A letter to the Earl of Buchan from Monsignore Carlo Erskine, Domestic Prelate to Pope Pius VI., with Notices of Papal Bulls issued to Scotland

Abstract

Erskine begins this letter by explaining that, following an illness, he attempted to gain access to the records of papal bulls by applying the Secret Archives in the Vatican through the Pope. This Archive provided him with a list of papal bulls relating to Scotland between 1216 and 1261, which is included at the end of the letter. Erskine also mentions that he could send a copy of John Balliol's oath of allegiance to Edward I if it is needed and suggests that the archive keeper who helped him could be given a Fellowship in order to entice him to help search the Vatican Library for more information.