Sophisticated, tall, vibrant and beautiful
The ill-fated Mary was born on 8th December 1542 at Linlithgow Palace, only a few days after her father, James V died, making her Scotland’s Queen. Her French Catholic mother, Mary of Guise became regent, ruling Scotland on behalf of her infant daughter. Mary left Scotland at five years of age to be betrothed to the infant Dauphin, François.
She knew very little of her country and her ill-fated rule began in August 1561 when she was 18 years old. She was Catholic in a country that was officially Protestant. Scotland had a much harsher climate and parts of its landscape were wild and desolate. Nevertheless, during her six-year reign, Mary travelled the length and breadth of Scotland, some 4000 miles, meeting and greeting her people. Her subjects saw a young woman, who was tall, over six feet, sophisticated and very beautiful. Often she stayed in castles but also in abbeys, as these could accommodate her large entourage.
Mary married the Dauphin when she was 15, and one year later became King of France, after his father died in a jousting accident. However, another year later, tragedy struck again and Mary’s young husband, François died of a brain tumour. One might wonder how her life may have turned out if he had lived. Mary returned to her homeland to a Scottish court much less sophisticated and smaller than the French court.
Apart from her native Old Scots and French, she understood Latin and Greek, Spanish and Italian. Later on in her life, she learned English. She loved music, dancing, and embroidery, was an expert horse rider and was the first woman to play golf in Scotland, at which she also excelled.
She loved nature and animals, this none so more evident as shown by her beloved little terrier, Geddon. He was her constant companion during her last years in prison, and he had hidden under her gown all through her execution. Her nature was that of forgiving and generous. She spent most of her last night before her execution drafting a will remembering all her servants to make sure they would be taken care of after her death.
Her life was tragic from the very beginning to its end but is fondly remembered as a most vibrant and exhilarating young woman. Mary lost her father, her first husband, the Dauphin, witnessed her beloved Italian secretary stabbed to death, her second husband murdered, suffered the loss of her twins, only saw her young son for a very short time, was imprisoned for 19 years and then executed.
Despite all this tragedy, her life was one that has left its mark on Scotland’s turbulent history. The Protestant Reformation was sweeping across Europe and in Scotland it opened up a huge divide in Scottish politics. During her short reign, there was civil war which paved the way for a Scottish king to sit on the throne of England.
Mary Queen of Scots Time line
1542
After the defeat of the Scottish army at the Battle of Solway Moss, James fled to Falkland Palace. He was already ill with a fever and died shortly after on the 14th of December. His young daughter, Mary, was born on the 8th December. Her French Catholic mother, Mary of Guise acted as Regent for the infant Queen, aided by Cardinal Beaton.
1543
The Treaty of Greenwich was signed. Mary will marry Henry VIII’s son, Edward. The Earl of Arran had signed the accord but it was rejected by the Scottish Parliament on 11th December 1543, leading to eight years of Anglo-Scottish conflict known as the Rough Wooing.
1544
The period of the ‘Rough Wooing’ begins. Henry VIII’s soldiers continually raided the Borders to enforce the Treaty of Greenwich. Henry VIII had tried to secure a marriage between Mary and his infant son, Edward but the Scots nobles resisted as they feared an English takeover.
1548
The Treaty of Haddington was signed. With Scotland under constant attack by Henry VIII, the Scots nobles agreed Mary was to marry the French Dauphin, François, son of Henry II of France and she was sent to live in France for safety.
1558
Mary married François in Notre Dame Cathedral.
1559
François is crowned King of France at Rheims. Mary is the Queen of France. John Knox returned to Scotland. Two days after he arrived Protestant mobs attacked Friaries and churches in Perth.
1560
The Reformation Parliament meets. Scotland is now a Protestant country. Elizabeth 1st of England signed the Treaty of Berwick which promised Protestant Scots help in their rebellion against Mary’s mother. François dies and Mary loses the French crown. Her mother-in-law Catherine of Medici becomes regent on behalf of her other son, Charles IX.
1561
After the death of her young husband, Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland. Mary is a Catholic and finds her country officially Protestant. She must find some way to work with the new Protestant regime.
1565
Mary married Lord Darnley by Roman Catholic rites. This marriage angers Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth I of England because, like Mary, Darnley has a claim to the English throne.
1566
Mary’s Italian secretary, David Rizzio, is brutally murdered in front of her. She is briefly held prisoner but later escapes to Dunbar. After a difficult labour, Mary gave birth to James VI on 19th June.
1567
10th February. An explosion at Kirk o’ Fields destroyed the lodging house of Lord Darnley. He was unhurt by the blast but appeared to have been strangled. Darnley had been very troublesome, he was a very heavy drinker and Mary had fallen out of love with him. The Earl of Bothwell became a suspect.
24th April. Mary saw her son James VI for the last time. She is abducted by Bothwell and taken to Dunbar Castle.
15th May. Mary married the man who may have been responsible for her husband’s death – the Earl of Bothwell. It was a Protestant ceremony.
15th June. The Battle of Carberry Hill was more of a standoff than a battle. Some Scottish nobles were angered by her marriage to Bothwell and were set to avenge Lord Darnley’s death. Bothwell escaped while Queen Mary surrendered. She was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle.
Darnley was eventually imprisoned in the Danish fortress of Dragsholm. For ten years, he was chained to a pillar where he could only crouch. He died insane with his body overgrown with hair. His mummified body was put on display in the crypt of Faarevejle church, near Dragsholm.
24th July. Mary is forced to abdicate in favour of her infant son, James VI. She was pregnant with Bothwell’s twins but lost them both while imprisoned at Lochleven Castle.
1568
2 May. With the help of two young Douglases Mary escapes from Lochleven with the help of two of the young Douglases. Lord Seton meets her on the other bank and soon 6,000 men gather to fight for Mary and the restoration of her crown.
13 May. The Battle of Langside is fought against Moray, the ruthless, power-hungry, illegitimate half-brother of Mary Queen of Scots. Moray had become regent, ruling Scotland on behalf of Mary’s infant son, James VI. He had led the rebellion against Mary after she married Lord Darnley, Moray was the driving force in getting Mary to abdicate. His army defeated Mary on this fateful day, forcing Mary to flee. Moray had powerful friends but many enemies. He was killed on 11th January 1570, shot while riding through Linlithgow.
16 May. Mary fled to England for the ‘safety’ of her cousin Elizabeth, this was against the advice of many of her lords. She is imprisoned for 19 years after numerous alleged plots to overthrow her cousin.
1587
The Babington Plot of 1586 proved fatal to Mary. She placed herself in danger when she replied to the conspirators. Her letters were doctored to help uncover the identities of all the plotters. She was tried, found guilty and eventually executed on the morning of 8th February at Fotheringhay Castle. It took three strokes of the axe to sever her head from her body. She was 44 years old and had been a captive in England for 19 years.
The last letter of Mary Queen of Scots, written at 2 am on 8th February 1587, just six hours before she was executed. It is addressed to Henri III of France, brother of her first husband.
“Sire, my brother-in-law, having by God’s will, for my sins I think, thrown myself into the power of the Queen my cousin, at whose hands I have suffered much for almost twenty years, I have finally been condemned to death by her and her Estates. I have asked for my papers, which they have taken away, in order that I might make my will, but I have been unable to recover anything of use to me, or even get leave either to make my will freely or to have my body conveyed after my death, as I would wish, to your kingdom where I had the honour to be queen, your sister and old ally.
Tonight, after dinner, I have been advised of my sentence: I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning. I have not had time to give you a full account of everything that has happened, but if you will listen to my doctor and my other unfortunate servants, you will learn the truth, and how, thanks be to God, I scorn death and vow”
1603
Mary’s son became James VI of Scotland when Elizabeth I died childless.
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