power or interest in the government of this kingdom if my son obstinately remains outside the Church. But if he finds he can bring him back, I desire he shall be aided, supported, and advised by him (the King of Spain) and my relations of Guise, enjoining him by my last will to hold them, after you, as his fathers, and to ally himself by their advice and consent, or in one of their two houses. And if it pleased God, I would he were worthy to be a son of the Catholic King. This is the secret of my heart and the end of my desires in this world, tending as I mean them, to the good of His Church and to the discharge of my conscience, which I present at the feet of your Holiness, which I may humbly kiss. You shall have the true account of the manner of my last taking, and all the proceedings against me, and by me, to the end that, hearing the truth, the calumnies which the enemies of the Church wish to lay upon me may be refuted by you and the truth known, and to this effect I have sent to you this bearer, requesting your holy blessing for the end, and saying to you for the last time _à Dieu_.[61] Whom I pray in His grace to preserve your person for long, for the good of His Church and your sorrowful flock, especially that of this island, which I leave very much astray, without the mercy of God and without your paternal care. FOTHERINGAY, _23rd November 1586_. [Footnote 61: This passage, we believe, refers to Bourgoing, as before stated.] _From_ FOTHERINGAY _this 24th of November 1586._ Excuse my writing, caused by the weakness of my arm. I hear, to my great regret, bad rumours of some persons near to your Holiness who they say receive wages from this state to betray the cause of God, and there are cardinals mixed up in it. I leave it to your Holiness to make examination and to have your eye on a certain Lord de Saint-Jean, much suspected of being a spy of the High Treasurer.[62] These are false brethren, and I will answer for it, that those who have been recommended to you by me are quite otherwise. Of your Holiness the very humble and devoted daughter, MARIE, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND, DOWAGER OF FRANCE. [Footnote 62: Burleigh.] TO DON BERNARD DE MENDOÇA.[63] [Footnote 63: Labanoff, vi. 456.] MY VERY DEAR FRIEND--As I have always known you to be zealous in God's cause, and interested in my welfare and my deliverance from captivity, I have likewise also always made you a sharer in all my intentions for the same cause, begging you to signify them to the King, Monsieur my good brother, for which at present, according to the little leisure I have, I have wished to send you this last Adieu, being resolved to receive the death-stroke which was announced to me last Saturday.