Mary of Scotland

Mary Of Scotland Georgia Mae Foster (The immediate interest in Helen Hayes' performance of Mary of Scotland makes the appearance of this paper pal' ticularly timely and valuable). To be a legend in one's own coun- ground and setting of the drama try is an honor which comes to very which Queen Mary lived, it is neces few women, but to be a subject of sary to know Scotland in its political controversy for three centuries was and religious aspects, its relation with the fate of Mary, Queen of Scotland. England and England's queen, Eliza Was she the violent, over-indulgent beth. woman who . while in love with an Mary became Queen of Scotland other man could calmly plan to amid.st a religious conflict whiCh murder her husband? Was she seethed over all Europe. England ambitious and so greedy for power and France both were eager to gain that she over-reached herself? Was an alliance with Scotland, England she so steeped in the pageantry of being Protestant while France was the Roman church that she could tol definitelv Roman Catholic. Scotland, erate no other religion-? Or, was she like Gaul, was divided-in two parts, brave and energetic, pursued by dis Protestant and Catholic. The Pro aster? Whatever the motive behind testant movement seemed to strike a her actions, historians have found responsive spark in the breasts of the much to say on this subject. As Scottish people as there was some Elizabeth says in Mary of Scotland, thing in it of the harsh mountains and moors of their country. Perhaps "Child, child, are you gulled without John Knox, its fiery, fanatic By what men write in histories, this leader, Calvinism would have spread or that over the land. as it was popular not And. never true? I am careful of my only with the middle-class but with name the hard-living, hard-riding noblemen As you are, for this day and longer. as well; but with him to guide it, it It's not what happens soon became a widespread fear in the That matters, no, not what happens hearts of the Roman adherents. that's true, Into these mad, fantastic religious But what men believe to have hap controversies came the young Queen, pened. "1 fresh from the pageantries and artifi cialities of French court life. "What men believe to have hap Scotland was likewise seething po pened" to Marv of Scotland is varied. litically. The government was in the There are some who believe that had hands of a few nobles who were re modern methods of detection been ap gents while the young queen was un plied to the various crimes laid at her der age. So "armed neutrality" might door. she would have been clearly have been said to be the form of gov vindicated. There are others who see ernment. her only as a murderess and wanton. When Mary was but a baby, an Which was she? Against the wild alliance had been sought with Prince chaos of Scotland she played her part Edward. afterwards Edward VI of and left the novelist. the historian, and England. This did not materialize the playwright her heroic vitality and for Mary of Guise (Mary's mother) spirit to do with as they saw fit. had other plans which would further To understand clearly the baek- her own ambitions towards the throne 21 22 THE MSS of France. No alliance with Protest tournament. Mary, realizing that she ant England was to unite the two was an unwelcome guest in France, countries. Instead, the little queen and after an unsuccessful attempt to was sent to France to be grounded marry the Spanish heir, found no in the Roman Catholic faith and edu~ alternative but to go home to Scot cated for the exalted position of land. Queen of France, and Scotland, and As she watched the receding shores perhaps of England also. of France. she must have reviewed During the ten years that Mary her life of gayety, the pomp and ex lived in France, English ambassadors travagance of the court, and must were sent to try to prevent the in have hoped that life would not be evitable marriage of the Queen of too hard in the harsh, cold country Scotland to the heir to the French which she called her own. When throne. At one time, so the story Mary asked Elizabeth for a passport goes, an attempt was made to poison to cross Engfand, was it to attract the young queen, a fitting example of Catholic followers to her picturesque the malevolent forces which tried to procession? When Elizabeth refused stem Mary's career.2 In spite of all it. was this an acknowledgment that the efforts of the opposing faction, Mary was her rival? and due to the tireless work and in Elizabeth won this first scrimmage numerable promises of Mary Guise, in her long battle with Mary which, Mary Stuart was married to Francis, although under cover most of the Daulphin of France, in 1558. time. was none the less deadly. Meanwhile in England, the reign When Mary had left Scotland, it of Mary Tudor had come to a bloody had been a land of monarchy, but end and Elizabeth became Queen, when she returned, she found it a thus bringing again the old question religfous republic. A year before her of her legitimacy. According to the return the Roman Catholic religion Roman church, Henry VIII could not had been abolished; alt churches had divorce Catherine of Aragon and been destroyed and the priests driven marry Ann Boleyn.3 If Elizabeth was from the ·country. We find the not the lawful daughter of the much Roman Catholic Queen returning to married Henry, then Mary, daughter a Protestant country, but she trusted of James VI of Scotland, and great her own personal charm and men~l grand-daughter of Henry VII of Eng irifts to see her through the conflict. land, was the next in line. She fitled her court with Protestant When the Queen of Scots proudly advisers and adopted a policy of had the arms of England embroidered peaceful arbitration. She hoped to on her banners with the heraldic sym win the respect of her people and so bols of Scotland and France, there have more power to change that were many who thought it was right which she disapproved and to force fully there. Thus, Mary at the very reforms upon tliem. beginning of her career won the Mary. at this time, wished the enmity of Elizabeth who carefully, strength of a foreign power to aid in step by step, planned her ultimate her governing. All such plans were downfall.4 useless as Catherine of Merci (mother The King of France died and Fran of Francis II) and Elizabeth were cis and Mary became King and Queen combined against such alliances. Mary of France with all the pageantry of had no choice but to ally herself with medieval splendor. This splendor was an Englishman of Elizabeth's choos short-lived as fourteen months later ing.6 Francis died of a septic ear5 fol There was Lord Darnley, connect lowing an injury he received in a ed with both her houses, and there MAGAZINE 23 was the Scotch noble, Bothwell. Ad only succeeded in hastening the vised by Riccio, her Italian secretary, Queen's doom, for then Mary was Mary decided that the Lord Darnley held prisoner in Holyrood. Scotland's was the most desirable of all her Queen was in a plight known only suitors. He had charm, a claim to to heroines of romance. Baffled and the English throne, and was a Roman grieved by the gruesome murder, she Catholic. The Queen hoped by this mastered herself, swore vengeance,9 marriage to ally all the Roman Cath and looked around for a way of olics in England and Scotland and escape. also strengthen her claim to the Realizing that Darnley was only throne. an instrument in the hands of more In July, 1565, Mary was married to powerful leaders, she also knew that Lord Darnley. Elizabeth was seem the next thing to do was to win him ingly furious because Mary had dis to her cause, for she was soon to regarded her wishes, although it is give to the world an heir to the believed that Elizabeth had worked Scottish throne. toward this end, realizing that the It was an easy task to impress only thing Mary would gain by this Darnley that he had been in the marriage was a weakling husbandwho wrong. and together they fled to would be a great hindrance to her Dunbar Castle, where Bothwell and ambitions.7 Huntley joined her forces. After the Again Elizabeth scored, for it was birth of her son, Mary severed all not many weeks after the marriage civilities with Darnley. The breach until the Queen realized her grave between them became more apparent mistake. Darnley was weak, self when Darnley, realizing his position, willed, and very jealous of Mary. was always in a rage. It was during Moray, the Queen's half-brother, and this time that scandalous tales were Maitland, leaders of the Lords of the told about Marv and Bothwell which Congregations who had been banished have no authenticity whatsoever.lo from the court when they protested Since Riccio's death Mary had ap against the marriage, were most anxi pointed Maitland as her adviser. ous to avenge themselves. They Months went by and this weakling whispered into the willing- ears of husband of Mary's stood in the way Darnley tales about his wife and her of her political success.

Load more