Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 224, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Mary, Queen of Scots, painted by François Clouet.
The letter:
Richt trusty and weilbelovit Cousingis we greit you hertlie weill. Quhair as we have understand be report of our familiar servitor Robert Malvile, the gude offers maid to our behuif be the Quene our gude sustir zour Soverane: we think our self oblist to do to hur quhasoevir a gude suster and tender cousing aucht, qhair she findis sa greit thankfulnes: and that we culd not declair the affection we beir towert our said dearest suster bettir, nor be that quhilk we did quhen we luikit not to have broukit this lyff xij.th houris in our lait sicknes: at quhilk tyme our meanyng wes that the speciall cair of the protectioun of our Sone suld rest uponn our said gude suster. We beleve ze have alwayes bene gude ministers to move zour Soverane to schaw hir awin reasonable favor to our avancement in that quhilk is richt, and firmlie luikis ze will sa continew. We tak oure self (as we doubt not bot ze knaw) to be the Quene zour Soverains nixt cousing, and, nixt herself and the lauchfull yssue of hir body, to have gretest interest of all uther to that quhilk hes bene, as is reportit, laitlie motionated in the Parliament Hous. And albeit we be not of mynd to preis our said gude Suster further then sall cum of hir awin gude plesor till put that mater in questioun. Zit be caus in that cais we wilbe jugeit be the lawis of the Realme of England, we do effectuuslie require zou to have respect to justice with indifferency quhensoevir it sall pleis the Quene zour Soverane to put the same mater in deliberation. As to ws we will na wys insist thairin unto sic tyme as it sall pleis hir self to gif ws warning. We desir zou in the men tyme to have that opinion of ws, that as we meyn to continew all our lyfe in gude intelligence with the Quene zour Soverane and that Realme, sa gif ony Prince in earth wald offend the same, we wald withstand him at our uter power, and that ze can not advise our said dearest suster to extend hir favor towertis ony that sall recognosce it in a bettir sort. And so we commit zou to the protection of God. At Dunbar the xviij. day of November 1566.
Zour gude Cousignace
MARIE R.
To the Lords of
the Quenes Counsell.
With modernised English spelling:
Right trusty and well-beloved cousins, we greet you heartily well. Whereas we have understand by report of our familiar servitor Robert Melville, the good offers made to our behalf by the Queen our good sister your Sovereign: we think ourself obliged to do to her whatsoever a good sister and tender cousin ought, where she finds so great thankfulness: and that we could not declare the affection we bear toward our said dearest sister better, nor be that which we did when we liked not to have brought this life XIIth hours in our late sickness: at which time our meaning was that the special care of the protection of our Son should rest upon our said good sister. We believe ye have always been good ministers to move your Sovereign to show her own reasonable favour to our advancement in that which is right, and firmly likes ye will so continue. We take ourself (as we doubt not but ye know) to be the Queen your Sovereign's next cousin, and, next herself and the lawful issue of her body, to have greatest interest of all other to that which has been, as is reported, lately motionated in the Parliament House. And albeit we be not of mind to press our said good sister further than shall come of her own good pleasure till put that matter in question. It because in that case we will be judged by the laws of the Realm of England, we do effectuously require you to have respect to justice with indifferency whensoever it shall please the Queen your Sovereign to put the same matter in deliberation. As to us, we will no wise insist therein unto such time as it shall please herself to give us warning. We desire you in the meantime to have that opinion of us, that as we mean to continue all our life in good intelligence with the Queen your Sovereign and that realm, so give one prince in earth would offend the same, we would withstand him at our utter power, and that ye cannot advise our said dearest sister to extend her favour towards one that shall recognise it in a better sort. And so we commit you to the protection of God. At Dunbar the XVIII. day of November 1566.
Your good Cousiness
MARY R.
To the Lords of
the Queen's Council.
Notes: In accordance with the nobility's ideals in the early modern era, kings and queens considered themselves siblings.
understand = understood.
servitor = servant.
oblist = obliged.
meaning = intention.
preis = press.
till = to.
motionated = motioned.
indifferency = indifference.
cousiness = female cousin.
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