Mary Queen of Scots: Appeal by Henry III of France

Mary Queen of Scots was in captivity in England. King Henri III tried through his ambassador, Minister of Finance Pomponne de Bellièvre, to save her life in 1586-87 by interceding with Elizabeth I. Bellièvre delivered the appeal on 28 NOV 1586, and received an answer from the Queen in 1587. 2 MSS, paper, [1] 26pp., in French, in a continental secretary hand, [2] 6pp., in English, in an English secretary hand. [1] Leraison ou harangue faicte par Monsr de Bellievre ala Reyne dAngleterre (published by Alexander Teulet in Relations de la France et de l'Espagne avec l'écosse (Paris, 1862), vol. iv, pp. 115-128). [2] An answeare to the reasons and requestes of the Frenche Ambassodrs towchinge the Scotish Quene (itemised points for a reply by Elizabeth to the remonstrance delivered 6 JAN 1587 by Bellièvre: Elizabeth discussed the question with Bellièvre for two hours and showed irresolution; the remonstrance is printed by Teulet, iv, 132-137; the answer is apparently unpublished). For an account of the embassy of Bellièvre see Jules Gauthier, Histoire de Marie Stuart (Paris, 1875).

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purchased 1997

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