m interesting
himself in his mother's fate, had replied to the French minister,
Courcelles, who spoke to him of her, "I can do nothing; let her drink
what she has spilled," he wrote him the following letter, to decide the
young prince to second him in the steps he was going to take:

"21st November, 1586.

"COURCELLES, I have received your letter of the 4th October last, in
which I have seen the discourse that the King of Scotland has held with
you concerning what you have witnessed to him of the good affection I
bear him, discourse in which he has given proof of desiring to
reciprocate it entirely; but I wish that that letter had informed me also
that he was better disposed towards the queen his mother, and that he had
the heart and the desire to arrange everything in a way to assist her in
the affliction in which she now is, reflecting that the prison where she
has been unjustly detained for eighteen years and more has induced her to
lend an ear to many things which have been proposed to her for gaining
her liberty, a thing which is naturally greatly desired by all men, and
more still by those who are born sovereigns and rulers, who bear being
kept prisoners thus with less patience. He should also consider that if
the Queen of England, my good sister, allows herself to be persuaded by
the counsels of those who wish that she should stain herself with Queen
Mary's blood, it will be a matter which will bring him to great
dishonour, inasmuch as one will judge that he will have refused his
mother the good offices that he should render her with the said Queen of
England, and which would have perhaps been sufficient to move her, if he
would have employed them, as warmly, and as soon as his natural duty
commanded him. Moreover, it is to be feared for him, that, his mother
dead, his own turn may come, and that one may think of doing as much for
him, by some violent means, to make the English succession easier to
seize for those who are likely to have it after the said Queen Elizabeth,
and not only to defraud the said King of Scotland of the claim he can put
forward, but to render doubtful even that which he has to his own crown.
I do not know in what condition the affairs of my said sister-in-law will
be when you receive this letter; but I will tell you that in every case I
wish you to rouse strongly the said King of Scotland, with remonstrances,
and everything else which may bear on this subject, to embrace the
defence and