Philibert du Croc
Born in an aristocratic family from the French province of Auvergne, Philibert du Croc was a courtier closely associated to the House of Guise and he was an ambassador to Scotland in 1566-1567 and in 1572.
During this period, du Croc made multiple journeys as a king's envoy, notably to England, Piedmont, Scotland, Flanders, Calais and Boulogne.
He remained in her service until she returned to Scotland in August 1561, following the death of her husband Francis II, who was succeeded as king of France by his young brother Charles IX under the regency of his mother Catherine de Medici.
[9][10] In 1565, Du Croc was appointed maître d'hôtel (master of the household) and conseiller ordinaire (member of the "Regular Council") to the king of France, when he was sent as ambassador to Mary Stuart in Scotland.
[11] He reported to Paris on the grave events surrounding the murder of David Rizzio, Mary's private secretary, on 5 March 1566, with the complicity on the king-consort Lord Darnley.
After the birth on 19 June 1566 of the future James VI, son of Mary Stuart and Lord Darnley, Du Croc worked without success for the reconciliation of the royal spouses.
[13] On 17 December, he took part in the baptism of the prince at Stirling Castle by carrying him from his bedroom to the chapel together with the Count of Brienne, who was the representative of King Charles IX, the child's godfather.
At the end of 1571, when Catherine de Medici gets closer for a few months to the Protestant party, he is sent to the dukes Henri of Guise, Claude of Aumale and the Marquis of Maine in order to convey to them that they should refrain from coming to Court in too large a number.
His mission also included to visit Mary Stuart, who was held prisoner in England in Sheffield Castle, and to ask Elizabeth I for her release and departure to France.
Instead, the English March Warden, Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon wrote to Regent Mar on his behalf, an unusual procedure which caused delay.
[29] The French Court was blinded by its dream of an alliance and wedding between the queen of England and the Duke of Anjou and did not realise or much care that the truce was ruining the cause of Mary Stuart by disarming her defenders, reducing the influence of France and placing Scotland's destiny in the hands of the English party.
After having transmitted this letter to the king of France, du Croc received from him the instruction dated 7 September to respect all the previous treaties with the Scots but also the one recently signed with the queen of England.
[33] His offer was therefore turned down by Mary Stuart in these words: «Je trouve fort bon ce que vous avez dict a Du Croq pour son voyage; car je ne m’y veulx, en façon que ce soit, fyer; la preuve que j’en ay faicte m’ayant cousté trop cher par le passé»[34] (I approve of what you said to Du Croq about his journey; as I don't want in any way to rely on him; the experience that I had, having cost me too much in the past).
[36] On 20 June 1585, the Duke of Montpensier thanked him for the good service that the inhabitants of Thiers received from him and his son and asked him to continue[36] Philibert du Croc signed his testament on 2 May 1587 and died shortly afterwards, the same year as Mary Stuart.
