Category: Mary Queen Of Scots - Meandering Through Time

Death of James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell

14/4/2020

I took a bit of a fancy to James Hepburn, the 4th Earl of Bothwell, while still at school, and the attraction didn't wane after seeing him portrayed by Kevin McKidd in the 2004 mini-series Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. However, at school we were not told the of his brutal treatment of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the media forces us to view his story through rose-coloured glasses.

Bothwell was a staunch supporter of the regency under Mary of Guise, and his support continued when Mary's daughter arrived from France to take the Scottish throne; however, he was unhappy with her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Darnley, by all accounts, was a disreputable young man who history describes as a heavy drinker, vain, arrogant, self-centred, egotistical and violent; he was also disliked by many of his peers. Both Mary and Bothwell were suspected of being involved in Darnley's murder; Bothwell was tried but was cleared.

History tells us that Mary and Bothwell fled to his castle, but it doesn't tell us that he kept her a prisoner and raped her there. Mary escaped and fled to England and was incarcerated. How different it may have been if she had chosen France and exile.

Mary's freedom ended at Lochleven Castle, and Bothwell headed to Orkney and Shetland. Circumstances forced him to flee to Norway, where he was questioned about monies owed to Anna Throndsen, a woman whom he had abandoned years earlier. He was held first at Copenhagen Castle, and by 1573 he found himself in solitary confinement in Dragsholm Castle
also in Denmark.

It was at Dragsholm Castle that James Hepburn died on the 14th April 1578 insane, weakened and degraded, allegedly chained to a stone pillar and unable to stand.

In a gruesome end to his tale, we find that his mummified remains were displayed in the church in the village of Faarevejle until finally buried some four centuries later.

Anthony Babington

20/9/2019

On 19th of September 1586, Anthony Babington, a one-time page in the household of George Talbot, wrote to Queen Elizabeth begging her for mercy despite the fact that he and his fellow conspirators had attempted to assassinate her and place her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots on the English throne.

When his plea fell on deaf ears he offered to pay for his release. All this was to no avail, and it was on this day that Babington was drawn on a hurdle from Tower Hill to St Giles in the Fields where he was to suffer the barbaric execution of hanging and quartering.

In the plot that now bears his name should we consider Babington as naive, an idealistic young man caught in the slip-stream of insurrection and dazzled by the thought of the rewards that would be lavished upon him when the deed was done or did he enter into this dangerous game with malice aforethought? Either way, Anthony Babington had been approached by John Ballard, a Catholic priest, who told him that the plot was supported by Spain, but what Babington didn't know was that Elizabeth's spymaster had already uncovered the plot.

Mary's Last Letter

8/2/2019

Below is the first page of the last letter Mary Queen of Scots wrote before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle. It was to Henry III of France the younger brother of her first husband Frances II.

It was dated 2am in the morning of the 8th February 1587 on the first page Mary writes:

" Royal brother, 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... "

Murder of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley

10/2/2018

The illustration below was drawn in 1567 and depicts the events following an explosion in the early hours of the morning of the 10th February that year.

In the top right-hand corner, you can see the half-naked bodies of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and his servant, there's a dagger nearby. Also depicted is the ruins of the house that Darnley is said to have stayed in that night. At the bottom, the burial of the Darnley's body can be seen taking place.

A 16th-century murder mystery it certainly is.

Lord Darnley and his servant had been found in an orchard outside a house that formed part of Collegiate Church of St Mary in the Fields or as it is commonly known Kirk o’ Field. The house as you can see was completely destroyed but Darnley's body, it was said, showed no effects of the blast.

Darnley, you will know was the second husband of Mary Queen of Scot's, he was by all accounts a disreputable young man that history describes as a heavy drinker, vain, arrogant, self-centred, egotistical and violent he was also disliked by many of his peers. Despite this Mary married him in 1565, a year later he was implicated in the murder of the queen's private secretary David Rizzio.

His involvement in the death of Rizzio is not clear and the truth about his own strange death has never discovered and still remains a mystery. However, Mary and James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell were suspected of being involved - Bothwell was tried but was cleared.

Mary and Bothwell didn't help their cause, they would marry two months later, they did not wait for the traditional period of mourning to end.

Like Mary and Bothwell, Henry Stuart did not do himself any favours, but was he guilty of all the things history tells us he was or was he a scapegoat used by those who wished to see Mary off the throne of Scotland?

Murder of David Rizzio

8/3/2017

It was on the 9th March 1566 that Italian David Rizzio, private secretary to Mary Queen of Scots was murdered at Holyrood House in Edinburgh.

Out of the fourteen men involved in Rizzio's death it had been Patrick, Lord Ruthven who was the first in the queen's bedchamber that evening, standing in the door way he was wearing full armour that covered his nightshirt, Forcing his way into the room he shouted the words

“May it please your majesty to let yonder man Davie come forth of your presence, for he has been overlong here.”

Rizzio is said to have hidden behind Mary's skirts before he was dragged kicking and screaming to his death, he was stabbed over fifty times before his body was pushed to the bottom of a stone staircase. Later, in his testimony on Rizzio's murder, Ruthven stated that the Scottish lords had acted in what they considered was the best for Mary's husband Henry Darnley, Mary herself, the State of Scotland and religion. State and religion, I imagine were the main factors behind this plot, Darnley I think was not.

It must have been very clear to the Scottish lords that Henry Darnley was jealous of Rizzio's relationship with the queen and he was easily persuaded to join in the plot. However, when it came to the day when action was needed Darnley refused to stab Rizzio, standing back, he distanced himself from what was a frenzied attack. Angered by this his dagger was cleverly left in the body to show his involvement, a fact that was mentioned thirteen days later in English state papers when diplomat Sir Thomas Smith wrote to Lord Burghley.

"His (Darnley) dagger was left standing in Rizzio's body. Their mind was to have hanged Rizzio. The Lords of this last attempt have written Murray not to forbear for their cause to agree with the Queen. Lennox remains at Dunbar much offended with his son. The King repents of it, and confesses that he was abused."

In this affair poor David Rizzio goes down his history as a scapegoat, and Henry Darnley a weak willed coward. Darnley's death a year later was a violent one too, implicated in that was James Bothwell. Lord Ruthven died in his bed three months later. Of the final fate of David Rizzio there is some confusion, but it is considered by many that he lies in unmarked grave at Hollyrood Abbey.

Mary Queen of Scot's Death Warrant

1/2/2017

A warrant ordering her death of Mary Queen of Scots was signed by Elizabeth I on the 1st February 1587.

Sandor Liezen-Mayer's depicts Elizabeth 's hatred quite brilliantly.

Mary would be executed a week later and despite her famous reaction on finding out her cousin was dead, it is clear from the warrant what Elizabeth's wishes were:

“repaire to our Castle of Fotheringhaye where the said Queene of Scottes is in custodie of our right trustie servant and Counsellor Sir Amyas Poulet Knight, and then taking her into your charge to cause by your commandment execution to be done upon her person”.

Mary, on hearing of her fate, wrote to Henry III of France, the younger brother of her first husband Frances II stating

"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.... "

Mary Queen of Scots is one of a number of persons in history that I am known to dither about, do I like her or not? My gut feeling however is yes I do.

Below is a copy of the original warrant that disappeared following Mary execution.

More information about this is available on Lambeth Palace website.

www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/content/executionwarrant

Death of Mary Queen of Scots

1/2/2017

Mary, Queen of Scots was executed on the 8th February 1587.

Seven day earlier, William Davison, Elizabeth I's secretary, was asked by the queen to bring Mary's death warrant in order that she could sign it. Elizabeth handed it back to Davison for safe keeping. However, contrary to her order the warrant found its way into the hands of William Cecil. Cecil was quick to act upon Elizabeth's wishes stated within the warrant....

“repaire to our Castle of Fotheringhaye where the said Queene of Scottes is in custodie of our right trustie servant and Counsellor Sir Amyas Poulet Knight, and then taking her into your charge to cause by your commandment execution to be done upon her person”.

It is clear that Elizabeth certainly had some doubts about Mary's execution. Although there is no evidence, it is probable that William Cecil and Francis Walsingham used their positions to influence the Privy Council to convince the queen Mary's death was necessary, and her Parliament to get the warrant approved.

By the 7th February, Elizabeth's representatives had arrived at Fotheringhay Castle, and in the presence of Poulet, Mary was informed that they would proceed with her execution the next morning before eight o'clock.

According to French nobleman Pierre de Bourdeille, who had been with Mary during her imprisonment, the Scottish queen welcomed the news of her demise, stating that she 'longed for an end to her miseries, and had been prepared for death ever since she had been sent as a prisoner to England.' She asked for time to prepare herself, but this was not granted, Mary was told in no uncertain terms

'No, no, Madam you must die, you must die! Be ready between seven and eight in the morning. It cannot be delayed a moment beyond that time.'

Later that evening Mary would write to Henry III of France, the younger brother of her first husband Frances II stating

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."

As arranged, Mary arrived at the scaffold the next morning accompanied by her ladies in waiting. Mary rejected the offer of a Protestant minister to pray for her soul, but asked that Elizabeth spare her companions. Those who gathered around the scaffold gave an audible gasp as Mary removed her black dress to reveal a red petticoat that symbolised Catholic martyrdom. Mary was dying for her faith, and in doing so she kissed her crucifix and stated

Even as Thy arms, O Jesus, were spread here upon the cross, so receive me into Thy arms of mercy and forgive me all my sins.'

Mary knelt, and as a cloth was tied across her eyes she felt for the block and laying her head down she repeated

‘In manus tuas, Domine’ - ‘Into thy hands, Lord’

With more than one stroke of the axe Elizabeth's nemesis was dead.

Mary's executioner is said to have picked up her severed head and, showing it to those present shouted

"God save Queen Elizabeth! May all the enemies of the true Evangel thus perish!'

Despite her famous reaction on finding out her cousin was dead, it is clear from the death warrant what Elizabeth's wishes were. Cecil, Walsingham and Davison, all staunch Protestants, had their reasons to rid of the country of the Catholic heir to the English throne. They knew that Elizabeth's hesitation could prove problematic, and they acted fast. However, Cecil and Walsingham would not feel the wrath of a distraught and guilt racked queen, but Davison would.

Mary was buried in a Protestant service at Peterborough Cathedral, her body would later be exhumed and reinterred in Westminster Abbey. Her crucifix and cover of her prayer book were quickly taken from the scene, no doubt by her loyal ladies for safe keeping, but you can see in the above image that most of Mary's belongings were burnt to prevent them becoming Catholic icons.

History Bites: The Rough Wooing

16/1/2017

We know the eight year war between Scotland and England in Henry VIII's time as the Rough Wooing. In Scotland it was known as Eight/Nine Year War.

King Henry VIII's idea to marry his son Edward to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, was an attempt to create a new alliance between the two countries and thus stopping an invasion of England by France via Scotland.

The term Rough Wooing comes from George Gordon, a Scottish nobleman who remarked.

"We liked not the manner of the wooing, and we could not stoop to being bullied into love"

However the term wooing in regards to war comes from the pen of Walter Scott whose romantic ideals changed the way we view history today.

Death of George Talbot

18/11/2016

It was on this day in 1590 that George Talbot, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury died.

Talbot was the fourth husband of Bess of Hardwick and it was under their care the exiled Mary Queen of Scots lived for fifteen years.

The time and effort involved with their high profile prisoner took its toll on Talbot's marriage, as Bess was suspicious about
the amount of time Talbot spent with Mary and resorted to spreading rumors that he had been more than her jailer. By the
time of Mary’s execution Talbot's reputation was in tatters, his finances in ruin, and his health had deteriorated too.

By the end of 1587, Talbot was a broken man, from this time and up to his death he lived quietly at Handsworth Manor with Eleanor Britton, a servant in his household.

George Talbot was buried in the Shrewsbury Chapel of Sheffield Cathedral, where there is a magnificent
monument dedicated to him.

"Mary Stuart, commonly called Queen of Scotland"

8/2/2014

Was Mary Queen of Scots guilty of her crimes, or was she just a pawn in William Cecil's plans to rid the realm of Catholicism?

Contemporary drawing of the Trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, 14–15 October 1586

The Scottish queen had become the focus for Catholic plots to end the life of Elizabeth, Queen of England, but of her actual involvement there was no evidence to back any of these accusations, however in 1586 a letter was discovered in which Mary corresponded with Anthony Babington who was actively planning to depose Elizabeth, it was this letter, that was beginning of the end for Mary.

It was intercepted by Elizabeth's spymaster Francis Walsingham and therefore Elizabeth had no choice but the have Mary tried for treason on the 14th of October 1586, she was condemned to death eleven days later.

Cecil knew that as a queen it would be difficult to have Mary executed, to most people, her royal rank would have excused her from any blame, it would be asked 'Would an anointed queen plan the murder of another anointed queen?' Cecil knew this all too well, she was condemned to death as "Mary Stuart, commonly called Queen of Scotland". Elizabeth too had a problem with queen-ship, she could not bring herself to execute a reigning queen and put off signing the death warrant. The signing of the death warrant is another incident in the death of Mary that is questioned. Did Elizabeth sign of her own choice or was she tricked by William Cecil? Either way sign it she did and Mary went to her death on this day in February 1587 at Fotheringhay Castle.

Her beautiful face can be seen here in her death mask, the colour of her skin is paint and the hair was added later and here too is a depiction, by a Dutch artist. Of the execution of Mary Queen of Scots where we can see Mary laying her head on the scaffold but if you look to the left of the picture, you can see an image of a bonfire on which the queens possessions are being thrown, this, of course, was to prevent them from being made into relics by her followers, another order of Cecil's?

Evidence had been found to convict Mary, it was the cause of the sad end to a life that had been full of tragedies and more than a few foolish actions.