Report of the French Ambassador - DuCroc DARNLEY and MQS at JEDBURGH, Scotland - October 1566 3 months Before Kirk oField - MQS asks Darnley to publicly declare if she had given him any cause for GRIEF - He replied NO and sulked off. If there had been any BOTHWELL monkey business Darnley could have made a claim - he did not. Therefore as of October, there was no rumor of any Bothwell improprieties. French agent DuCroc on 15 October to Bishop Beaton in Paris: The Queen (Marie of Scots /MQS) is now returned from Stirling to Edinburgh.... The King (Darnley), however, abode at Stirling, and he told me there that he had a mind to go beyond sea, in a sort of desperation.... Since that time the Earl of Lennox his father came to visit him; and he has written a letter to the Queen signifying that it is not in his power to divert his son from his intended voyage, and prays her Majesty to use her influence therein. This letter from the Earl of Lennox the Queen received on Michaelmas Day (Sept 29) in the morning; and that same evening the King arrived here about ten of the clock.... Early next morning the Queen sent for me, and for all the Lords and other counsellors. As we were all met in their Majesties presence, the Bishop of Ross (Leslie) by the Queens commandment declared to the Council the Kings intention to go beyond sea; for which purpose he had a ship lying ready to sail; ... and thereafter the Queen prayed the King to DECLARE in PRESENCE of the LORDS and before me the reason of his projected departure.... She likewise took him by the hand, and besought him for Gods sake to declare if she had given him any cause for this resolution; and entreated he might deal plainly, and NOT SPARE HER. Moreover, all the Lords likewise said to him, that if there was any fault on their part, upon his declaring it they were ready to perform it. And I likewise took the freedom to tell him, that his departure must certainly affect either his own or the Queens honour—that if the Queen had afforded any ground for it, his declaring the same would affect her Majesty; as, on the other hand, if he should go away without giving any cause for it, this thing could not at all redound to his praise.... The King at last declared that he had NO GROUND at all given him for such a deliberation; and thereupon he went out of the chamber of presence, saying to the Queen, Adieu, Madam, you shall not see my face for a long space. ... I never saw her MAJESTY so much BELOVED, ESTEEMED, and HONOURED; nor so great a HARMONY amongst all her subjects, as at present is by her WISE CONDUCT, for I cannot perceive the smallest difference or division. Source: Rait Extracts of MQS p.87-89 (see link below) FRANCE was NOT a pro-biased observer of MQS or Scotland at this time, this includes French agent DuCroc. Queen Medici was working to align with Queen Elizabeth Tudor of England through marriage to her sons and was on neutral, but not friendly terms with MQS. We can see from DuCrocs contemporary account that the Privy Council of Scots leaders applauded MQS for her bravery and wisdom in addressing her trouble-making husband and giving him the opportunity to express any grievance he had - there was none. This is only 3 months BEFORE Kirk oField. So the WISDOM of MQS that English agent Throckmorton appraised in August 1561 was still in affect and the Scots leadership squarely in support of MQS, counter to what any historian will write to you or pundit unfamiliar with actual facts, including classical and much celebrated slander-monger Buchanan. We again see MQS is the one to extend the olive branch to Darnley 2 months later in January 1567 when he was gravely ill at Glasgow.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 15:35:43 +0000
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