Respecting the Meetings of the Provincial Councils in Scotland before
the Reformation, it may be sufficient in this place to refer to the well
known tract by Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, entitled "Historical
Memorials concerning the Provincial Councils of the Scottish Clergy,
from the earliest accounts to the area of the Reformation." Edinb. 1769,
4to. It is reprinted in the 3d edition of his Annals of Scotland, vol.
iii. pp. 221-271, Edinb. 1819, 3 vols. 8vo. The reader may also consult
with advantage, Dr. M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. i. pp. 163, 166, 416,
&c.; and Bishop Keith's History, vol. i. p. 149, &c.
No. XVII.
LETTER OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS TO LORD JAMES PRIOR OF THE
MONASTERY OF ST. ANDREWS. JULY 1559.
Calderwood, when noticing the arrival of the Sieur de Bethancourt in
Scotland, speaks of his bringing "forged letters" to Lord James Stewart;
but the whole of his account (vol. i. p. 498,) was evidently derived
from Knox, but whose words are, "with letteris, as was allegit:" see
supra, page 384. Spottiswood, on the other hand, throws no doubt on
their genuineness, but says the bearer was Monsieur Crock; and he
inserts (Hist. p. 130,) a different version of that of Francis the
Second, from the one which Knox has given, and also the following
letter, of which Knox, at page 386, only makes mention to quote the
concluding phrase. "The letter (says Spottiswood) sent by the Queen, was
of the tenor following:--
"MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND AND FRANCE, TO JAMES PRIOR OF THE
MONASTERIE OF S. ANDREWES.
"I cannot, my Cousin, wonder enough, how you that are nighest us in
bloud, and greatly benefitted by our liberality, as yourself
knoweth, should be so presumptuous and wickedly disposed, as by one
and the same fact to violate the Majesty of God and the authority
belonging to me and my husband; for to me it is a wonder that you,
who being with me did complain of the Duke of Chattellerault, and
divers others for dismissing my authority, should now be the leader
of a faction in matters of greatest weight, wherein not only the
honour of God is touched, but my authority all utterly taken away:
which I would have more easily believed of any other of my subjects
than of you, for I had a speciall hope of your fidelity, and am not
a little grieved that you should have deceived me; Though yet I
can scarse be perswaded, that you are gone so far from truth and
reason, as to be carried away with such blinde errours which I wish
were not, as any in the world else, beseeching God to illuminate
you with his light, that returning into the right way you may shew
your self (by doing things contrary to that you have already
performed) a good man, and obedient to our lawes; whereof by these
letters I thought good to admonish you, and withall earnestly to
intreat you to amend your by-gone faults, with better deeds in time
coming; that the anger which I and my husband have conceived
against you, may by that means be mitigated. Otherwise I would have
you understand, that we will take such punishment of you, that you
shall ever remember us, which shall be to me a most grievous thing.
God I beseech to keep you from all danger.
_Paris the 24. of July, 1559._"
No. XVIII.