While the king was in the hands of the Ruthven conspirators, two
gentlemen came as ambassadors from France to see what could be done
for him, and were of course treated with little civility by the royal
councillors. The second, M. de Menainville, must have been the less
acceptable to them, if it was true which was alleged, that he had
been one of the chief devisers of the league in Picardy against the
Protestants. With some difficulty, De Menainville made his way into
the royal presence at Holyroodhouse. ‘After some words spoken to the
king, he craved that he might be used as an ambassador; that, as he had
the use of meat and drink for his body, so he might have food for his
soul, meaning the mass, otherwise he would not stay to suffer his most
Christian prince’s authority and ambassage to be violated. The king
rounded [whispered] and prayed him to be sober in that point, and all
would be weel.’ It was not likely that the concession which had been
sternly refused to Queen Mary would, at such a time, be granted to him.
The king, with much ado, prevailed upon the magistracy of Edinburgh to
give the other ambassador, the Sieur de la Motte Fenelon, a banquet on
the eve of his departure. The kirk-session opposed the entertainment;
and when they found they could not prevent it, they did the next
best--held a solemn fast, with preachings and psalm-singing, during
the whole time of the feast--namely, from betwixt nine and ten in the
morning till two in the afternoon. The ministers called the banquet a
holding fellowship with ‘the murderers of the sancts of God.’--_Cal._
[Sidenote: 1583.