Albert Fontenay
[19] On 4 January 1592, a courtier described as "Procureur Champhuon" was executed by hanging for conspiracy with Philippe Dallier, an usher of accounts, and a soldier called La Fontaine at a crossroads or in the old market place during the siege of Rouen.
[20][21] In August 1577, Claude Nau wrote from Sheffield Manor to his brother or brother-in-law about Mary's discontent with the services of Réné Dolu, a controller of her finances.
[22] During a recent visit to England, Dolu made several purchases for Mary in London, including confectionery, lemons for perfume, and a chess set.
[26] Fontenay later mentioned arriving with his brother-in-law, Jean de Champhuon, sieur du Ruisseau, to see Mary in England (in 1582) and finding she was out hunting.
[36] James began to wear a diamond cross at the end of August, and perhaps his choice of jewellery was connected with these recollections and the idea of service to his mother.
James said that he had tried to spend six days in a row looking at the royal accounts, but the effort made him unwell, and he compared his stamina to Spanish jennet, which he characterised as better for a "brave course" or gallop than long endurance.
[39] James wrote in French (coded in cipher) to Mary on 23 July 1584, pleased to welcome Fontenay to Falkland, as one of the first envoys from his mother.
[40] He understood that Fontenay intended to broach the topic of their "perfect union and association"[41] which he would "without fail immediately pass" after the return of Lord Seton from France.
He thought that James was as yet unaware of the comparative lack of wealth of the Scottish crown, that he had made bad choices in his favourite courtiers, and was more interested in hunting and pastime than his proper business.
James was a "young old man", the original word order was "vieulx ieune homme", avoiding his political duty as if he heard the "sirens of Socrates".
When Elizabeth Stewart, Countess of Arran asked him to attend, Fontenay claimed that the Scottish fare on the menu disagreed with him and he would get colic.
[52] He wrote that the Earl and Countess of Arran took every opportunity to convince James that Mary would displace him rather than form a partnership, actions which would frustrate his brother Nau's efforts in London in November.
[58] When authorities in Edinburgh impounded Fontenay's luggage, suspected to contain Catholic books forbidden in Scotland, James ordered the return of the diplomat's "cofferis and guids".
[62] In England, Mary moved from Sheffield to Wingfield, on the way telling John Somers that she had her son's agreement in writing for her to "order him in all things" and saying she knew nothing about an enterprise.
[65] She wrote to Fontenay on 28 September, asking him to recommend Claud Hamilton to James VI, and sent the articles of the association to John Maitland of Thirlestane.
[67] Mary sent cipher keys or "alphabets" for Fontenay to give to John Maitland and other Scottish courtiers he had identified who might wish to write to her.
A Scottish courtier and diplomat, the Master of Gray, who was in London, became angry because Fontenay seemed to have showed the young King James VI a letter from Mary which said he was untrustworthy.
[71]Sadler thought Gray's quarrel might benefit Elizabeth, as she could mediate in any subsequent disagreement between James and Mary to her "honour and commodity".
[76] Elizabeth, informed by the Master of Gray and letters Archibald Douglas and from Scotland, knew there was no association treaty in progress between James and Mary.
[77] Ralph Sadler described Mary's reaction to this at the end of February as "greatly perplexed", since Nau had not heard this from Gray when he was London.
Fontenay's departure was somehow delayed, and he wrote a letter Mary on 9 March 1584/5 which was critical of the "ambition and avarice" of the Earl and Countess of Arran.
[80] He warned Nau that a rumour was current at the Scottish court that Mary made him sleep with her (que sa majeste vous faisoit coucher avec elle), and so they should modify their familiar behaviour when the Master of Gray visited.
[82][83] James VI sent Lord Doune to Fontenay with a parting gift, a gilt engraved silver cup, which he refused as a point of honour.
[86] Fontenay had sent a box or coffer to Paris from Scotland, and after some delay, his brother-in-law, Jean de Champhuon, sieur du Ruisseau, discovered a secret compartment with letters (alleged to be) from James VI to Mary and her allies.
[92] He wrote again, later in 1585, asking if letters addressed to her at Wingfield in January carried by Antony Rolston via the house of Anthony Babington had arrived.
[97] A letter from the French ambassador in London, possibly around this time, mentioned that Fontenay had abandoned efforts to join Mary's service in England and had obtained employment in France.
[98] Thomas Morgan introduced Fontenay to Charles Paget and they met Claud Hamilton in Paris in January 1586, before his return to Scotland.
After his mission in Scotland, consideration of Fontenay's previous visit to Spain had aroused the suspicions of Henry III of France, so he was constrained to abstain himself from foreign negotiations.
[104] Mary asked the French ambassador in London, Michel de Castelnau, to try and get permission for Fontenay to serve her in England at Tutbury Castle in August 1586.
After receiving her death sentence in November 1586, she lamented his absence, and blamed Nau and Pasquier for retaining her papers and betraying her secrets when they were arrested.
