Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon (1523–1589) was a French diplomat who served as ambassador to
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
in England and to
James VI
James may refer to:
People
* James (given name)
* James (surname)
* James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician
* James, brother of Jesus
* King James (disambiguation), various kings named James
* Prince Ja ...
in Scotland.
Ambassador in London
Mothe-Fénelon was secretary to the French ambassador
Gilles de Noailles
Gilles de Noailles, abbé de l'Isle (1524–1600) was French Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1575 to 1579. He was the brother of his predecessor as ambassador, François de Noailles, and was succeeded by Jacques de Germigny. He was sent to ...
during the crisis of the
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was the process whereby Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland broke away from the Catholic Church, and established the Protestant Church of Scotland. It forms part of the wider European 16th-century Protestant Reformation.
Fr ...
in 1560.
After serving in the French army he was sent ambassador to England in November 1568, as a replacement for Jacques Bochetel de la Forest. At the request of
Charles IX of France
Charles IX (Charles Maximilien; 27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was List of French monarchs, King of France from 1560 until his death in 1574. He ascended the French throne upon the death of his brother Francis II of France, Francis II in 1560, an ...
he endeavoured to excuse to Elizabeth the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre as a necessity caused by a plot which had been laid against the life of the king. After the death of Charles IX, Fénelon continued as ambassador in London. Mothe-Fénelon was involved the exchanges of gifts and portraits between the English and French court, including the work of the
François Clouet
François Clouet ( – 22 December 1572), son of Jean Clouet, was a French Renaissance miniaturist and painter, particularly known for his detailed portraits of the French ruling family.
Historical references
François Clouet was born in Tou ...
and possibly
Nicholas Hilliard
Nicholas Hilliard ( – before 7 January 1619) was an English goldsmith and limner best known for his portrait miniatures of members of the courts of Elizabeth I and James I of England. He mostly painted small oval miniatures, but also some l ...
.
He was recalled in 1575 when
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici (, ; , ; 13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Italian Republic of Florence, Florentine noblewoman of the Medici family and Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to Henry II of France, King Henry II. Sh ...
wished to bring about a marriage between Elizabeth and the duke of Alençon, and thought that another ambassador,
Michel de Castelnau
Michel de Castelnau, Sieur de la Mauvissière ( 1520–1592) was a French soldier and diplomat, ambassador to Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth I. He wrote a memoir covering the period between 1559 and 1570.
Life
He was born in La Mauvissière (now pa ...
, would have a better chance of success in the negotiation.
Mothe-Fénelon and Mary, Queen of Scots
While in England, Mothe-Fénelon corresponded with
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
The only surviving legit ...
on political matters. He also bought textiles and sewing materials for her, and advised on potential gifts for Elizabeth. In 1574
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
The only surviving legit ...
embroidered an incarnate satin skirt with silver thread using materials bought in London by Mothe-Fénelon. She soon wrote for more incarnate silk thread, better quality thinner silver thread, and incarnate taffeta for the lining. Mothe-Fénélon presented the finished item to Elizabeth on 22 May, with a declaration of friendship, and reported to Charles IX that the gift was a success. Presumably hopeful of an audience at the English court, Mary asked the
Archbishop of Glasgow
The Archbishop of Glasgow is an archiepiscopal title that takes its name after the city of Glasgow in Scotland. The position and title were abolished by the Church of Scotland in 1689; and, in the Catholic Church, the title was restored by Pop ...
, her contact in Paris, to send
coif
A coif () is a close fitting cap worn by both men and women that covers the top, back, and sides of the head.
History
Coifs date from the tenth century, but fell out of popularity with men in the fourteenth century."A New Look for Women." Arts ...
s embroidered with gold and silver and the latest fashion in Italian ribbons and veils for her hair.
Mary planned making more gifts for Elizabeth and wrote to Mothe Fénélon for advice on what she would like best. She asked him to send lengths of gold
passementerie
Passementerie (, ) or passementarie is the art of making elaborate trimmings or edgings (in French, ) of applied braid, gold or silver cord, embroidery, colored silk, or beads for clothing or furnishings.
Styles of passementerie include the tass ...
and braids called "bisette". Elizabeth remained cautious of Mary's gifts, and was reluctant to try some sweets which Mothe Fénélon offered her as a gift from the brother of the chancellor of Mary's dowry, for fear of poison.
In September 1574, Fenelon received a letter from the former
Regent Arran
In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
, now known as the Duke of Châtellerault, and a small portrait or miniature of
James VI of Scotland
James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...
, probably derived from a work of
Arnold Bronckorst
Arnold Bronckhorst, or Bronckorst or Van Bronckhorst ( 1565–1583) was a Flemish or Dutch painter who was court painter to James VI of Scotland.
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (), sometimes known as Berwick-on-Tweed or simply Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, and the northernmost town in England. The 2011 United Kingdom census recor ...
and he was accompanied by her diplomat William Davison.
James VI wished to avoid him meeting
Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox
Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, 1st Earl of Lennox, 6th Seigneur d'Aubigny (26 May 1583) of the Château d'Aubigny at Aubigny-sur-Nère in the ancient Provinces of France, province of Berry, France, Berry, France, was a Catholic French nob ...
in his journey. While travelling to Berwick in December 1582, by chance near
Northallerton
Northallerton ( ) is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the River Wiske in the Vale of Mowbray and had a population of 16,832 in 2011. Northallerton is an administrative centre for York and North Yorkshire ...
the ambassador encountered the Duke of Lennox, who was travelling south. Mothe-Fénelon corresponded with
George Seton, 7th Lord Seton
George Seton V, 7th Lord Seton (1531–1586), was a Lord of the Parliament of Scotland, Master of the Household of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Provost of Edinburgh. He was the eldest son of George Seton, 6th Lord Seton, and Elizabeth Hay, a daug ...
, who offered him the use of his lodging in Edinburgh. In January 1583, he stayed in Robert Gourlay's house on the Lawnmarket, at the top of the
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage.
The Royal ...
.
Diplomatic discussions involved the topic of a marriage for James. The ambassador advocated the
Auld Alliance
The Auld Alliance ( Scots for "Old Alliance") was an alliance between the kingdoms of Scotland and France against England made in 1295. The Scots word ''auld'', meaning ''old'', has become a partly affectionate term for the long-lasting asso ...
, and reminded James that his grandfather
James V of Scotland
James V (10 April 1512 – 14 December 1542) was List of Scottish monarchs, King of Scotland from 9 September 1513 until his death in 1542. He was crowned on 21 September 1513 at the age of seventeen months. James was the son of King James IV a ...
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise (; 22 November 1515 – 11 June 1560), also called Mary of Lorraine, was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from 1538 until 1542, as the second wife of King James V. She was a French people, French noblewoman of the ...
. The English diplomat, Robert Bowes and William Davison, reported that Mothe-Fénelon and Maineville were trying to build a French faction in Scotland, help by the financial insecurity of the Ruthven Regime. After a banquet given by the
Provost of Edinburgh
The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Edinburgh is elected by and is the convener of the City of Edinburgh Council and serves not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city, ex officio the Lord-Lieutenant of Edi ...
, Alexander Clark, and the burgh council, Mothe-Fénelon went to Seton Palace and returned to Berwick.
In August 1583, the government of Scotland passed into the hands of the Ruthven Raiders, a rule known as the Gowrie Regime. Mothe-Fénelon and another French diplomat, Maineville, were instructed to ensure that James VI was at liberty, continue discussions about the return of Mary to Scotland to rule in " association" with James VI, and the rehabilitation of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, who had been exiled by the Raiders.Steven J. Reid, 'Bairns and Bearded Men', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland'' (Routledge, 2017), p. 43.
Return to France
Mothe Fénélon returned to France in 1583. He opposed the
Protestants
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
until the end of the reign of Henry III, but espoused the cause of Henry IV. He died in 1589.
Writings
Fénelon was the author of a number of writings, among which those of general importance are:
* ''Mémoires touchant l'Angleterre et la Suisse, ou Sommaire de la négociation faite en Angleterre, l'an 1571'' (containing a number of the letters of Charles and his mother, relating to Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and the Bartholomew massacre), published in the ''Mémoires of Castelnau'' (Paris, 1659)
* ''Négociations de la Mothe Fénelon et de Michel, sieur de Mauvissière, en Angleterre''
* ''Dépêches de M. de la Mothe Fénelon, Instructions au sieur de la Mauvissière'', contained with the above in the edition of Castelnau's ''Mémoires'', published at Brussels in 1731.
The correspondence of Fénelon was published at Paris in 1838–1841.