Lot n° 56
Estimation :
6000 - 8000
EUR
Result without fees
Result
: 13 000EUR
Marie STUART (1542-1587) Reine d'Écosse, et Reine de France par son mariage avec François II.
L.S. partly autograph, "Carlel" [Carlisle] June 26, 1568, to M. de LA FOREST, "ambassador for the king in England"; 1 page in-4, split at one fold, address on verso (engraved portrait enclosed).
Rare and important letter to send an emissary to France.
[George DOUGLAS had helped Mary escape from the fortress of Lochleven where she had been imprisoned, and where she had been forced to abdicate in favour of her son; she had taken refuge in Carlisle, where she was closely watched, and would be arrested again in October to be imprisoned in Bolton. That same June 26 she wrote two letters to Charles IX and Catherine de Medici, which Douglas was to deliver to them, explaining that she was closely guarded in England in complete destitution.
On June 21 M. de Montmorin had come to visit Mary Stuart at Carlisle on behalf of Charles IX, and had gone back to France with urgent letters for Charles IX, Catherine de Medici, the Duke of Anjou, and the Cardinal of Lorraine.
Jacques BOCHETEL, sieur de La Forest, was French ambassador in London]. "Monsieur de La Forest we have asked you through Monsr de Montmorin to lend to this gentleman p[rese]nt bearer named Monsr Douglas the sum of three census escuzes which we ask you now to give him again to make his journey to France and we will have them returned at the time we see fit but if by chance passport is refused In which case we ask you to solicit the Royalty so that he passes or at least that Me Henry Crier passes to whom it pleases you to lend the sum of sixty escuzes and we will pay it to you requesting you to describe for him in France thus committed by creed as we have given him charge to tell you which will be the end or I will pray to God to have you in his care"...
She adds in her own hand (7 lines): "I pray you favourites to carry him where he goes & solisites his passport & that the King gives him in my favour some honest interview he envies you Kiwons comuniquer sa charge si il nose lui mesmes Vous lui donnees votre bon conseil Votre bien bonne amye Marie".
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