Loving this series Claire. You won't believe me, but you (via The Anne Boleyn Files) and the wonderful Simon Schama inspired me to get on and finally do a history degree. Just finished my Masters. There you go. xx
Deborah HW Oh, Deborah! Congratulations! That is awesome! At the age of 60, now, the one regret of my life is that I never went on and seriously studied history, European history in particular...I should have gone on to get a teaching degree all those decades ago.i love the British monarchs so much...Congratulations again! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
In a lifetime...I can't imagine, actually being there and witnessing this execution. I know these people existed, I know this happened...but to wrap your mind around the fact that, it was indeed witnessed so many, many, many years ago...and it truly...happened. Wow...just wow...
I'm so happy I recently found this channel! You are doing an amazing job and I have your books on my wish list for my husband to get me for my birthday or next Christmas! I'm in the United States and your videos are up by the time I'm done making breakfast for my little ones and I've been loving watching them as I have my tea! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication and I can't wait to watch all your videos this year!
Hi Claire, I just happily by accident found your channel. I LOVE IT, I love all things Brit and Tudor. Thank y so much for all your hard work, and giving us such lovely well informed videos💓💗💞💕
Discovered this series just in time to enjoy for the rest of the year. I love everything Tudor so you Claire Ridgeway are a treasure and amazing historian thank you! I have a lot of new reading to do and I adore all the tidbits about Spain too. I even watch the ads for The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society 🏰👑
I adore this series. I also enjoyed last month’s Ann Boleyn files. Claire, I know you have way more knowledge about all things Tudor, so my question for you is this: What is your opinion personally of Mary?? In the US, our history classes skewed her as a woman misguided by the shady or weak men in her life. I’d like to know what you personally as a scholar, think. Loving this “on this day” series. ❤️👍🏻
It's really hard to figure her out. I don't think Elizabeth's government were clean, I think they were determined to bring her down and so laid a trap, but Mary walked into it. I think she let her heart rule her and made some bad and reckless decisions.
I Love History and so enjoy your daily "Today in Tudor History" segments. So glad you included Mary Queen of Scots, as she is one of my favorite Queens of that time period, even though she ruled very little, she too, left a profound mark in History. So thank you.
I think Elizabeth made the right decision, even with the risks and personal upset it would cause. I get the impression that had the boot been on the other foot, Mary would not have hesitated either. Probably have carried it out sooner. Elizabeth held out as she was better at politics than Mary was. And this was how Tudor politics worked.
tremms83 -- "...I get the impression that had the boot been on the other foot, Mary would not have hesitated either. Probably have carried it out sooner..." Agree 100%!
The thing about English court is that there's always a lot of lies and deceit whereas Mary Queen of Scots put it out there and she would fight her own battles. King Henry the 8th and Elizabeth didn't and rather since their henchman out to do their dirty work. I love what Sir Thomas More said about English court and how it was a politician's game and most of which was played out on the scaffold. TRUE!
disagree, if you read any of Mary's biographies and even her own letters/words she was a very NAIVELY albeit forgiving person. She probably would've asked liz to share the throne with her lol. She even forgave the scottish rebels who killed rizzio (insane I know ) but she was a kind monarch . That was one of her flaws sadly
Am I correct in the belief that Mary's petticoat was in the colour red -- the colour of martyrs? She *was,* after all, making a statement that she was dying as a martyr to the Roman Catholic faith....
Red petticoats were fashionable throughout the Middle Ages and up to around about the 1700’s. People used to think the colour warded off diseases, so it was often used for undergarments - petticoats, stockings, sleeping caps, etc. She probably did wear a red petticoat, but if she meant it as a reference to martyrdom then her contemporaries wouldn’t have understood it as such.
Just discovered this series Claire. Thank you so much Have just seen the new film and will buy the book you suggest. What a sad ending for Mary and the little dog makes it so poignant.
I first got interested in The Tudors in the early 80's when I was about 9 or 10. My mother had a Jean Plaidy book called Mary Queen of Scots. I would read the execution scene at the end of the book, over and over (I was a very morbid child). I was both terrified and fascinated. I have always wondered how much of her novelisation was true (the several attempts to sever the head from the body, the wig), but now I see that according to the eye witness account, it was true.
her death mask is beautiful though. I think her haters made up a macabre story when in reality it was probably smooth, peaceful and a quick as can be end. Liz's death was horrible though. IT took 2 week and she virtually refused to sleep and starved herself to death. Visions of people she killed and demons consumed her, it's well documented by her own courtiers.
What's so sad is in another time or different circumstances mary and Elizabeth could have been good friends and a wonderful support to each other considering what a extraordinary position they held in life
I think Mary was both intelligent and very creative from what I have observed and read about her love of needlework. I think the early loss of her parents, first husband, and the aggressive nature of those around her wore her down over time. Dispairing of having no audience with her cousin Elizabeth, eighteen years imprisonment, and No contact with her son James, Mary became careless towards the end of her life and welcomed freedom in any form, even death. How hard all of these circumstances must have been for her we can only imagine.
@@venacollier1430 Mary was bright and well-educated, but she didn't have the same brainpower as Elizabeth. Also, Elizabeth's life before taking the throne was one long lesson in surviving the cutthroat world of 16th century religious politics. One of the reviews of the new movie said something like "Unlike Mary, Elizabeth never confused being queen with having power." I think that captures the biggest difference between Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew that her position was precarious, and accordingly always thought everything through before acting. Mary had always been the most important person in whatever room she was in for the first 5 years of her life. She'd been queen for as long as she could remember, and couldn't conceptualize the possibility of losing that status, no matter what she did. That was her downfall.
Absolutely Loved this. I Happily subscribed. I have most books on 'Mary' and still have an issue obtaining 'John guys' book. I'll mourn mary our queen 👑 🏴 on our real date as the georgian calendar change must be taken into account, if we were to really put the real true date on her death. The 8th of February indeed was the true execution date, however we are technically only on the 26th of January if we were to align ourselves with her calendar in her time, as I believe we didn't change to the georgian calendar until 1752. Making her death date 21st of Feb in our time. Very confusing for some but I use reference to the times and calendars on such dates like these as I like to visit the Palace in which she was born (linlithgow) to pay my respects and to lay flowers, also visit the Chapel now turned church. Beautiful place and I adore that I am Just a ten min drive away. I can imagine some people don't ever stop to consider this annoyance of the calendar change in 1752 but as a history lover myself I find it hard to obide by our dates when mourning a person such like Mary for whom many have a very fond heart. I can imagine I'm not the only one who is to be bothered by true dates and calendars. Also, one more thing that truly anoys me when it comes to 'Mary' is the absence of people correcting a common mistake made by many non historical learned people that 'mary queen of scots' was not 'bloody mary'. Sorry this sounds totally pretentious but it bugs me 😂 Thank you for your video. ♥
🇦🇺🦘 Such a terrible matter, all round. Thank you for explaining what happened, and why. A Queen was executed, and what a dreadful execution it was. ... Also very sad about her little dog. Her dog wouldn't have understood at all, but been terrified at losing its mistress, who it obviously adored. Animals also experience grief. "Thank you" Claire 💓👑👍
Love this series, absolutely love it! Thank you so much for making these! I’ve been watching them at the gym to help me not realize I’m a hamster in a wheel and they really help pass the time!
"Her lips stirred up and down a quarter of an hour after her head was cut off." I can't even imagine that. A chill literally raced down my spine at that line. That witness account - all of what you read - is so gruesome and haunting! I don't know if I can read the whole thing...
That is not unusual apparently. In the 19th century French scientists carried out experiments on the heads of execution victims. A few minutes after one had been guillotined, his name was called out and his eyes opened. Another man was was slapped on the cheek and again he opened his eyes. There seems to be be some belief that there is residual brain activity for a few minutes after swift decapitation. It's almost as if the brain doesn't quite know that it is dead.
It's muscle spasms as well. After a sudden death, muscles will often spasm for a while until the energy (ATP molecules) runs out. If you've been in a slaughter house (I have as part of veterinary training) you'll notice the jaw muscles on the cattle's severed heads moving for a fair while. Also I always warn people that after euthanasia of their pet, the diaphragm sometimes contracts a few times, making the animal appear to be gasping.
@@amvanderveen5189 That happened when my first cat was euthanized. He seemed to take one long, shuddering breath after death. It was like his soul was leaving his precious body. I felt like he was taking mine with him. 😔 💔 😢
I think it was always going to be difficult for Mary after her return from France. The Scottish Lords, all the men around her, and she was no doubt young and somewhat naive. Then she marries a man that was at least narcissist if not a phycopath, not once but twice. She lacked wise advice and support for sure. Elizabeth was stuck between a rock and a hard place in regards to poor Mary. I can totally understand why she was ready to die.
Elizabeth I was a coward in how she dealt with Mary, Queen of Scots. She wanted her dead but wanted someone else to do it and for that I have no respect for her. The one thing I will give leeway on as far as E2 is concerned is that she was no doubt damaged from her childhood but overall, I cannot respect her any more than I can the other Tudors, as fascinated as I am with them. Years ago I read Antonia Fraser's Mary, Queen of Scots and have my own ideas of whether she was guilty as accused; I will read John Guy's account now that you've recommended it. I do enjoy your daily "On this day..." videos very much. I'm learning alot and I look forward to them every day. Thank you!
Elizabeth spent her life being put upon so many wanting to assassinate, poison or kill her in some treacherous manner. This was just survival of the fittest
@Elizabeth Frantes MAry's heirs are still on the throne today lol hell its even stronger with Diana's royal blood flowing in Prince soon to be King WIlliam and his kids.
@Elizabeth Frantes if anyone was a narcassist it was lizarddeath and her counselors.Evil does not win in the end. THeres a reason why liz died in regret and deprsesion and Mary didn't. She died calm and with dignity, despite her enemies reporting macabre reports. Her death mask still shows a beautiful woman finally at peace.
@Elizabeth Frantes Liz set in motion the notion to execute monarchs. THANKS LIZ FOR BEHEADING YOUR COUSIN! YOU MADE PARLAIMENT TOO POWERFUL YOU BASTARD AND COWARDLY QUEEN.
@@diannew6066 --- Hi! All I can find is the link to the book by John Guy' and no other link. If there is a link, can you please post it. Thanks so much for helping me out. :)
Sorry, I forgot to add it. Here it is and it's in the description now too - www.tudorsociety.com/8-february-1587-execution-mary-queen-scots-primary-source-account/
Claire you video are really amazing. You are soo accurated about the history fact and you help me to impruve my english even if I'm an italian in USA ! ❤
I know this is a witless question, but: Why is Mary, Queen of Scots never referred to as "Queen Mary of Scotland" much as Elizabeth Tudor was "Queen Elizabeth I"?
Wonderful series. Mary, Queen of Scots, must have been a very brave woman to meet her fate in such a calm manner. I can only imagine how Elizabeth must have tried to find a way to have her killed without the warrant of her death being signed. The court intrigue must have placed Elizabeth in an uncomfortable position.
Mary Queen of Scots is such an interesting person. I'm going to Amazon to buy the book you recommended now. I finished your book - The Fall of Anne Boleyn. Do you think of Elizabeth had released Mary, she would have been a threat to Elizabeth? I cant help but feel Mary was just desperate to be free which made her willing to plot against Elizabeth. Or, have Mary live more at her side than shut away?
The ironic thing is that while Mary was alive, no Catholic monarch was distressed enough by her plight to offer her the money or arms to win back her Scottish throne-- and her freedom. But as soon as she was dead, Phillip II of Spain was all about avenging her by conquering England. I suspect it's because with Mary dead, he could claim it's crown for himself.
@Elizabeth Frantes I dont really think she was all bad or a saint. I think her life was rough and she didnt have the great advisors that Elizabeth had. I agree that she would be used as a figurehead of plots but that wouldnt necessarily mean she condoned this.. I guess we all have the right to make mistakes and learn from them. I just cant say it was right to be jail her all those years. Then again, if my concern is only for England - I totally agree with the decision. Sorry I'm all over the place. :) Hope everyone has a great weekend!
@@LaPetiteBoulin During Mary's trial for the Babington Plot, after some waffling she came out and said since the Pope said she was the rightful queen of England she had no choice but to take the throne if she was offered. IOW, she would be a willing accomplice to any plot to depose Elizabeth, not just a figurehead. It was a stupid thing to say, unless Mary was sick of captivity and wanted to engineer a martyr's death.
Hey Claire awake at five this am so have enjoyed this video and part two about Mary boleyn, fantastic while eating my scrambled eggs and two ryvitas.... Thanks you and enjoy your day Paula
Every time I think of the execution of Mary, I picture Katherine Hepburn in ‘Mary of Scotland’ which is wildly inaccurate but entertaining. The scene in which she tells QE1 that she wins because her son will be king is quintessential Hepburn.
Erin Mary was a demanding guest. I have some letters that she sent Elizabeth, telling her what she wanted. She complained about one place having no glass in the windows, which even then was not unusual. She wanted silver dishes, a tapestry canopy for her bed, a Chair of State with a canopy, 16 servants and a permanent Catholic priest. She was given everything except the latter. What really sealed her death was the Babington plot, when she received, secretly, a letter telling her that 6 gentlemen were ready to do their work, that was to kill Elizabeth. Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spy Master, was seeing even Mary's secret correspondence, including her letter saying that the 6 gentlemen should do their work. Impossible to ignore that. Mary was a real threat to Elizabeth and couldn't be trusted. Hard to admit that, being on of her descendants.
Why do you personally think that Mary showed so little common sense? After all of the reading I’ve done I am still continually amazed at how many poor decisions she made (marrying Darnley, angering the Protestants who made up her royal council, depending on the wrong people like Bothwell to do her bidding or to make decisions for her, etc.). It also seems that she made decisions based on her feelings and not after deliberating the pros and cons of her decisions before acting on them. Do you think that her personality doomed her to her terrible fate, or do you think that had she had wiser advisors and friends she might have been a successful queen and not had the constant friction with Elizabeth I? Thanks for this marvelous daily dose of all things Tudor! It is much appreciated.☺️
That's a tough one to answer. I think Elizabeth was very fortunate in having very savvy advisors around her right from her preaccession days and through her reign. She also knew when to listen to them and which advice to follow. She certainly ruled with her brain rather than her heart, although she certainly wasn't perfect. I think Mary lacked good advisors and was prone to relying on her heart. Darnley may have been suitable in terms of his status, but he was incredibly arrogant and power-hungry.
Monica Call It does make you wonder what could have happened if the proposed meeting between the two of them, planned to take place in Nottingham in 1562, had actually happened. Maybe a face to face meeting could have changed history.
@@anneboleynfiles was there any way Mary could have survived and gone on to rule Scotland? It just seems crazy that Elizabeth was such a successful queen but Mary wasn't. They were both royal and educated. Why did Elizabeth succeed when Mary didn't? Is there any scenario in which Mary could have been a successful queen? Or was she doomed to fail? When I read Antonia frasers book I often ask myself why Mary didn't stay in France. It would've been easier. Life would've been better. She could've just lived happily in France till old age. In my opinion it was foolish of her to even return to Scotland.
she had two secretaries or messangers/advisors ---James Melville and RObert melville (they were protestant and actually plotting with Cecil and Liz) and they managed to convince her to forgive the rebel lords morton and moray when she should've had them kept under arrest.
She basically had been betrayed by many people in her innermost circle and privy counsel sadly--instigated by Moray and Morton with the conniving of her messenger James Melville and his brother Robert Melville. The people she trusted almost always betrayed her.
A truly sad end to someone who, had the tables been turned, would have doubtless willingly presided over the death of her cousin. Yet while Mary lived, she posed a real threat to Elizabeth - and for that matter all of those with a vested interest in maintaining Elizabeth' legitimacy to rule England.
Oh I don't believe for one moment Mary would have willingly presided over the death of Elizabeth. She wasn't made that way. She was too soft for her own good. I think Elizabeth thought she posed a real threat but I don't think Mary ever was a threat herself, tho she certainly was surrounded by those who wanted to wield her as a threat to Elizabeth, just as Elizabeth's chums liked to constantly remind her what a threat Mary was. Sad business but one could never win against a Tudor. They were pathologically ruthless.
Love these ON THIS DAY series ❤ SO well documented and presented you re actually reliving the drama 👍👍 poor little doggie hiding in his mistress s garments must have been real 💀👀 scared maybe he thought he could protecti his mistress when the details get too gory 🔴 🟥 or traumatising ◼🔲🔘 can always switch off and come back later □♡ THANK YOU ♡ Madam ♡ for these these gems 🔹️🔸️ a big yummy red and green apple🍎🍏 for the teacher with a wee pink ROSE diamond on the green 🥀💐🍏🍎🌞☀️🍂impressionist style or whatevever style you desire ☆ the apple is blood red BUT it s delicious and smiling ¤ THANK U again 🌞🐒❤👍🦋
The oddity is that it’s not Treason or a being a “Traitor,” after all, she was never a subject, but an independent sovereign… It was never an appropriate charge. She should have used a different charge - conspiracy to overthrow Elizabeth, or something similar.
Further to the death mask conversation.....I just found this: Mary's death on the execution block, at the hand of Queen Elizabeth was characterised by her dignity, bearing and composure. It was common to strike a mask from the severed head as soon as possible after death. The original appearance of the mask would be white and unembellished. This example, which was found by the late Dr Charles Hepburn of Glasgow, in Peterborough where Mary was first buried, has been hand-painted. Four masks were purported to have been made only two of which are available including this one and another at Lennoxlove. The Lennoxlove mask is however much smaller and the features quite different from this one, and Antonia Fraser (Mary's biographer), states that it is more likely to belong to one Hamilton lady. This painted mask is at Mary, Queen of Scots House in Jedburgh. The two masks are kind of similar, the tip of the nose, the mouth, general face shape but one is smaller - I wonder if it could have shrunk? Or one is not authentic.... Here is a link to the website where I found this information: www.marie-stuart.co.uk/Castles/MaryHouse.htm
Thank you for sharing! I've only seen the Jedburgh one in detail online. I'd love to see it in person. Perhaps so, I don't know, or perhaps one wasn't as carefully done.
Wow! Loved this. Mary and Elizabeth were both as cunning and ruthless as any male king of the day. In some strange way, in the end, Mary had the last laugh because her son James became king after Elizabeth died.
For the life of me, I can't understand why people say "Mary won in the end, because her son ruled after Elizabeth died!" Elizabeth didn't care about that; she was pleased enough that *she* kept the throne till she died. She refused to declare an heir while she lived, because she always remembered Mary Tudor's courtiers abandoning her on her deathbed to curry favor with Elizabeth. Elizabeth never married, because she realized that single she was a reigning monarch, but if she wed, her husband would be the real ruler in men's eyes. She lived the life she chose on her own terms, and proved that a woman could rule as effectively as a man.
@@astrinymris9953 very true.and you are probably right. .However. I believe Elizabeth also never married because she saw the power husbands had over their woman....like chopping off your mothers head. A life altering incident that had to have affected her psychologically. Just like half sister Mary was affected by her fathers treatment of her mother. I believe Elizabeth never married nor had children for two reasons. 1. as stated above. 2. Her father so wanted a son that he killed her mother over it..final revenge for her..his direct line dies out with her.
@@susanbedingfield4661 I agree that Elizabeth remained single to keep her autonomy, but I don't think spiting her father had anything to do with it. Unless she married a cousin with the same last name-- like Mary Stuart did-- her heir would carry her husband's last name, so the Tudor dynasty would still end with her death in either case. That being so, why should Elizabeth risk her own power to marry? In one of these movies which feels the need to add a fictional scene of Mary taunting Elizabeth that she wins because James will inherit the English throne, I'd love it if Elizabeth replied with a smirk "You suffered all the dangers and pains of childbed to produce an heir for me, and you believe you *won*?" ;-D
Yes there seem to be a number of "revisions" for the movie. The meeting of Mary and Elizabeth not the least of them. The murder (and portrayal) of David Rizzio, the Earl of Bothwell's hostile and what can most nearly be described as "rape" in the movie, all seem to be at odds with what I read from other sources. I loved the general look of the movie as well as the actresses, but with all the actual drama, it wouldn't seem that they'd need to make stuff up. Thank you so much for your videos.
thank you , you make history alive and factual, not Hollywood version. I don't mean to be morbid but I have a question about be heading. When the Monarchs were beheaded...were the heads buried with the rest of the body? Since my childhood was there was a rhyme that implied differed. I.e. Head on a pike. Sorry for being so forward.
It was usual for the heads of traitors to be put on a pike on London Bridge as a warning to the people of the punishment for treason. If they were quartered then the bits of their body would be displayed at different places around the city. However, for high status victims of the executioner this didn't tend to happen. We know, for example, that Anne Boleyn's head was buried with her body and there is no mention of Mary, Queen of Scots' head being displayed anywhere.
What a horrible, gruesome job by the executioner!! He obviously was not skilled like the one from Calais that took off Anne’s Head. Thanks for the book recommendation!
The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society And Margaret Pole, who had a very botched execution, with the first blow going into her shoulders. There is a common misconception that she had to be chased around by the executioner because she refused to kneel at the block, but contemporary records don't bear that out, just that the executioner bungled it terribly. He was, apparently, new, as the chief executioner was away in the north, dealing with the aftermath of a rebellion. Even then, that isn't quite as bad as the adviser to, I think Henry VI, who was beheaded with six strokes of a rusty sword, in a boat off Dover.
I remember being shocked when I watched the Elizabeth tv one with Jeremy irons in it at the end of Mary. I've actually got that one. It was beautifully made.
@@anneboleynfiles Yes, they were truly showing love.. was there one with Judy Dench, or am I just imagining it because she played Queen Victoria? *senior moment*
You know, I've often thought what Elizabeth and Cecil *should* have done was sign the death warrant, build the scaffolding, have everything ready, then when Mary came out on February 8, announce that Queen Elizabeth had granted Mary a stay of execution, to last as "long as the land is at peace, and there is no civil affray". Not only would that have denied Mary martyrdom performance, it would have made Mary herself a hostage against any foreign or domestic attempt to put her on the throne. Any invasion or uprising would mean the end of the stay and the execution would follow summarily. It would put a spoke in the wheel of any invasion plans or Catholic conspiracies for an uprising, because with Mary dead, what would be the point? Mary's heir was the Protestant-raised James VI of Scotland, so no joy there. Thus there's no Spanish Armada victory, but also no precedent set for regicide. Mary lives out her natural span. Win/win! Well, except for Mary's dream of a star turn before "the theatre of the world" as a religious martyr. I really believe Mary would have preferred a dramatic execution to quietly aging and dying in captivity. Another possibility is deporting her back to Scotland. She'd originally fled captivity at the hands of her own lairds for refuge in England, so contacting Scotland and asking, "Hey, want her back?" is a distinct possibility. There'd be little risk since Scotland was firmly Protestant by this time, and her 20-year-old son wasn't likely to step off "his" throne for her. So she'd probably still be kept in some form of custody. But she'd get to know her son, so that would be some consolation. Though whether it would sufficiently satisfy Mary's need for "grandeur" is an open question.
I eagerly wait every day to hear what fascinating fact that you are going to discuss. Today talk about Mary queen of Scots was really moving especially when we heard that her dog was hiding under her skirt. What I really feel for her, is when I hear the number of the times the executioner had to yield the axe to finally kill her. What horrible way to die
"In manus tuas, Domine" means "into your hands, Lord". "In te, Domine, confido, non confundar in eternum" means something like "in you, Lord, I trust, I will not be confounded for eternity", so she is putting her absolute trust and faith in God.
so sad,, about MQS she meet a terrifying end,, I had read that somewhere like you stated MQS was wearing a wig,, and when the axe man picked up her head,, the head fell and he had a wig in his hand,, I also "read" something about the axeman taking a I dont know the word garter belt or what ever the eqivelent is is that true ?
That's true, according to eye-witness accounts he lifted her head by the hair and dropped her head, and then her little dog was found under her skirt. Horrible. I'm not sure what you mean about the garter belt. Can you remember what you read? The executioner would have taken her clothes as part of his payment.
Strange how times change from 2021 to the death date of Mary , Queen of Scots . If Mary lived in this time period, she wouldn't be put to death , but what would happen to her as a form of punishment ?. Or no punishment !
Forgive me, but since Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard had been executed decades before, surely it wouldn’t be a precedent for Mary Queen of Scots to have been the first executed queen?.. in terms of Elizabeth The First’s dilemma?
They were consorts of a reigning monarch, not queens in their own right. But Jane Grey was a reigning monarch, albeit for only 9 days, and she was executed. Trying to take a throne and failing has always been understood to be a capital crime. And that's precisely what Mary did; she plotted to take Elizabeth's throne and got caught at it. The fact that she was born in a different country doesn't change this. As George R.R. Martin put it, "When you play the game of thrones you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
I was going to watch it, but when I first saw a trailer showing an adult Mary headed to France to meet her betrothed, I knew it wasn't going to be history.
Do you know if there was a death mask made of Mary’s face? I’ve seen something on Pinterest, but to my eye the face does not look anything like the portraits of Mary Queen of Scots.
I think there are two death masks said to have been taken shortly after her execution. Here's a link to the one that is displayed at Jedburgh - www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/scenic-castles/mary-queen-of-scots-house/ 16th century portraits were done to a definite style.
@@anneboleynfiles Thank you for the link! Yes, that is the mask I saw on Pinterest. She certainly was beautiful, but all her portraits, even those as a child in France show a very long nose and I don't really see that here. Portraits of that time seem to show that a small mouth seemed to be desirable. Anne Boleyn, for instance, was said to have a wide mouth, yet her portraits don't show that - of course, we don't know if any of the famous posthumous portraits looked much like her with the contemporary medallion (showing high cheekbones, a long oval face & chin) being the only confirmed likeness. I wonder if it is because King Henry had an extraordinarily small mouth or if they just made him look that way because it was in vogue. Very interesting. Also, it is horrifying to learn that Mary's mouth continued to move for a full 15 minutes. I read somewhere that it has been found that awareness does not end immediately upon beheading. I don't recall who, but some guy who was going to be (I believe) guillotined continued to make agreed upon signs after his death that he was still conscious for a time.
@@mcbrineart I'm not sure where the other death mask is kept but I believe there is another. It would be interesting to compare them. You're right, the do show a long and narrow nose. Yes, it's a very vivid and awful account of her execution. I know there has been controversy over whether eyes and mouths can move after a person is decapitated, with some saying that once the neck is severed it can't happen and others saying it can happen to a short time after. Not nice at all!
I think some things go in circles. We all rejoice that despite belittling his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth became Queen of England when Henry's pride and joy (Edward) died at a young age. Anne Boleyn's ultimate revenge after being unjustly beheaded. Catherine of Aragon's final laugh after being shunned and humiliated by Henry. The ultimate "last laugh" and a big f** you, Henry. Mary was Queen of England for a short time, but she married a negligent unloving husband and was unable to bear children - even a daughter, to be her heir. Almost like her mom. Elizabeth ruled for a long time, and didn't have any children by her own choice. Beheades Mary Stuart in shady business, and gives Mary Stuart a new "last laugh" by making her son her heir (not that she had many choices). It is all a big circle of tragedy and pain to everyone involved. Except Henry, that AH got everything he wanted and more.
How did Queen Victoria I continue right after the execution of her cousin, Mary...via a death warrant that she, herself, had signed? Was she affected at all or carried on with business as usual? Thanks
From what I've read, Elizabeth was very upset about this. How much was guilt and how much was fear of the consequences is an open question. I think both would have been working on Elizabeth. She knew Mary had to die; Mary had said in open court that her religious beliefs required her to try to take the throne. After that, the die was cast. I wonder if Mary realized the repercussions this statement would have, or if her peculiar blindness to Elizabeth's POV kept her from seeing what she'd done?
That was a gruesome account at the end there. What’s this about a bit of gristle protruding from her neck?! Henry 8 was at least merciful enough to special order the swordsman from France for a fast and clean cranium removal of Elizabeth’s own mum, Queen AnneB. Elizabeth didn’t offer that to her cousin the Queen, tho. Beheading by ax is so primitive and brutal and messy. The witness noted Mary made little or no sound, tho her lips continued to quiver for a quarter of an hour after its separation from her body?!?! Ugh. Some loose thoughts and impressions on Mary and Liz: Mary definitely was pushing the religious persecution angle. But, it did not seem that Mary was particularly pious like her cousin Mary Tudor or especially Mary’s mother Queen Catarina.Many act devout at the end, esp when one is facing the ax. Maybe not the Howard girl, tho lol. Second: No goodbye letter from Mary to her own son, the future James 1? Was she that estranged from him? I believe he was made to believe she was a witch and he hated Catholicism. Yet he moved his mother’s body to Westminster. Did he have a change of heart about her? But her fate in the end? pretty brutal. Very sad with the dog, very dramatic, the whole ritual. It amazes me, how these ladies give such a performance minutes and seconds away from the chopping block. Even the Howard girl maintained composure methinks. In a way, Just as Elizabeth was born to a mother perhaps unfairly accused, disgraced and executed, James also assumed the throne from the very Queen who accused and executed his mother. She didn’t identify with James? Lastly, If anyone knew the tenuousness and insecurity of her position and claim until and even after she assumed the throne, it was Elizabeth. Barring Henry Fitzroy, a “true”bastard, Elizabeth’s legitimacy was the weakest of Henry’s children, mostly due to the circumstances of her parents’ marriage and the character assassination her mother received. Her own sister jailed her, but I don’t think ever seriously considered executing her. Mostly because even though Elizabeth was Protestant, and her mother was the homewrecker who broke up her parents marriage, Elizabeth was her only surviving sibling, and Mary had no children. And she knew she needed to assume the throne. Elizabeth also knew this about Mary Stewart. ..And yet she did execute. Eliz Even wanted to enact a bit of a “Princes in the Tower” cloak and dagger hit job on Mary. Even Bloody Mary didn’t have it in her to execute the next Legitimate heir to the throne, the next Queen. But Lizzie? TskTsk. If you’re still reading, I’d suggest siding up to my brief bio on Mary Tudor on Medium: link.medium.com/IeGwiPqYCdb
I have a question I questioned this did Mary were the red crimson petticoat out of catholic martyr or sense red is the color you wear when your glad someone’s dead and she was happy about her death so did she wear it out of happiness
The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society thank you i started to question it after watching the golden girls with Blanche in her fed Funeral dress and I look up red at funerals.
Can someone who isn't even a part of your "nation" be a traitor? I know it was all a confusion back then, but Mary was the queen of the SCOTS, and you would think wasn't then considered a citizen of Britain except due to her parentage. She certainly wasn't hanging around with Elizabeth once they both became queens.
I'm not sure if you mean she was wearing some kind of bonnet that came off. I have read and heard that she was wearing a wig and when he lifted her head the wig came off and her head rolled over the floor. But I know not all accounts are truthful. It would however have given them a scare if it did happen. I really enjoy all your knowledge of history!! They made a tv series about her too (on Netflix I think) it's as if when they make films or tv series now that it has to have some gimmick like splashing fake blood on the cameras and it has to be violent and the history doesn't matter at all. They made Mary into a hero doing things she would never have done and if you didn't know what it was about, you would never guess it was about her. I always found Mary to be a little dull so to see her like this wonderful selfless superwoman was just silly. It's a shame because young people may think that this is what she was really like.
Love anything to do with the Tudors. I share her birthday and my son was born on her execution date!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
@@anneboleynfiles Thank you. Told him and he asked me to please thank you. He is also crazy about Tudor history (and history in general). Have an awesome weekend.
She wasn't kept in prison, she was kept at castles and manors in a state befitting her status, but she was imprisoned from 1568 to 1587. Prior to that, she'd been imprisoned in Scotland.
Mary Queen of Scots is one of history's most fascinating and tragic figures, from the time of her birth right down to her execution her life was a web of romance danger and intrigue, virtually a queen when only a day old her first memories would have been of much older courtiers bowing and curtsying to her, whilst her mother tried to rule as regent on her baby daughters behalf, sent to France in the care of her mother's French relative's she grew up in the sunny land of France and would have had a marked French accent along with the dress and manners of the sophisticate, her early days in that country was something she had fond memories of all her life, she was spoilt and pampered for she was the darling of the court and married the dauphin when she became of age, meanwhile she possibly did not think much of Scotland for her life was not there yet when she had to return, she was filled with apprehension and deep sadness at the thought of losing all she held dear, but her mother had died and her husband was dead, and so she had to return, Marys brief reign in Scotland was a disaster and she was also Catholic which set her up against the firebrand John Knox and after a series of unwise decisions she lost her crown and became a prisoner, this was where she made the fatal decision to flee to England and one morning before the dawn had risen, she crossed the Solent in a little fishing boat heavily disguised and with only her loyal followers for company, she arrived in England and urged Queen Elizabeth to see her and help her restore her throne, her tragedy was had she decided to go to France she would have had a warm welcome, she would have had her freedom and whilst she may not have been able to persuade Queen Catherine de Medici to raise arms against Scotland she at least would have been no prisoner, as it was Elizabeth sent an armed guard to her residence and she was effectively a prisoner again, there she stayed in England for eighteenth years moving around from one residence to another, Tutbury Castle which to this day is said to be haunted by the ghost of its Royal captive, she was housed in the home of the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury - she who was known as Bess of Hardwick and they became her gaolers till they were replaced by Sir Amyus Paulet, uprisings were done on her behalf and still she urged impassioned letters to Elizabeth desperately seeking an audience and a chance to get her view across, but it was all in vain, there was the mysterious murder of her second husband Henry Lord Darnley which the English court had viewed with suspicion especially after she wed his alleged murdurer, it was this foolish mistake that had lost her her crown and she suffered a mental breakdown, Elizabeth kept in touch about Marys doings by her ambassador and spies and was distressed by her treatment at the hands of the Scots, the city of Edinburgh rose up against her and she was called a whore and murduress by its citizens, Scotland was a wild rough country, too rough for a delicate young flower who had been reared in the sunny valleys of the Loire to rule, her mother had possessed an iron will and intelligence and had managed quite successfully, but her flighty young daughter had not and the tragedy was, she had no knowledge of her country and its people, Scotsman were crude no French gallants there, much of the country inhospitable and the weather bleak and foreboding, no beautiful palaces lined with rose gardens and cherub spouting fountains there, sadly she was like a fish out of water and her end when it came was inevitable, the most frequently asked questions about Mary are was she a murduress did she write the toxic casket letters? Sadly we will never know like we will never know if she intended to take Elizabeths throne instead of just a bid for freedom, but what we do know is her courage was remarkable and her sad ending is proof of that, the poignant tale of how her little dog faithful to the end refused to leave her mangled corpse is testament to the loyalty she inspired in others, her childhood companion Mary Seton stayed in her service all her life and was with her at the end, but her story does not end there, in 1603 her son James ascended the Englisg throne and he had her removed from her burial place in Peterborough to Westminster Abbey, there she lies in gentle repose her hands clasped in prayer in the chapel Royal of Henry V11, ironically her gaoler and executer Queen Elizabeth lies not far away with her sister Queen Mary - another tragic Queen, the recognition she sought as Elizabeths heiress for so long is here at last, in her final resting place amongst Englands dead monarchs, no doubt it would have afforded her some comfort.
His new book - the True life of Mary Queen of Scots I didn't read his first, but I'm certain this dissagrees with it. He finds that even by the accounts of her enemies, she was impressive and skillful. Not at all the "heart" based impression people cast upon her. ... Elizabeth delayed because she knew it was all her fault that she was killing her. She had lead Mary to believe that she would help her take back her crown in Scotland. Elizabeth was ruthless, just like her father.
@@jmarie9997 no she held her prisoner lol. She didnt even try to help her or depose her enemies, instead she deposed HER out of jealousy, paranoia and fear
Loving this series Claire. You won't believe me, but you (via The Anne Boleyn Files) and the wonderful Simon Schama inspired me to get on and finally do a history degree. Just finished my Masters. There you go. xx
Congratulations!
Wow! That's so heartwarming to hear! Congratulations! You've made my day.
Deborah HW Oh, Deborah! Congratulations! That is awesome! At the age of 60, now, the one regret of my life is that I never went on and seriously studied history, European history in particular...I should have gone on to get a teaching degree all those decades ago.i love the British monarchs so much...Congratulations again! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Congrats 🌹💚
Still loving these Claire...yes very sad account of Mary's beheading...her little dog must have been terrified & heartbroken 😣
In a lifetime...I can't imagine, actually being there and witnessing this execution. I know these people existed, I know this happened...but to wrap your mind around the fact that, it was indeed witnessed so many, many, many years ago...and it truly...happened. Wow...just wow...
Elizabeth the first was devious, horrible like her father.
"In my end is my beginning"
My mother maiden name is finn
So very sad. The part about her little dog is so touching.
I'm so happy I recently found this channel! You are doing an amazing job and I have your books on my wish list for my husband to get me for my birthday or next Christmas! I'm in the United States and your videos are up by the time I'm done making breakfast for my little ones and I've been loving watching them as I have my tea! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication and I can't wait to watch all your videos this year!
Thank you so much, Dr. Claire! I am catching up on all of your recordings since my recent retirement.
Hi Claire, I just happily by accident found your channel. I LOVE IT, I love all things Brit and Tudor. Thank y so much for all your hard work, and giving us such lovely well informed videos💓💗💞💕
Discovered this series just in time to enjoy for the rest of the year. I love everything Tudor so you Claire Ridgeway are a treasure and amazing historian thank you! I have a lot of new reading to do and I adore all the tidbits about Spain too. I even watch the ads for The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society 🏰👑
Thank you!
Just found this treasure trove of "This Day in Tudor History" videos: magnificent! Thank you, Claire.
Rest in Peace, Mary.
I adore this series. I also enjoyed last month’s Ann Boleyn files. Claire, I know you have way more knowledge about all things Tudor, so my question for you is this: What is your opinion personally of Mary?? In the US, our history classes skewed her as a woman misguided by the shady or weak men in her life. I’d like to know what you personally as a scholar, think. Loving this “on this day” series. ❤️👍🏻
It's really hard to figure her out. I don't think Elizabeth's government were clean, I think they were determined to bring her down and so laid a trap, but Mary walked into it. I think she let her heart rule her and made some bad and reckless decisions.
As an ex Catholic myself, I see Mary's difficulties!
I Love History and so enjoy your daily "Today in Tudor History" segments. So glad you included Mary Queen of Scots, as she is one of my favorite Queens of that time period, even though she ruled very little, she too, left a profound mark in History. So thank you.
I think Elizabeth made the right decision, even with the risks and personal upset it would cause. I get the impression that had the boot been on the other foot, Mary would not have hesitated either. Probably have carried it out sooner. Elizabeth held out as she was better at politics than Mary was. And this was how Tudor politics worked.
tremms83 -- "...I get the impression that had the boot been on the other foot, Mary would not have hesitated either. Probably have carried it out sooner..." Agree 100%!
The thing about English court is that there's always a lot of lies and deceit whereas Mary Queen of Scots put it out there and she would fight her own battles. King Henry the 8th and Elizabeth didn't and rather since their henchman out to do their dirty work. I love what Sir Thomas More said about English court and how it was a politician's game and most of which was played out on the scaffold. TRUE!
disagree, if you read any of Mary's biographies and even her own letters/words she was a very NAIVELY albeit forgiving person. She probably would've asked liz to share the throne with her lol. She even forgave the scottish rebels who killed rizzio (insane I know ) but she was a kind monarch . That was one of her flaws sadly
Absolutely loving this series you’re doing Claire. Thank you for sharing them with us. Absolutely fascinating :)
I forgot to say Thank You! I so appreciate and look forward to your videos.❤
Thank you. Loving these daily teachings.
The youtube algorithm may be promoting your channel, it just popped up in "recommended". Great videos! Subscribed.
absolutely loving Your narrative Claire ...I am riveted - I so enjoy the Tudor period and I thank you for sharing all your views. More, please
Excellent as always
You are the best!! Greatly enjoy all of your videos ❤️
I love your videos , what will happen after the end of 2019 when all days have been covered ? Thank you for what you do.
Am I correct in the belief that Mary's petticoat was in the colour red -- the colour of martyrs? She *was,* after all, making a statement that she was dying as a martyr to the Roman Catholic faith....
Yes.
Red petticoats were fashionable throughout the Middle Ages and up to around about the 1700’s. People used to think the colour warded off diseases, so it was often used for undergarments - petticoats, stockings, sleeping caps, etc.
She probably did wear a red petticoat, but if she meant it as a reference to martyrdom then her contemporaries wouldn’t have understood it as such.
Yes, that's right.
Yes that's apparently correct...well staged by Mary Stuart!
Just discovered this series Claire. Thank you so much
Have just seen the new film and will buy the book you suggest. What a sad ending for Mary and the little dog makes it so poignant.
I first got interested in The Tudors in the early 80's when I was about 9 or 10. My mother had a Jean Plaidy book called Mary Queen of Scots. I would read the execution scene at the end of the book, over and over (I was a very morbid child). I was both terrified and fascinated. I have always wondered how much of her novelisation was true (the several attempts to sever the head from the body, the wig), but now I see that according to the eye witness account, it was true.
I love Jean Plaidy's novels.
oh Jean Plaidy my first historical novelist
her death mask is beautiful though. I think her haters made up a macabre story when in reality it was probably smooth, peaceful and a quick as can be end. Liz's death was horrible though. IT took 2 week and she virtually refused to sleep and starved herself to death. Visions of people she killed and demons consumed her, it's well documented by her own courtiers.
thank you for this. excellent video.
Always a treat. Thank,you. Missed seeing the cat this time. 😸
We've got three but they were all obviously having a better time somewhere else this time!
What's so sad is in another time or different circumstances mary and Elizabeth could have been good friends and a wonderful support to each other considering what a extraordinary position they held in life
Yes, and I think at the start that Elizabeth truly wanted to help and support Mary.
Such a sad, scary and terrible end. Puts chills up my spine! >_
I think Mary was both intelligent and very creative from what I have observed and read about her love of needlework. I think the early loss of her parents, first husband, and the aggressive nature of those around her wore her down over time. Dispairing of having no audience with her cousin Elizabeth, eighteen years imprisonment, and No contact with her son James, Mary became careless towards the end of her life and welcomed freedom in any form, even death. How hard all of these circumstances must have been for her we can only imagine.
I can't believe how bad her execution went. So sad.
@@venacollier1430 Mary was bright and well-educated, but she didn't have the same brainpower as Elizabeth. Also, Elizabeth's life before taking the throne was one long lesson in surviving the cutthroat world of 16th century religious politics. One of the reviews of the new movie said something like "Unlike Mary, Elizabeth never confused being queen with having power."
I think that captures the biggest difference between Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew that her position was precarious, and accordingly always thought everything through before acting. Mary had always been the most important person in whatever room she was in for the first 5 years of her life. She'd been queen for as long as she could remember, and couldn't conceptualize the possibility of losing that status, no matter what she did. That was her downfall.
@Oona Craig not a single word of this is true.
Oona Craig I’m interested in this theory. What are your sources for this ?
Absolutely Loved this. I Happily subscribed. I have most books on 'Mary' and still have an issue obtaining 'John guys' book. I'll mourn mary our queen 👑 🏴 on our real date as the georgian calendar change must be taken into account, if we were to really put the real true date on her death.
The 8th of February indeed was the true execution date, however we are technically only on the 26th of January if we were to align ourselves with her calendar in her time, as I believe we didn't change to the georgian calendar until 1752. Making her death date 21st of Feb in our time. Very confusing for some but I use reference to the times and calendars on such dates like these as I like to visit the Palace in which she was born (linlithgow) to pay my respects and to lay flowers, also visit the Chapel now turned church.
Beautiful place and I adore that I am Just a ten min drive away.
I can imagine some people don't ever stop to consider this annoyance of the calendar change in 1752 but as a history lover myself I find it hard to obide by our dates when mourning a person such like Mary for whom many have a very fond heart. I can imagine I'm not the only one who is to be bothered by true dates and calendars. Also, one more thing that truly anoys me when it comes to 'Mary' is the absence of people correcting a common mistake made by many non historical learned people that 'mary queen of scots' was not 'bloody mary'. Sorry this sounds totally pretentious but it bugs me 😂
Thank you for your video. ♥
🇦🇺🦘 Such a terrible matter, all round. Thank you for explaining what happened, and why. A Queen was executed, and what a dreadful execution it was.
... Also very sad about her little dog. Her dog wouldn't have understood at all, but been terrified at losing its mistress, who it obviously adored. Animals also experience grief.
"Thank you" Claire 💓👑👍
Love this series, absolutely love it! Thank you so much for making these! I’ve been watching them at the gym to help me not realize I’m a hamster in a wheel and they really help pass the time!
"Her lips stirred up and down a quarter of an hour after her head was cut off." I can't even imagine that. A chill literally raced down my spine at that line. That witness account - all of what you read - is so gruesome and haunting! I don't know if I can read the whole thing...
I know, it's very creepy!
That is not unusual apparently. In the 19th century French scientists carried out experiments on the heads of execution victims. A few minutes after one had been guillotined, his name was called out and his eyes opened. Another man was was slapped on the cheek and again he opened his eyes. There seems to be be some belief that there is residual brain activity for a few minutes after swift decapitation. It's almost as if the brain doesn't quite know that it is dead.
@@mscott3918 That's. Just. Freaky!
It's muscle spasms as well. After a sudden death, muscles will often spasm for a while until the energy (ATP molecules) runs out. If you've been in a slaughter house (I have as part of veterinary training) you'll notice the jaw muscles on the cattle's severed heads moving for a fair while. Also I always warn people that after euthanasia of their pet, the diaphragm sometimes contracts a few times, making the animal appear to be gasping.
@@amvanderveen5189
That happened when my first cat was euthanized. He seemed to take one long, shuddering breath after death. It was like his soul was leaving his precious body. I felt like he was taking mine with him. 😔 💔 😢
Thanks for the information Clair.
I think it was always going to be difficult for Mary after her return from France. The Scottish Lords, all the men around her, and she was no doubt young and somewhat naive. Then she marries a man that was at least narcissist if not a phycopath, not once but twice. She lacked wise advice and support for sure. Elizabeth was stuck between a rock and a hard place in regards to poor Mary. I can totally understand why she was ready to die.
Elizabeth I was a coward in how she dealt with Mary, Queen of Scots. She wanted her dead but wanted someone else to do it and for that I have no respect for her. The one thing I will give leeway on as far as E2 is concerned is that she was no doubt damaged from her childhood but overall, I cannot respect her any more than I can the other Tudors, as fascinated as I am with them. Years ago I read Antonia Fraser's Mary, Queen of Scots and have my own ideas of whether she was guilty as accused; I will read John Guy's account now that you've recommended it. I do enjoy your daily "On this day..." videos very much. I'm learning alot and I look forward to them every day. Thank you!
Elizabeth spent her life being put upon so many wanting to assassinate, poison or kill her in some treacherous manner. This was just survival of the fittest
@@maclin52 life is more than surviving . She knew Mary's character and that Mary wanted her approval and trusted her, Liz took advantage..
@Elizabeth Frantes MAry's heirs are still on the throne today lol hell its even stronger with Diana's royal blood flowing in Prince soon to be King WIlliam and his kids.
@Elizabeth Frantes if anyone was a narcassist it was lizarddeath and her counselors.Evil does not win in the end. THeres a reason why liz died in regret and deprsesion and Mary didn't. She died calm and with dignity, despite her enemies reporting macabre reports. Her death mask still shows a beautiful woman finally at peace.
@Elizabeth Frantes Liz set in motion the notion to execute monarchs. THANKS LIZ FOR BEHEADING YOUR COUSIN! YOU MADE PARLAIMENT TOO POWERFUL YOU BASTARD AND COWARDLY QUEEN.
Loving this series.
I love this series so much!
How did the human species survive the Tudors? Every other person was executed. This must be the most depressing subject matter to study.
Paula Shelton Not quite every other person, but it is estimated that between 30 and 50 thousand people were executed in the reign of Henry VIII.
M Scott WOW! That is terrifying!
Didn’t see the link to the eyewitness account. Could you please share?
Scroll up and click on the "Show More" under the video. The link can be found there.
@@diannew6066 --- Hi! All I can find is the link to the book by John Guy' and no other link. If there is a link, can you please post it. Thanks so much for helping me out. :)
Sorry, I forgot to add it. Here it is and it's in the description now too - www.tudorsociety.com/8-february-1587-execution-mary-queen-scots-primary-source-account/
One of my favourite QE books is “the Queens Bed”
Do you know it?
No, I don't know that one. Who's it by?
The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society www.goodreads.com/book/show/17934392-the-queen-s-bed
Claire you video are really amazing. You are soo accurated about the history fact and you help me to impruve my english even if I'm an italian in USA ! ❤
Thank you!
Look up Lucy Earl's videos on Beautiful British English if you really want top-drawer help with your English! 🇬🇧
I know this is a witless question, but: Why is Mary, Queen of Scots never referred to as "Queen Mary of Scotland" much as Elizabeth Tudor was "Queen Elizabeth I"?
Cathryn Campbell you know, I wonder also why Elizabeth Tudor wasn’t Queen Elizabeth I. She was a princess when she married therefore a true Queen.
Where is the link to the eyewitness please?
Here you go - www.tudorsociety.com/8-february-1587-execution-mary-queen-scots-primary-source-account/. Sorry about that.
Wonderful series. Mary, Queen of Scots, must have been a very brave woman to meet her fate in such a calm manner. I can only imagine how Elizabeth must have tried to find a way to have her killed without the warrant of her death being signed. The court intrigue must have placed Elizabeth in an uncomfortable position.
Mary Queen of Scots is such an interesting person. I'm going to Amazon to buy the book you recommended now. I finished your book - The Fall of Anne Boleyn.
Do you think of Elizabeth had released Mary, she would have been a threat to Elizabeth? I cant help but feel Mary was just desperate to be free which made her willing to plot against Elizabeth. Or, have Mary live more at her side than shut away?
Yes, I think she would always have been a threat and a figurehead for plots.
The ironic thing is that while Mary was alive, no Catholic monarch was distressed enough by her plight to offer her the money or arms to win back her Scottish throne-- and her freedom. But as soon as she was dead, Phillip II of Spain was all about avenging her by conquering England. I suspect it's because with Mary dead, he could claim it's crown for himself.
@Elizabeth Frantes I dont really think she was all bad or a saint. I think her life was rough and she didnt have the great advisors that Elizabeth had.
I agree that she would be used as a figurehead of plots but that wouldnt necessarily mean she condoned this.. I guess we all have the right to make mistakes and learn from them. I just cant say it was right to be jail her all those years. Then again, if my concern is only for England - I totally agree with the decision.
Sorry I'm all over the place. :) Hope everyone has a great weekend!
@@LaPetiteBoulin During Mary's trial for the Babington Plot, after some waffling she came out and said since the Pope said she was the rightful queen of England she had no choice but to take the throne if she was offered. IOW, she would be a willing accomplice to any plot to depose Elizabeth, not just a figurehead. It was a stupid thing to say, unless Mary was sick of captivity and wanted to engineer a martyr's death.
Hey Claire awake at five this am so have enjoyed this video and part two about Mary boleyn, fantastic while eating my scrambled eggs and two ryvitas.... Thanks you and enjoy your day Paula
Every time I think of the execution of Mary, I picture Katherine Hepburn in ‘Mary of Scotland’ which is wildly inaccurate but entertaining. The scene in which she tells QE1 that she wins because her son will be king is quintessential Hepburn.
A classic "don't bite the hand that feeds you!" My gosh Mary! Your cousin Elizabeth gave you refuge and then you wanted her throne???
Erin Mary was a demanding guest. I have some letters that she sent Elizabeth, telling her what she wanted. She complained about one place having no glass in the windows, which even then was not unusual. She wanted silver dishes, a tapestry canopy for her bed, a Chair of State with a canopy, 16 servants and a permanent Catholic priest. She was given everything except the latter. What really sealed her death was the Babington plot, when she received, secretly, a letter telling her that 6 gentlemen were ready to do their work, that was to kill Elizabeth. Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spy Master, was seeing even Mary's secret correspondence, including her letter saying that the 6 gentlemen should do their work. Impossible to ignore that. Mary was a real threat to Elizabeth and couldn't be trusted. Hard to admit that, being on of her descendants.
@@mscott3918 she was a queen what did you expect?
@@mscott3918 she asked the plotters to
MAINTAIN THE QUEEN , not kill her. She knew the real villians were liz's counsel.
@@mscott3918 wow
I love these videos
Why do you personally think that Mary showed so little common sense? After all of the reading I’ve done I am still continually amazed at how many poor decisions she made (marrying Darnley, angering the Protestants who made up her royal council, depending on the wrong people like Bothwell to do her bidding or to make decisions for her, etc.). It also seems that she made decisions based on her feelings and not after deliberating the pros and cons of her decisions before acting on them. Do you think that her personality doomed her to her terrible fate, or do you think that had she had wiser advisors and friends she might have been a successful queen and not had the constant friction with Elizabeth I? Thanks for this marvelous daily dose of all things Tudor! It is much appreciated.☺️
That's a tough one to answer. I think Elizabeth was very fortunate in having very savvy advisors around her right from her preaccession days and through her reign. She also knew when to listen to them and which advice to follow. She certainly ruled with her brain rather than her heart, although she certainly wasn't perfect. I think Mary lacked good advisors and was prone to relying on her heart. Darnley may have been suitable in terms of his status, but he was incredibly arrogant and power-hungry.
Monica Call It does make you wonder what could have happened if the proposed meeting between the two of them, planned to take place in Nottingham in 1562, had actually happened. Maybe a face to face meeting could have changed history.
@@anneboleynfiles was there any way Mary could have survived and gone on to rule Scotland? It just seems crazy that Elizabeth was such a successful queen but Mary wasn't. They were both royal and educated. Why did Elizabeth succeed when Mary didn't? Is there any scenario in which Mary could have been a successful queen? Or was she doomed to fail? When I read Antonia frasers book I often ask myself why Mary didn't stay in France. It would've been easier. Life would've been better. She could've just lived happily in France till old age. In my opinion it was foolish of her to even return to Scotland.
she had two secretaries or messangers/advisors ---James Melville and RObert melville (they were protestant and actually plotting with Cecil and Liz) and they managed to convince her to forgive the rebel lords morton and moray when she should've had them kept under arrest.
She basically had been betrayed by many people in her innermost circle and privy counsel sadly--instigated by Moray and Morton with the conniving of her messenger James Melville and his brother Robert Melville. The people she trusted almost always betrayed her.
Very enlightening
'My Heart is My Own' is an excellent book ❤
A truly sad end to someone who, had the tables been turned, would have doubtless willingly presided over the death of her cousin. Yet while Mary lived, she posed a real threat to Elizabeth - and for that matter all of those with a vested interest in maintaining Elizabeth' legitimacy to rule England.
orlando1a1 People love to paint Mary as some sweet saint. She wanted Elizabeth's throne. She spent years obsessed with being named queen of England.
Oh I don't believe for one moment Mary would have willingly presided over the death of Elizabeth. She wasn't made that way. She was too soft for her own good. I think Elizabeth thought she posed a real threat but I don't think Mary ever was a threat herself, tho she certainly was surrounded by those who wanted to wield her as a threat to Elizabeth, just as Elizabeth's chums liked to constantly remind her what a threat Mary was. Sad business but one could never win against a Tudor. They were pathologically ruthless.
@@diannew6066 true, though its Mary's descendants still on the throne
Stephanie Richards actually Elizabeth’s Aunt Mary’s descendants are the ones on the throne. Looks like the Howard’s found a way to have their way.
@@jenlynncall true too
Do you have a Business/Private email that I might contact you at?
My email is claire@theanneboleynfiles.com
Love these ON THIS DAY series ❤ SO well documented and presented you re actually reliving the drama 👍👍 poor little doggie hiding in his mistress s garments must have been real 💀👀 scared maybe he thought he could protecti his mistress when the details get too gory 🔴 🟥 or traumatising ◼🔲🔘 can always switch off and come back later □♡ THANK YOU ♡ Madam ♡ for these these gems 🔹️🔸️ a big yummy red and green apple🍎🍏 for the teacher with a wee pink ROSE diamond on the green 🥀💐🍏🍎🌞☀️🍂impressionist style or whatevever style you desire ☆ the apple is blood red BUT it s delicious and smiling ¤ THANK U again 🌞🐒❤👍🦋
Thank you, that's very kind of you to say.
Never heard the story about her dog, it breaks my heart
So sad! And her dog...poor little doll.
The oddity is that it’s not Treason or a being a “Traitor,” after all, she was never a subject, but an independent sovereign… It was never an appropriate charge. She should have used a different charge - conspiracy to overthrow Elizabeth, or something similar.
Further to the death mask conversation.....I just found this:
Mary's death on the execution block, at the hand of Queen Elizabeth was characterised by her dignity, bearing and composure. It was common to strike a mask from the severed head as soon as possible after death. The original appearance of the mask would be white and unembellished. This example, which was found by the late Dr Charles Hepburn of Glasgow, in Peterborough where Mary was first buried, has been hand-painted. Four masks were purported to have been made only two of which are available including this one and another at Lennoxlove. The Lennoxlove mask is however much smaller and the features quite different from this one, and Antonia Fraser (Mary's biographer), states that it is more likely to belong to one Hamilton lady.
This painted mask is at Mary, Queen of Scots House in Jedburgh. The two masks are kind of similar, the tip of the nose, the mouth, general face shape but one is smaller - I wonder if it could have shrunk? Or one is not authentic....
Here is a link to the website where I found this information: www.marie-stuart.co.uk/Castles/MaryHouse.htm
Thank you for sharing! I've only seen the Jedburgh one in detail online. I'd love to see it in person.
Perhaps so, I don't know, or perhaps one wasn't as carefully done.
Wow! Loved this. Mary and Elizabeth were both as cunning and ruthless as any male king of the day. In some strange way, in the end, Mary had the last laugh because her son James became king after Elizabeth died.
For the life of me, I can't understand why people say "Mary won in the end, because her son ruled after Elizabeth died!" Elizabeth didn't care about that; she was pleased enough that *she* kept the throne till she died. She refused to declare an heir while she lived, because she always remembered Mary Tudor's courtiers abandoning her on her deathbed to curry favor with Elizabeth. Elizabeth never married, because she realized that single she was a reigning monarch, but if she wed, her husband would be the real ruler in men's eyes. She lived the life she chose on her own terms, and proved that a woman could rule as effectively as a man.
@@astrinymris9953 very true.and you are probably right. .However. I believe Elizabeth also never married because she saw the power husbands had over their woman....like chopping off your mothers head. A life altering incident that had to have affected her psychologically. Just like half sister Mary was affected by her fathers treatment of her mother. I believe Elizabeth never married nor had children for two reasons. 1. as stated above. 2. Her father so wanted a son that he killed her mother over it..final revenge for her..his direct line dies out with her.
@@susanbedingfield4661 I agree that Elizabeth remained single to keep her autonomy, but I don't think spiting her father had anything to do with it. Unless she married a cousin with the same last name-- like Mary Stuart did-- her heir would carry her husband's last name, so the Tudor dynasty would still end with her death in either case. That being so, why should Elizabeth risk her own power to marry?
In one of these movies which feels the need to add a fictional scene of Mary taunting Elizabeth that she wins because James will inherit the English throne, I'd love it if Elizabeth replied with a smirk "You suffered all the dangers and pains of childbed to produce an heir for me, and you believe you *won*?" ;-D
How absolutely horrific.
Yes there seem to be a number of "revisions" for the movie. The meeting of Mary and Elizabeth not the least of them. The murder (and portrayal) of David Rizzio, the Earl of Bothwell's hostile and what can most nearly be described as "rape" in the movie, all seem to be at odds with what I read from other sources.
I loved the general look of the movie as well as the actresses, but with all the actual drama, it wouldn't seem that they'd need to make stuff up.
Thank you so much for your videos.
thank you , you make history alive and factual, not Hollywood version. I don't mean to be morbid but I have a question about be heading. When the Monarchs were beheaded...were the heads buried with the rest of the body? Since my childhood was there was a rhyme that implied differed. I.e. Head on a pike. Sorry for being so forward.
It was usual for the heads of traitors to be put on a pike on London Bridge as a warning to the people of the punishment for treason. If they were quartered then the bits of their body would be displayed at different places around the city. However, for high status victims of the executioner this didn't tend to happen. We know, for example, that Anne Boleyn's head was buried with her body and there is no mention of Mary, Queen of Scots' head being displayed anywhere.
What a horrible, gruesome job by the executioner!! He obviously was not skilled like the one from Calais that took off Anne’s Head. Thanks for the book recommendation!
Anne's execution by sword was definitely a more merciful end. Thomas Cromwell's was another botched one by axe.
The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society And Margaret Pole, who had a very botched execution, with the first blow going into her shoulders. There is a common misconception that she had to be chased around by the executioner because she refused to kneel at the block, but contemporary records don't bear that out, just that the executioner bungled it terribly. He was, apparently, new, as the chief executioner was away in the north, dealing with the aftermath of a rebellion. Even then, that isn't quite as bad as the adviser to, I think Henry VI, who was beheaded with six strokes of a rusty sword, in a boat off Dover.
I wonder if she thought about how close she was to the anniversary of her husband's death, an event which started her own brutal decline....
Always give a like 👍 before I start watching!! 👸😊
Thank you so much 😀
I remember being shocked when I watched the Elizabeth tv one with Jeremy irons in it at the end of Mary. I've actually got that one. It was beautifully made.
I love the chemistry between Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons in that one.
@@anneboleynfiles Yes, they were truly showing love.. was there one with Judy Dench, or am I just imagining it because she played Queen Victoria? *senior moment*
@@samwright8599 I think Judi Dench was Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love.
@@anneboleynfiles Ahhhh! Thanks.
Sam Wright Elizabeth R is a great mini series.
You know, I've often thought what Elizabeth and Cecil *should* have done was sign the death warrant, build the scaffolding, have everything ready, then when Mary came out on February 8, announce that Queen Elizabeth had granted Mary a stay of execution, to last as "long as the land is at peace, and there is no civil affray".
Not only would that have denied Mary martyrdom performance, it would have made Mary herself a hostage against any foreign or domestic attempt to put her on the throne. Any invasion or uprising would mean the end of the stay and the execution would follow summarily. It would put a spoke in the wheel of any invasion plans or Catholic conspiracies for an uprising, because with Mary dead, what would be the point? Mary's heir was the Protestant-raised James VI of Scotland, so no joy there.
Thus there's no Spanish Armada victory, but also no precedent set for regicide. Mary lives out her natural span. Win/win! Well, except for Mary's dream of a star turn before "the theatre of the world" as a religious martyr. I really believe Mary would have preferred a dramatic execution to quietly aging and dying in captivity.
Another possibility is deporting her back to Scotland. She'd originally fled captivity at the hands of her own lairds for refuge in England, so contacting Scotland and asking, "Hey, want her back?" is a distinct possibility. There'd be little risk since Scotland was firmly Protestant by this time, and her 20-year-old son wasn't likely to step off "his" throne for her. So she'd probably still be kept in some form of custody. But she'd get to know her son, so that would be some consolation. Though whether it would sufficiently satisfy Mary's need for "grandeur" is an open question.
There was talk of sending Mary back as a co-monarch. Her son refused.
I think she would always have been a figurehead for plots and rebellions though.
I eagerly wait every day to hear what fascinating fact that you are going to discuss.
Today talk about Mary queen of Scots was really moving especially when we heard that her dog was hiding under her skirt. What I really feel for her, is when I hear the number of the times the executioner had to yield the axe to finally kill her. What horrible way to die
Really enjoying this series so thanks for doing it. I'm curious about Mary's last words in Latin...what is the English translation?
"In manus tuas, Domine" means "into your hands, Lord". "In te, Domine, confido, non confundar in eternum" means something like "in you, Lord, I trust, I will not be confounded for eternity", so she is putting her absolute trust and faith in God.
so sad,, about MQS she meet a terrifying end,, I had read that somewhere like you stated MQS was wearing a wig,, and when the axe man picked up her head,, the head fell and he had a wig in his hand,, I also "read" something about the axeman taking a I dont know the word garter belt or what ever the eqivelent is is that true ?
That's true, according to eye-witness accounts he lifted her head by the hair and dropped her head, and then her little dog was found under her skirt. Horrible.
I'm not sure what you mean about the garter belt. Can you remember what you read? The executioner would have taken her clothes as part of his payment.
Strange how times change from 2021 to the death date of Mary , Queen of Scots . If Mary lived in this time period, she wouldn't be put to death , but what would happen to her as a form of punishment ?. Or no punishment !
My favourite was Lady Antonia Fraser's biography of her.
Forgive me, but since Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard had been executed decades before, surely it wouldn’t be a precedent for Mary Queen of Scots to have been the first executed queen?.. in terms of Elizabeth The First’s dilemma?
They were consorts of a reigning monarch, not queens in their own right.
But Jane Grey was a reigning monarch, albeit for only 9 days, and she was executed. Trying to take a throne and failing has always been understood to be a capital crime. And that's precisely what Mary did; she plotted to take Elizabeth's throne and got caught at it. The fact that she was born in a different country doesn't change this. As George R.R. Martin put it, "When you play the game of thrones you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
Her poor tiny dog 😢
How accurate was the series Reign?
I haven't seen it but I believe that it's not very accurate.
I was going to watch it, but when I first saw a trailer showing an adult Mary headed to France to meet her betrothed, I knew it wasn't going to be history.
@@astrinymris9953 same here, that really put me off.
Do you know if there was a death mask made of Mary’s face? I’ve seen something on Pinterest, but to my eye the face does not look anything like the portraits of Mary Queen of Scots.
I think there are two death masks said to have been taken shortly after her execution. Here's a link to the one that is displayed at Jedburgh - www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/scenic-castles/mary-queen-of-scots-house/
16th century portraits were done to a definite style.
@@anneboleynfiles Thank you for the link! Yes, that is the mask I saw on Pinterest. She certainly was beautiful, but all her portraits, even those as a child in France show a very long nose and I don't really see that here.
Portraits of that time seem to show that a small mouth seemed to be desirable. Anne Boleyn, for instance, was said to have a wide mouth, yet her portraits don't show that - of course, we don't know if any of the famous posthumous portraits looked much like her with the contemporary medallion (showing high cheekbones, a long oval face & chin) being the only confirmed likeness. I wonder if it is because King Henry had an extraordinarily small mouth or if they just made him look that way because it was in vogue. Very interesting.
Also, it is horrifying to learn that Mary's mouth continued to move for a full 15 minutes. I read somewhere that it has been found that awareness does not end immediately upon beheading. I don't recall who, but some guy who was going to be (I believe) guillotined continued to make agreed upon signs after his death that he was still conscious for a time.
@@mcbrineart I'm not sure where the other death mask is kept but I believe there is another. It would be interesting to compare them. You're right, the do show a long and narrow nose.
Yes, it's a very vivid and awful account of her execution. I know there has been controversy over whether eyes and mouths can move after a person is decapitated, with some saying that once the neck is severed it can't happen and others saying it can happen to a short time after. Not nice at all!
I think some things go in circles.
We all rejoice that despite belittling his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth became Queen of England when Henry's pride and joy (Edward) died at a young age. Anne Boleyn's ultimate revenge after being unjustly beheaded. Catherine of Aragon's final laugh after being shunned and humiliated by Henry. The ultimate "last laugh" and a big f** you, Henry.
Mary was Queen of England for a short time, but she married a negligent unloving husband and was unable to bear children - even a daughter, to be her heir. Almost like her mom.
Elizabeth ruled for a long time, and didn't have any children by her own choice. Beheades Mary Stuart in shady business, and gives Mary Stuart a new "last laugh" by making her son her heir (not that she had many choices).
It is all a big circle of tragedy and pain to everyone involved. Except Henry, that AH got everything he wanted and more.
How did Queen Victoria I continue right after the execution of her cousin, Mary...via a death warrant that she, herself, had signed? Was she affected at all or carried on with business as usual? Thanks
From what I've read, Elizabeth was very upset about this. How much was guilt and how much was fear of the consequences is an open question. I think both would have been working on Elizabeth. She knew Mary had to die; Mary had said in open court that her religious beliefs required her to try to take the throne. After that, the die was cast. I wonder if Mary realized the repercussions this statement would have, or if her peculiar blindness to Elizabeth's POV kept her from seeing what she'd done?
Thank you Claire. Such a sad ending for a Queen of France and Scotland.
That was a gruesome account at the end there. What’s this about a bit of gristle protruding from her neck?! Henry 8 was at least merciful enough to special order the swordsman from France for a fast and clean cranium removal of Elizabeth’s own mum, Queen AnneB. Elizabeth didn’t offer that to her cousin the Queen, tho. Beheading by ax is so primitive and brutal and messy. The witness noted Mary made little or no sound, tho her lips continued to quiver for a quarter of an hour after its separation from her body?!?! Ugh.
Some loose thoughts and impressions on Mary and Liz: Mary definitely was pushing the religious persecution angle. But, it did not seem that Mary was particularly pious like her cousin Mary Tudor or especially Mary’s mother Queen Catarina.Many act devout at the end, esp when one is facing the ax. Maybe not the Howard girl, tho lol. Second: No goodbye letter from Mary to her own son, the future James 1? Was she that estranged from him? I believe he was made to believe she was a witch and he hated Catholicism. Yet he moved his mother’s body to Westminster. Did he have a change of heart about her?
But her fate in the end? pretty brutal. Very sad with the dog, very dramatic, the whole ritual. It amazes me, how these ladies give such a performance minutes and seconds away from the chopping block. Even the Howard girl maintained composure methinks. In a way, Just as Elizabeth was born to a mother perhaps unfairly accused, disgraced and executed, James also assumed the throne from the very Queen who accused and executed his mother. She didn’t identify with James?
Lastly, If anyone knew the tenuousness and insecurity of her position and claim until and even after she assumed the throne, it was Elizabeth. Barring Henry Fitzroy, a “true”bastard, Elizabeth’s legitimacy was the weakest of Henry’s children, mostly due to the circumstances of her parents’ marriage and the character assassination her mother received. Her own sister jailed her, but I don’t think ever seriously considered executing her. Mostly because even though Elizabeth was Protestant, and her mother was the homewrecker who broke up her parents marriage, Elizabeth was her only surviving sibling, and Mary had no children. And she knew she needed to assume the throne. Elizabeth also knew this about Mary Stewart. ..And yet she did execute. Eliz Even wanted to enact a bit of a “Princes in the Tower” cloak and dagger hit job on Mary. Even Bloody Mary didn’t have it in her to execute the next Legitimate heir to the throne, the next Queen. But Lizzie? TskTsk. If you’re still reading, I’d suggest siding up to my brief bio on Mary Tudor on Medium: link.medium.com/IeGwiPqYCdb
Thats very sad.
I have a question I questioned this did Mary were the red crimson petticoat out of catholic martyr or sense red is the color you wear when your glad someone’s dead and she was happy about her death so did she wear it out of happiness
She wore it as a Martyr. I have read that yellow was a color for joy.
Red was the colour of martyrdom and she did see herself as a martyr.
clare5 one red is the color of disrespect at funerals
The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society thank you i started to question it after watching the golden girls with Blanche in her fed Funeral dress and I look up red at funerals.
@@sallyofstuart9702 Funny that you had mentioned that, as my BF's sister wore a red suit at her father's funeral.
Can someone who isn't even a part of your "nation" be a traitor? I know it was all a confusion back then, but Mary was the queen of the SCOTS, and you would think wasn't then considered a citizen of Britain except due to her parentage. She certainly wasn't hanging around with Elizabeth once they both became queens.
It is sad. Mary never ever learned to hold. The Honours Of Scots. At all.
I believe that the last person who was able to entertain an audience by reciting their own or someone else's text, was Mark Twain.
😢
I'm not sure if you mean she was wearing some kind of bonnet that came off. I have read and heard that she was wearing a wig and when he lifted her head the wig came off and her head rolled over the floor. But I know not all accounts are truthful. It would however have given them a scare if it did happen. I really enjoy all your knowledge of history!! They made a tv series about her too (on Netflix I think) it's as if when they make films or tv series now that it has to have some gimmick like splashing fake blood on the cameras and it has to be violent and the history doesn't matter at all. They made Mary into a hero doing things she would never have done and if you didn't know what it was about, you would never guess it was about her. I always found Mary to be a little dull so to see her like this wonderful selfless superwoman was just silly. It's a shame because young people may think that this is what she was really like.
Was this the same Mary Queen of Scots that once was looking to execute the same Queen Elizabeth I who was now on the throne?
Yes
Love anything to do with the Tudors. I share her birthday and my son was born on her execution date!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
Happy birthday to your son!
@@anneboleynfiles Thank you. Told him and he asked me to please thank you. He is also crazy about Tudor history (and history in general). Have an awesome weekend.
Alison Weir book is my favourite.
Very disappointing when the film had them meeting each other.
I think that Elizabeth lied about not realizing that the death warrant would be executed.
Regicide it was. How could a foreign princess be tried as a traitor?
Being jailed for 19 years Mary had every right to conspire to escape.
I always wondered why it was treason if she was Scottish 🤷🏼♀️
She was on English soil when she was implicated in the Babington Plot so I assume that English law would cover that.
Is it true that Elizabeth kept Mary in prison for about 20 years before she was beheaded?
She wasn't kept in prison, she was kept at castles and manors in a state befitting her status, but she was imprisoned from 1568 to 1587. Prior to that, she'd been imprisoned in Scotland.
"Teasel Tribual!!" 🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍
Going back to the movie comment, it has her with a Scottish accent, but she was brought in in France, so naturally, her accent would be French
Mary Queen of Scots is one of history's most fascinating and tragic figures, from the time of her birth right down to her execution her life was a web of romance danger and intrigue, virtually a queen when only a day old her first memories would have been of much older courtiers bowing and curtsying to her, whilst her mother tried to rule as regent on her baby daughters behalf, sent to France in the care of her mother's French relative's she grew up in the sunny land of France and would have had a marked French accent along with the dress and manners of the sophisticate, her early days in that country was something she had fond memories of all her life, she was spoilt and pampered for she was the darling of the court and married the dauphin when she became of age, meanwhile she possibly did not think much of Scotland for her life was not there yet when she had to return, she was filled with apprehension and deep sadness at the thought of losing all she held dear, but her mother had died and her husband was dead, and so she had to return, Marys brief reign in Scotland was a disaster and she was also Catholic which set her up against the firebrand John Knox and after a series of unwise decisions she lost her crown and became a prisoner, this was where she made the fatal decision to flee to England and one morning before the dawn had risen, she crossed the Solent in a little fishing boat heavily disguised and with only her loyal followers for company, she arrived in England and urged Queen Elizabeth to see her and help her restore her throne, her tragedy was had she decided to go to France she would have had a warm welcome, she would have had her freedom and whilst she may not have been able to persuade Queen Catherine de Medici to raise arms against Scotland she at least would have been no prisoner, as it was Elizabeth sent an armed guard to her residence and she was effectively a prisoner again, there she stayed in England for eighteenth years moving around from one residence to another, Tutbury Castle which to this day is said to be haunted by the ghost of its Royal captive, she was housed in the home of the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury - she who was known as Bess of Hardwick and they became her gaolers till they were replaced by Sir Amyus Paulet, uprisings were done on her behalf and still she urged impassioned letters to Elizabeth desperately seeking an audience and a chance to get her view across, but it was all in vain, there was the mysterious murder of her second husband Henry Lord Darnley which the English court had viewed with suspicion especially after she wed his alleged murdurer, it was this foolish mistake that had lost her her crown and she suffered a mental breakdown, Elizabeth kept in touch about Marys doings by her ambassador and spies and was distressed by her treatment at the hands of the Scots, the city of Edinburgh rose up against her and she was called a whore and murduress by its citizens, Scotland was a wild rough country, too rough for a delicate young flower who had been reared in the sunny valleys of the Loire to rule, her mother had possessed an iron will and intelligence and had managed quite successfully, but her flighty young daughter had not and the tragedy was, she had no knowledge of her country and its people, Scotsman were crude no French gallants there, much of the country inhospitable and the weather bleak and foreboding, no beautiful palaces lined with rose gardens and cherub spouting fountains there, sadly she was like a fish out of water and her end when it came was inevitable, the most frequently asked questions about Mary are was she a murduress did she write the toxic casket letters? Sadly we will never know like we will never know if she intended to take Elizabeths throne instead of just a bid for freedom, but what we do know is her courage was remarkable and her sad ending is proof of that, the poignant tale of how her little dog faithful to the end refused to leave her mangled corpse is testament to the loyalty she inspired in others, her childhood companion Mary Seton stayed in her service all her life and was with her at the end, but her story does not end there, in 1603 her son James ascended the Englisg throne and he had her removed from her burial place in Peterborough to Westminster Abbey, there she lies in gentle repose her hands clasped in prayer in the chapel Royal of Henry V11, ironically her gaoler and executer Queen Elizabeth lies not far away with her sister Queen Mary - another tragic Queen, the recognition she sought as Elizabeths heiress for so long is here at last, in her final resting place amongst Englands dead monarchs, no doubt it would have afforded her some comfort.
Why do you write in interminably long run-on sentences? Why don't you use periods? Your comments would make much more sense if you did! 😒
@@h.calvert3165 I do that sometimes. It’s a bit stream of consciousness, but lyrical and rather poetic 😉
Why yes, the 3 dames, Mary, Elizabeth and Mary, sisters and cousins, not such good friends, tho. Pity.
His new book - the True life of Mary Queen of Scots I didn't read his first, but I'm certain this dissagrees with it. He finds that even by the accounts of her enemies, she was impressive and skillful. Not at all the "heart" based impression people cast upon her. ... Elizabeth delayed because she knew it was all her fault that she was killing her. She had lead Mary to believe that she would help her take back her crown in Scotland. Elizabeth was ruthless, just like her father.
Business Finance Coach Elizabeth was willing to negotiate Mary's return, but Mary expected her to send an army.
@@jmarie9997 no she held her prisoner lol. She didnt even try to help her or depose her enemies, instead she deposed HER out of jealousy, paranoia and fear