Scottish History - The House of Stewart
Mary, Queen of Scots part 2 of 3

• Robert II (1371-1390) & Robert III (1390-1406)
• James I (1406-1437)
• James II (1437-1460)
• James III (1460-1488)
• James IV (1488-1513)
• James V (1513-1542)
• Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
• James VI (1567-1603)

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 87) Part 2

• Mary Queen of Scots Part 1
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 2
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 3

Lord Darnley & Mary, Queen of Scots

An unmarried queen was a great asset for any country. There was talk of Mary marrying the Archduke Charles, Charles IX of France, the Duke of Guise or Don Carlos, the son of Philip II and even of a Protestant suitor, Leicaster or Eric of Sweden. Mary tried to arrange a match which would have the approval of Elizabeth since Mary was trying to remain in good graces with Elizabeth so she would name Mary as her heir.

It soon became apparent that Elizabeth would oppose most any match. Therefore, Mary herself chose her cousin Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, son of the fourth Earl of Lennox. Darnley was also a contender for the English throne and a Catholic. Mary was very much taken by his fine figure and they fell in love and were married without waiting for a dispensation from Rome (they were first cousins) or for Elizabeth's approval.

Mary possibly was a virgin when she met Darnley, even though she had been married to the King of France. Undoubtedly, there was a strong sexual attraction to him. Darnley was a very ambitious young man, not too bright, and wanted to rule the country not as the consort of the Queen but as the King in his own right. He proved to be arrogant, ill behaved, faithless and untrustworthy.

Mary by now was pregnant with the child who would eventually become James VI of Scotland. Because Darnley had proved such a disappointment to her, she turned her attentions and affection to an Italian singer, David Riccio, whom she made her secretary.

David Riccio & Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary and Riccio shared a close friendship, which angered Darnley, being a jealous person. I don't think that Mary and Riccio ever had an intimate relationship but were close as only good friends can be. It has been advanced that Riccio was a spy of the Pope. Not too much is known about him other than he was a musician and before long was supplanting Darnley in counsel and in companionship. One night, Darnley, in a drunken rage, invaded Mary's apartments where she was having a supper party. Darnley and his men dragged poor Riccio out into the hallway and stabbed him to death before the shocked and horrified Queen's eyes. Not long after this, Mary and Darnley reconciled. I personally believe that this was merely artifice on Mary's part to make Darnley assured of his position in her life until she could find a way to rid herself of him.

Shortly after the birth of Mary's son, Darnley was killed in an explosion at his home. He had escaped the explosion that destroyed the house he was living in but was found with his page dead a short distance from the house. It was rumored, and is probably true, that he was killed by James Hepburn, the Earl of Bothwell. It was found that Darnley had died by strangulation.

The Earl of Bothwell

Mary married the Earl three months later. This was one of Mary's biggest mistakes. It proved to be a political tragedy for her. Bothwell seems to have had a strong influence on Mary. She always seemed in need of a strong man for counsel. As a child she could trust and relied upon her French relatives for advice. Bothwell persuaded her that if she returned to Edinburgh from Stirling where she had had her baby, her life would be in danger. She went with him to Dunbar Castle where Bothwell could protect her.

There are some who believe that Mary was forced to marry Bothwell because of their conspiracy to murder Darnley. However, it is more likely that she was attracted to Bothwell and his strength which was in such opposition to Darnley's weaknesses. Mary may have felt that getting rid of Darnley would be approved by Parliament since she could not divorce him lest her son be jeopardized. Bothwell was brought to trial for the murder of Darnley but he was acquitted and obtained a recommendation by some of the nobles that he should marry Mary.

Bothwell had been married only a short time to another woman whom he divorced in order to marry Mary. They were married at Holyrood House in a Protestant ceremony after he had been created the Duke of Orkney.

Mary's Capture

Scotland was shocked, more by the fact of the marriage than by the murder of Darnley. A great deal of deceit revolved around Mary and she had many enemies. Many of the nobles opposed her marriage to Bothwell and they rose against her and Bothwell. A Protestant army of 3000 men led by the Earl of Morton, met them at Carberry Hill and after six hours of fighting, Mary persuaded Bothwell to leave the field. She surrendered herself and was taken to Lochleven Castle.

She soon realized the seriousness of her predicament as she was forced to ride among the rebels without food or rest and with no attendants. When she arrived in Edinburgh she was met with jeers from the crowd and cries of burn the whore. Death by burning was the fate of a woman who murdered her husband. She was confined in a small room in the Provost's house. The mob outside continued to call for her death.

Fearing for her life, the nobles moved her to Holyrood by using the "blue blanket," the fighting flag of the crafts community of Edinburgh to shield her from the mob. Still the danger was so great that she was moved once again to Loch Leven. Here she miscarried twins by Bothwell and was forced to abdicate in favor of her young son who was hastily crowned at Stirling. She saw her son for the last time when he was ten months old.

Bothwell escaped to Norway, was arrested by the King of Denmark and held captive until his death.

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 87) Part 2

• Mary Queen of Scots Part 1
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 2
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 3