edinburgh on 14 December in the year of the Lord 1557. Signed by James Hamilton, [earl of Arran], John [Hamilton], archbishop of St Andrews, George [Gordon], earl of Huntly, Archibald [Campbell], earl of Argyll, Robert [Crichton, bishop of] Dunkeld, Patrick [Hepburn, bishop] of Moray, Bishop William [Gordon], bishop of Aberdeen, Andrew [Dury], bishop of Galloway, George [Hay], earl of Erroll, James [Hepburn], earl of Bothwell, David [Lindsay], earl of Crawford, William [Chisholm], bishop of Dunblane, Robert Forrester [of Boquhan], provost of Stirling, James Haliburton, provost of Dundee, Thomas Menzies [of Pitfodels], provost [of Aberdeen], James Danielston, provost of Linlithgow, James MacGill [of Nether Rankeilour], registrar, Guthrie, scribe of the burgh of Edinburgh, Elder, scribe of Perth, and sealed with their seals. Done and passed in Paris at Louvre palace, 19 April 1558. This was done between the king and the assembly of all the aforementioned persons in the great hall of the said Louvre palace, in which the engagement of my said lord, the dauphin, and the said lady, the queen of Scotland, was made by the words of the present, by my said lord the Cardinal of Lorraine, my lord the most reverend Cardinal [Antony] Trivulsio, present legate in France, who, apart from the necessary dispensations I have obtained and dispatched from him for the present marriage, has once again dispensed them both of consanguinity and affinity between them and banns and other required formalities and rules in such a case.
[1558/11/22]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
About the request made to the king by the most high, most excellent princess the queen of Scotland, that by his majesty's good pleasure he establish and prescribe her a curator in this kingdom, with whose authority she could make some ratifications and confirmations before her marriage as bound by the ambassadors of her three estates of Scotland who came not long ago to this kingdom for the said marriage, at the instant begging and demand of the said lady, his said majesty has established, constituted and prescribed her as her curator my lord [Francis de Guise], duke of Guise, peer of France, her maternal uncle, to the said effect. At the order of his said majesty, the above has been taken and received in oath, as requested in this case, by my lord [Jean Bertrandi], cardinal of Sens, keeper of the seals of France, on this day 28 March 1557 [1558] before Easter, in presence of myself, the secretary of state and the finance secretary of his said majesty.
[1558/11/23]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
We, the undersigned, certified to all those who it might concern that by contracting the marriage between the most high and the most excellent prince [Francis Valois], the king of Scotland, dauphin of Vienne, and the most high and the most illustrious princess [Mary], the queen of Scotland, dauphiness of Vienne, my lords the ambassadors, commissioners and deputies of the three estates of the said kingdom of Scotland have asked and required from us advice on three points concerning the conventions and agreements of the said marriage according to their charge. The first point concerns the dowry which ought to be made and prescribed to the said lady their sovereign. The other on what the king ought to lease to the said lord, king dauphin, and queen dauphiness for their entertainment while he be dauphin. The third concerns the provision that must be made should there be only female issues out of the said marriage and what ought to be leased to the eldest, or the one who will represent the eldest, together with the cadets. On which three points, after lengthy communications and discussions with the said lords ambassadors, we have finally given them our view, opinion and advice which is plainly contained in the said treaty and contract of the said marriage. In witness hereof, we have subscribed these presents in our name, this day 19 April 1558 after Easter.
[1558/11/24]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Henry [II], by the grace of God, king of France, to all those present and to come, greeting. Since the said negotiated marriage between our dearest and well-beloved son [Francis Valois], the king dauphin, and our dearest and well-beloved daughter [Mary], the queen dauphiness, his spouse, was made, agreed upon and consummated, the deputies of the estates of the said kingdom have taken, for and in the name of the said estates, the oath of fidelity to our said son as their true and natural lord, by which means, being the subjects of both kingdoms who have until now and for a long time traditionally been communicating together, lived in common friendship and intelligence, favoured and assisted one another by the closeness of the houses of France and Scotland, so united together that we deem them to be one single thing; and wishing to that effect to establish, maintain and strengthen this friendship better between our said subjects and those of the said kingdom of Scotland, and to give to the said inhabitants of the said kingdom of Scotland more means to visit their king and kingdom when they will be on this side, to reside near them, to accompany and serve them as befits good and loyal subjects, to reward and favour them with graces and privileges enjoyed by our own subjects, we proclaim for these weighty matters and for other great and reasonable considerations moving us, to have allowed, conceded and granted, and to allow, concede and grant by these presents to all the inhabitants of the said kingdom of Scotland, subjects of our said son, the king dauphin, and of our said daughter, his spouse, that they can either live, come to, reside or stay in this our kingdom at their pleasure every time and whenever they will see fit, and there can accept, hold and possess all and sundry the ecclesiastical benefices, dignities and offices which they may rightly and canonically be granted, not departing from the holy decrees, concords, privileges, franchises and freedoms of the Gallican Church, and to take and seize possession and use these and receive and collect the fruits, profits and revenues out of these, whatever amount they might be or might come to, and, moreover, to acquire in our said kingdom, country, lands and lordships under our authority all and sundry goods, moveable and immovable, which they will see fit to hold and possess, together with those which may fall and belong to them either by succession, gift or otherwise, and to grant and convey them by testament, dispositions, infeftments and by any other means; and that their heirs or others to whom they will have conveyed them may succeed them, take and seize the possession and use of their said goods as they would and might do if they were originally native of our said kingdom and country without our advocate or other of our officers claiming henceforth the said goods to be acquired by us by the right of aubaine,† nor the said subjects of the said kingdom of Scotland be in no way troubled in the use of these goods; and we have entitled and exempted them, and entitle and exempt them by these presents from all the above whether they be resident in our said kingdom, country, lands and lordships under our authority or in the said kingdom of Scotland without them being bound for that reason to pay us or our successors any money or compensation. Given the above, we have remitted and discharged them, and remit and discharge them whatever sum, amount and valuation the foresaid might be or might come to, and have granted and grant the foresaid to our said son and to our said daughter by these presents subscribed with our hands, with the provision that, if there be a trial over the said benefices, they will neither summon nor convene any of our subjects except before these our judges with legitimate cognizance. Decreeing by these same presents to our loved and faithful people holding our courts of parliament, the grand conseil and the chambre des comptes in Paris and to all our present and future bailies, seneschals, provosts and other justices and officers or their deputies, and to each of them as befits, that they make and leave the said subjects and inhabitants of the said kingdom of Scotland to enjoy and to use fully and peacefully our presents, grace, leave, licence and permit and all the content of these said presents, ceasing and making to cease all troubles and hindrances to the contrary as this is our will, notwithstanding the value of the said money which is neither specified nor declared, we are accustomed to take one half or one third of such gifts. The decreets done by us and our predecessors concerning the order and distribution of our finances in addition to that of the last month of December, whereby it is said that all gifts, benefices and rewards will be paid by the treasurer of our treasury, these by our full power and authority we have derogated and derogate to as well as to these derogatory acts therein contained by the presents and to whatever other ordinances, restrictions, decreets and interdicts to the contrary, and so as these presents may be used in several and diverse places, our will is that to the vidimus of these made under the great seal or duly collated by one of our loved and faithful writers and clerks credence be added to this original, so that it is firm and stable. As always, we have appended our seal, except our right in other things and the other in all things. Given at Villers-Cotterêts in June 1558, and of our reign the twelfth year.
[1558/11/25]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Antony, by divine grace, titular father cardinal of Saint John and Saint Paul called Trévoux, legate a latere of the apostolic see of our most holy father the pope, to the most serene prince Henry [II], Most Christian King of France, the whole realm of France, and all the provinces, towns and lands subject to the same king Henry and any other places to which it shall happen that we travel, gives greeting in the Lord to our reverend in Christ Laurence, affirmed bishop of Lens and nuncio of the same most serene master of ours the pope, and by the signature of either of them the refendary of our most serene master the pope, and Nicholas of Pelene, bishop of Amiens, councillor of the same Most Christian King and ordinary of the records of supplicants of his house. The Holy See has commissioned us to be attentive and sympathetic to those things chiefly which coincide with equity and law, and foster unity among Christian princes. Since therefore the most serene prince lord Henry, Most Christian King of France, and our dearest in Christ Catherine of France and Mary of Lorraine [Guise], formerly most illustrious queen of Scots, have recently proposed, and for certain reasonable causes, that a marriage should be contracted and solemnised with God's blessing between our most beloved in Christ Francis [Valois], dauphin of France, and Mary, the current queen of Scots, respectively their son and daughter, and before it should proceed any further, they greatly desire that the impediment of degree of consanguinity by which the most illustrious lord Francis and Mary, the present queen, are said to be joined or have, and its origin, derivation and entire circumstance, be clarified by examination of witnesses or other people who could elucidate the said impediment, above all to those who have an interest, and finally to bring the documentation to public knowledge in perpetual memory of the matter, and then to grant dispensation to the same most illustrious lord Francis, the dauphin, and lady queen Mary regarding the same impediment, if any be found, by us, through the apostolic authority entrusted to us in the Lord. Also the same Most Christian Henry and the most illustrious queens, mothers of the same most illustrious lords Francis, the dauphin, and queen Mary, in their names, have asked us that we should consider it proper to agree to their pleas in regard to the foregoing from the kindness of the Apostolic See whose role we perform in that part. Therefore, supported by sufficient facility towards that and what is written below by the letter of the same see, which we are not bound to insert, lest the truth of the foregoing should at length be obscured and the abundance of proof should be diminished by unfortunate events, and desiring to concur graciously with the honourable requests, we would obtain your assent, circumspection and the special loyalty of any of you in these and other matters, and [therefore] by the present letter we exhort and urgently ask you on your own or through another person or other persons to examine carefully any witnesses of either sex, of whatever estate, grade, order or condition, dignity or excellence they are, whom you find in any way necessary or appropriate in respect of proof of the foregoing, and to examine and discover truth and pure knowledge in regard to the foregoing by appropriate ways and means, by the said apostolic authority granted to us; you should take care that the words and other truth and pure knowledge of the said witnesses be committed to public documents, to be examined carefully by us at a later stage for information about this impediment. As for the foresaid witnesses, if through hatred or fear they withdraw, you are to compel them to give witness to the truth, by ecclesiastical censures and penalties and other appropriate legal remedies even though the summons has been postponed, notwithstanding any apostolic statutes and orders to the contrary, or if indulgence has been given to any, jointly or severally, by the see, by which they cannot be interdicted, suspended or excommunicated or taken or called outwith certain areas by apostolic letters which do not make word for word full and express mention of the indulgence. In proof of this we have ordered the present letter signed by us to be made and strengthened by the attachment of the seal which we use in such situations. Given at Moret-sur-Loing in the diocese of Senonais in the year of the incarnation of the Lord 1557 [1558], on 23 March in the third year of the pontificate of the most serene father and lord in Christ our master by divine providence Pope Paul IV. There is written below the fold 'Antonius, cardinal of Trévoux, legate, Visa Johannes Quintius, apostolic abbretor',† and signed above the fold R. Danesius, and on the back is written 'R. G. of Trévoux for the master', registered with seals in red wax with a red wire chord, heard and requested by the procurator general of the king at Paris in the parlement on 23 April in the year of the Lord 1558, after Easter. Thus signed: 'Dutillet Collon' made this from the original', with the Dutillet's sign.
[1558/11/26]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Antony, by divine grace, titular father cardinal of Saint John and Saint Paul called Trévoux, legate a latere of the apostolic see of our most holy father the pope, to the most serene prince Henry [II], Most Christian King of France, the whole realm of France, and all the provinces, towns and lands subject to the same king Henry and any other places which it shall happen that we visit, gives greeting in the Lord to Francis [Valois], dauphin of France, and Mary, most illustrious queen of Scots. The content of your recent petition presented to us was that for certain reasonable causes drawn up and maturely considered by the most serene prince and lord Henry, Most Christian King of France, and the most illustrious Catherine, queen of France, and Mary [of Guise], regent and dowager respectively, your parents, you desire to be joined in matrimony to each other, but because you are joined to each other in the fourth grade of consanguinity you are unable to implement your desire in that part, an apostolic dispensation not having been received in that regard, wherefore both you and your said parents are begging us recently orally when we were at Fontainbleau (or the diocese of Beautiful Waters of the Seine) pressingly and often, in the presence of a large number of illustrious princes and other magnates and nobles of their lineage, that we should consider it fit, out of our kindness and indeed the apostolic, to provide you as otherwise in relation to the foregoing with the grace of a dispensation. We, therefore, supported specifically and generally in relation to the undernoted, by sufficient facility by means of letters from the apostolic see, having achieved full certainty and knowledge regarding the foresaid impediment by the reference to us by the reverend in Christ Laurence, confirmed bishop of Lens, the referendar of our holiest master the pope, and Nicholas of Pelene, bishop of Amiens, the councillor and ordinary of the same Christian King and master of the records of suppliants of his house, the specially appointed deputies, as executors of certain other letters from us regarding the examination of witnesses who would emerge with certain knowledge regarding this kind of impediment, it having been diligently seen and completed by us by means of oral evidence and documents; we consider you to be absolved now and in the future from any excommunication, suspension, interdict and any other ecclesiastical sentence, censure and penalty, by law or from human action for whatever cause is brought, if you are bound by any to that effect, simply by the content of the present document as follows; disposed in favour of you and any of you, as a result of the foregoing and certain other causes put before us and supplications of this kind - the fourth grade of consanguinity and any other consanguinity or affinity (first and second only excepted) or spiritual relationship or multiple grades in which it can be said or thought that you are joined, and any other impediments of public honour and any other apostolic ones, and also provincial and synod councils, general edicts or special statutes and orders and other things to the contrary notwithstanding - you are to be able freely and legally to make a contract of marriage between you at present by words otherwise lawfully, and to solemnise it in the view of the church, and to remain in it afterwards as long as you live, and by the apostolic authority granted to us and which we exercise in that part, by the contents of the present document, and by the gift of special grace, we make dispensation, decreeing and announcing that any offspring resulting shall be legitimate. In proof of this we have ordered the present letter signed by us to be made, acknowledged and corroborated by the attachment of the seal which we use in such situations. Given at Moret-sur-Loing in the diocese of Senonais in the year of the incarnation of the Lord 1558, on 9 April in the third year of the pontificate of the most holy father and lord in Christ our master by divine providence Pope Paul IV. There is written below the fold 'Antonius, cardinal of Trévoux, legate, Visa Johannes Quintius, apostolic abbretor',† and signed above the fold R. Danesius, and on the back is written 'R. G. of Trévoux for the master', registered with seals in red wax with a red wire chord, heard and requested by the procurator general of the king at Paris in the parlement on 23 April in the year of the Lord 1558, after Easter. Thus signed: 'Dutillet Collon' made this from the original', with the Dutillet's sign.
[1558/11/27]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
On the which day, in presence of Nicolas Delavigne and Jean Troune, notaries to the king our lord, created, constituted and established by him in his châtelet† of Paris, appeared one noble and wise man, my lord Monsieur Antoine Menard, adviser to the king, our said lord, and president of his court of parliament, and some time curator of the affairs of the most high and almighty princess my lady Mary, queen of Scotland, now queen dauphiness of France, who has affirmed and certified, and affirms and certifies to all those it might concern, that he enquired and had enquiries made in the registers of the court of parlement, chambre des comptes and the trésor des chartes of France about the dowries formerly constituted both by the kings of France and my lords the dauphins to their wives and spouses, and found these never to have been larger or wealthier than the one constituted to my said lady, the queen dauphiness, and that one would not find a larger dowry than we have reserved for her in her marriage contract. And the said lord president nonetheless declared that my lady Anne [de Bretagne], duchess of Brittany, would have granted the said duchy of Brittany to the late King Charles VIII and to his successors such a large dowry, even though the gift made of the said duchy was pure and simple and very favourable to the said King Charles VIII and to his kingdom and, without reversion, to the close relatives of the said lady the Duchess of Brittany, which is not similar to the said marriage contract of the said lady queen dauphiness, as this present one bears that, if there is no issue from the marriage, the kingdom of Scotland would revert to my lord [James Hamilton], duke of Chatelherault, earl of Arran. This was thus affirmed, said and declared on Sunday, 5 June 1558.
[1558/11/28]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Francis and Mary, by the grace of God, king and queen of Scots and dauphin and dauphiness of France, greet all whom this letter reaches. Let it be known that, when our beloved kinsman James [Hamilton], duke of Chatelherault and earl of Arran explained to us that our dearest father Henry [II], king of France, by certain letters written by his hand and sealed with his seal in Paris on 16 June in the year of the Lord 1549, had, among other things, granted and promised that he would see to it that he [James] was freed by us from all the administration of our realm which he had during our minority and before we could undertake the ruling and feudal responsibility of our realm, on behalf of our kinsman, [Mary of Guise], our dearest mother, dowager and regent of the said realm, and also the three estates, intervened, agreeing with previous requests and wishing to please our said kinsman, and above all we, Mary, by the advice and authority of the said king our dearest husband, support, confirm and in perpetuity approve the foresaid letter from our foresaid dearest father, completely and in every single respect, so far as it relates to and concerns us, on behalf of ourselves and our successors in all and through all, as is contained in it, in form and in effect, as if they had been word for word in the present letter. In confirmation and testimony of the foregoing, all and singly, our great seal is attached to the present document, together with our signatures. In Paris, on 30 April in the year of the Lord 1558, and in the first and 16th of our reign.
[1558/11/29]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Mary, by the grace of God, queen of Scots, gives greeting to all loyal believers in Christ who shall see or hear the present document. Let it be known by all that, when our beloved kinsman James [Hamilton], duke of Chatelherault and earl of Arran made us aware that our dearest father Henry [II], king of France, by certain letters written by his hand and sealed with his seal in Paris on 16 June in the year of the Lord 1549, had, among other things, granted and promised that he would see to it that he [James] was freed and exonerated by us from all the administration of our realm which he had during our minority and before we could undertake the ruling and feudal responsibility of our realm, on behalf of our kinsman, [Mary of Guise], our dearest mother, dowager and regent of the said realm, and also the three estates, intervened, agreeing with previous requests and wishing to please our said kinsman, and above all we, Mary, by the advice, consent and authority of our noble and illustrious dearest uncle Francis [de Guise], duke of Guise, specially chosen as our curator, support, confirm and in perpetuity approve the foresaid letter from our foresaid dearest father, completely and in every single respect, so far as it relates to and concerns us, on behalf of ourselves and our successors in all and through all, as is contained in it, in form and in effect, as if they had been word for word in the present letter. In confirmation and testimony of the foregoing, all and singly, our great seal is attached to the present document, together with the signatures of ourselves and our said curator. In Paris, on 15 April in the year of the Lord 1558, and in the 16th of our reign.
[1558/11/30]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Mary, by the grace of God, queen of Scots, to all whom the present letter reaches. Let it be known that we have seen, understood and diligently considered two acts of our parliament - one passed at Haddington on 7 June† in the year of the Lord 1548, in which, among other things, the marriage of the most illustrious prince of France [Francis Valois], the dauphin, and ourselves was sanctioned and established; the other in Edinburgh on 14 December last for the purpose of confirming the former. These acts, and the articles and instructions given and granted by our foresaid estates to the very reverend and reverend fathers in Christ James [Beaton], archbishop of Glasgow, Robert [Reid], bishop of Orkney, our kinsmen George [Leslie], earl of Rothes, lord Leslie, Gilbert [Kennedy], earl of Cassilis, lord Kennedy, our treasurer, James [Stewart], commendator of St Andrews, James [Fleming], lord Fleming, George [Seton], lord Seton and John Erskine of Dun, our beloved councillors, in order to meet and agree concerning the completion of this marriage, we have easily studied and acknowledged not only to correspond to our wishes but also to be to the evident advantage and utility of our entire realm. Therefore, in every good manner, way, right, form and cause as best and most efficaciously as we could and should, with the consent and authority of our noble and illustrious dearest uncle Francis [de Guise], duke of Guise, specially chosen as our curator in this regard, from our certain knowledge of this, we support, approve, confirm and ratify the two acts of parliament and everything contained in them so far as they relate to us or our marriage, as is contained in them, in form and in effect, as if they had been word for word in the present letter, and on behalf of ourselves and our successors faithfully promise on our word as a queen to observe and protect the laws, liberties and privileges of our realm of Scotland for, all and singly, our subjects, in all and through all, for all time to come, just as they have been up till now observed, protected and conserved in the times of the most illustrious kings of Scotland, our progenitors. In confirmation and testimony of the foregoing, all and singly, our great seal, and that of our said curator, are attached to the present document, together with the signatures of ourselves and our said curator. In Paris, on 15 April in the year of the Lord 1558, and in the 16th of our reign.
[1558/11/31]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Francis and Mary, by the grace of God, king and queen of Scots and dauphin and dauphiness of France, to all whom the present letter reaches. Let it be known that we have seen, understood and diligently considered two acts of our parliament - one passed at Haddington on 7 June† in the year of the Lord 1548, by which a decreet and decision was made by the three estates of our realm to enter into marriage between us; the other in Edinburgh on 14 December last for the purpose of confirming the former, by the very reverend and reverend fathers in Christ James [Beaton], archbishop of Glasgow, Robert [Reid], bishop of Orkney, our kinsmen George [Leslie], earl of Rothes, lord Leslie, Gilbert [Kennedy], earl of Cassilis, lord Kennedy, our treasurer, James [Stewart], commendator of St Andrews, James [Fleming], lord Fleming, George [Seton], lord Seton and John Erskine of Dun, commissioners of the three orders of our said realm of Scotland. Both have been shown to us. Therefore, in every good manner, way, right, form and cause as best and most efficaciously as we can and should, and chiefly we, Mary, with the authority and consent of the said king our dearest husband, support, approve, confirm and ratify the two acts of parliament and everything, all and singly, contained in them so far as they relate to us or our marriage, with form and in effect, as if they had been word for word in the present letter, and on behalf of ourselves and our successors faithfully promise on our word as a queen to observe and protect the laws, liberties and privileges of our realm of Scotland for, all and singly, our subjects, in all and through all, for all time to come, just as they have been up till now observed, protected and conserved in the times of the most illustrious kings of Scotland, our progenitors. In confirmation and testimony of the foregoing, all and singly, our great seal is attached to the present document, together with the our signatures. In Paris, on 15 April in the year of the Lord 1558, and in the 16th of our reign.
[1558/11/32]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Francis, by the grace of God, king of Scots and dauphin of Vienne. The outcome, most pleasing to us and, we hope, fortunate for you, will indicate to you how well the dearly and lovingly desired marriage, embarked upon some time ago, between us and our most beloved wife and consort [Mary], your queen, the dauphiness of Vienne, was preserved and helped by the offices and prudence of your legates. In your name, there was no work they did not do in relation to it, and they did not cease fully to explain your singular devotion to us, with honest persuasion and frequent effort. As a result, we have definitely ascertained that this marriage of ours is desired with no less eagerness by you than it has been undertaken by us. Hence we have a strong desire, with a most pleasant memory of your attitude towards us, always to have you as our loyal friends. Therefore, we hope that you and everyone else whom God shall grant to our power will praise this most beautiful and happy wedding of ours even more as the days go by. If anything can come from it which they consider also convenient which above all refers to your prerogatives, immunities, ancient liberties, we not only wish them to be untouched and inviolate, but also if any formula can be found to increase them and make them stronger and wider, we greatly desire that. Your legates have been instructed to inform you of how much affection we embrace you with, and with how much zeal we have taken your part in discussion with your Most Christian father, and we shall later prove the truth of this by the amount and scale of benefices. Thanks to them you must clearly see the trustworthiness to which we have committed everything which we desire you to know. Therefore, the one thing which remains is that you hold on to your your traditional loyalty towards us and, (a thing we strongly expect from you) that you display the same obedience for as long as you ought to expect nothing from us which is alien to the paternal love (with which we pursue you) and our natural clemency (which we wish all our subjects to be aware of). May God the best and greatest bring it about that we always see you safe.To him we humbly commend you and our realm. We hope that with this protection nothing will befall you and the felicity of the Scots. Given in our palace vulgarly called Villers-Cotterêts on 26 June in the year of the Lord 1558.
[1558/11/33]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Francis and Mary, by the grace of God, king and queen of Scots and dauphin and dauphiness of Vienne, give greetings to all whom the present letter reaches. It has become sufficiently and abundantly noted and clear with what sincerity, probity, care and diligence our dearest mother queen Mary [of Guise], dowager of Scotland, has ruled and administered the commonwealth of our realm and not only to its advantage and honour but also to the contentment and satisfaction of our subjects, so that, on her behalf, the three foresaid estates of our realm have asked us pointedly and have demanded that we should see fit to continue and perpetuate our dearest mother in the same office and administration in place of us in our absence. Minded to agree to the supplications of our subjects, we have asked and besought our foresaid dearest mother and by these words do ask and beseech her to undertake the guardianship of our realm, and its guidance, government and rule. We give and grant to our mother and regent our true, pure and free authority and mandate, specific and general, on behalf of us and in our name, to establish, ordain and deputise justices and justiciars (in all cases, criminal and civil), chancellor, treasurer, master of the rolls and other officials in, all and singly, the offices relating to our crown when they fall vacant, or, if necessary, in the accustomed form, and as customary to recall and stand them down and appoint [others in their place]; to call together the three estates of the realm and others of our subjects whenever there is a need in time of peace or war; to arrange for a parliament or parliaments, assizes and courts of justice to be proclaimed, to establish, open and hold them; to make laws, statutes and acts in our name with the consent of the three said estates and to publish them as shall seem best to herself and to the said estates for the good of the realm and its inhabitants; to convey all ferms of victuals and cash, dues, grassums, and customs, with their pertinents, of all demesnes and lands of ours in the said realm of Scotland, and similarly all casualities, contingent and relevant to us, such as wards, reliefs, marriages, non-entry to lands, and other similar things which happen or are due to us by the law of the realm; to receive surrenders of lands into her hands as if into our hands, and to grant these with their pertinents in the form customarily observed in the said realm; to nominate and present suitable persons to benefices which are or are about to be vacant and relate to our donation, nomination or presentation; to cause coins of gold and silver, pure and impure, to be struck as usually happens in the said realm; to instruct that calculations or accounts of the treasurer and comptroller be rendered each year in our exchequer in the presence of the lords of the same to be nominated and deputised by their regent in our name; to grant remissions for the utility of the realm and the convenience of the commonwealth or necessity as shall seem good to her, for any crimes; to sign the foregoing and all presentation, donations and other things and business of the said realm in our name as is customary, which shall be of the same efficacy and value as if they had been signed by us. And so we will it and instruct by the wording of this document the keepers of our great and privy seals to act on the signature of our dearest mother the regent as if on ours; and generally to do, say, instruct and exercise, every single thing which we would have done had we been present in person. The only exceptions reserved to us are nominations and presentations to archbishoprics and episcopates of monasteries and monastic priories and other benefices over £1,000 of the currency of our realm, remissions for crimes of lese-majesty treasonably committed against us and our realm of the first order, wards, reliefs and marriages of all earls and other lords of parliament without prejudice to their heirs who die in our service in time of war as is the custom. We promise by our royal word that we shall confirm whatever our said dearest mother and regent shall think it right to do, order and exercise in the said office, and if anything in the forementioned has been done or carried out by her before the date or receipt of this document we shall confirm it and will that it be confirmed. This document to last for the duration of the absence of ourselves or our heirs outwith the realm of Scotland. Given in Paris on 29 April in the year of the Lord 1558.†