Claude de l'Isle de Marivaux

Claude, who was governor of Laon and Lieutenant-general of the government of the Île-de-France, Chamberlain to the king's brother Francis, Duke of Anjou, and Captain of the castle and town of Arques, was known as "Marivaux le Sage", the wise.

His mission was concerned with a plan for James VI of Scotland to marry the sister of Henry of Navarre, Catherine de Bourbon.

He was recommended for this role by the poet Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas, who was strongly in favour of the marriage and praised the qualities of the "handsome, brave, eloquent, active, and discreet" king of the Scots to Henry.

James VI gave him a letter for Catherine de Bourbon, saying he would like to visit her and declare his intentions, and assured of his constant love.

[4] Claude carried a letter from the English diplomat in Edinburgh, William Ashby, to Francis Walsingham which mentions that he would tell him about the wreck of a ship from the Spanish Armada on Islay or Mull.

[9] He was hosted by the town of Edinburgh for four days and there was a banquet at his departure involving claret, sweet wine, "drogs and sweitt meitt.

John Colville wrote to the Laird of Wemyss that James VI was set on the Danish marriage and l'Isle's efforts were likely to be in vain.

An English man at the Scottish court Thomas Fowler wrote that Civille and Groslot, Sieur de l’Isle encouraged Edinburgh merchants who dealt with France to support the Navarre marriage.