Mickey Mayhew: The Life and Death of Mary Queen of Scots
Mickey Mayhew is a successful autistic author with several published books on the topic of Mary Queen of Scots, who also featured prominently in his PhD thesis. For many years now, Mr Mayhew has been involved with the Mary Queen of Scots Society. This article will take a closer look at Mary Queen of Scots, arguably the most famous yet controversial figure in Scottish history.
Over the course of several centuries, Mary Queen of Scots has become something of an enigma, with the hard facts of her life and reign obscured by intrigue and romance. Mary was the only daughter of James V of the Stewart dynasty. At the age of just six days old, she became Queen of Scots. Her reign lasted from 1542 until 1567, when she was forced to abdicate.
It was initially intended that Mary would marry Prince Edward, son of King Henry VIII of England. However, the Scots refused to ratify the betrothal. Angered by the Scots’ defiance, Henry sought to change their minds through a show of force, triggering a war between England and Scotland that became known as the ‘Rough Wooing’.
In 1548, at the height of the conflict, Mary was sent to France. A plan was hatched for her to become the bride of the young French prince, The Dauphin, thus securing a Catholic alliance between Scotland and France against Protestant England. However, the plan never came to fruition. The Dauphin died in his teens, Mary returning to Scotland a young and beautiful widow.
By the time of Mary’s return, Scotland was in the throes of Reformation, grappling with a widening Catholic-Protestant split. A Protestant husband for Mary appeared to be the best choice in terms of securing stability for the country.
Mary Queen of Scots fell in love with Henry, Lord Darnley. The pair were married, however, the union proved unsuccessful. A weak man and a drunkard, Darnley left Mary to rule entirely alone, exercising no real authority in the country.
Mary bore Lord Darnley a son, the future King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England. Lord Darnley died in mysterious circumstances in Edinburgh, when there was an explosion at his lodging. After his body was discovered in the grounds, however, reports from the time suggest that he appeared to have been strangled.
Rumours circulated that Darnley had been murdered by James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, and that Mary was carrying Bothwell’s child. Bothwell was subsequently acquitted, and he and Mary married. However, the marriage failed to secure the approval of the Lords of Congregation and Mary was imprisoned in Leven Castle. Here, Mary miscarried twins. In 1568, Mary escaped, fleeing to England, throwing herself at the mercy of her cousin, Elizabeth I.
Mary spent the next 19 years as a prisoner in various castles and stately homes. She was accused of plotting against Elizabeth via coded letters and subsequently found guilty of treason.
Elizabeth I ordered Mary’s execution at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587. Following the death of Elizabeth in 1603, Mary’s son, James, came to the throne as James I of England and James VI of Scotland.
About The Mary Queen of Scots Society
Formed in 1992, the Mary Queen of Scots Society has participated in many projects celebrating the Scottish monarch’s life and legacy over the years, including planting a tree and plaque at Dundrennan Abbey and financing the restoration of rare books in Lambeth Palace Library.
The Mary Queen of Scots Society initiated a poetry and essay-writing competition for primary schools across Scotland, as well as erecting plaques at various locations, including Dumbarton, Carberry, Leith, Crail, Sheffield Manor and Workington. The Mary Queen of Scots Society also successfully raised funds to erect a statue of Mary Queen of Scots at Linlithgow Palace, her birthplace, which was unveiled on 24 April 2015.