Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 30 on 01/12/2006.

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The tragic queen (Mary Queen of Scots)

In the latest part of our series looking at legendary Scottish characters, Mark Nicholls looks at where to find out more about Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots was a woman who spent much of her life on the move: for political and religious reasons; being pursued by rival Scottish lords; secreted away for her own safety; or on extensive “progresses” around Scotland to meet her people.

As a modern day consequence, the trail of Mary Queen of Scots is a long and elaborate one, not only within Scotland, but across France and parts of England, where she eventually met her death in 1587 at the hands of the executioner at Fotheringay Castle near Peterborough.

In Scotland, there are scores of locations associated with the woman who was Queen of Scotland, Queen of France, and had a claim to the English throne – an issue that was ultimately to lead to her death at the age of 44.

Some were just passing references in her life but the major ones played a key part in a colourful, often tragic, existence.

When marrying the locations across Scotland associated with Mary Queen of Scots with her eventful life, a natural place to start is Linlithgow Palace. This is where she was born on December 7, 1542 – the daughter of James V of Scotland and Marie de Guise – and six days later, on the death of her father, where she became Queen.

Linlithgow is half an hour from Edinburgh and was one of the favoured residences of the Scottish monarchs from James I (1406- 37) onwards.

It stands in its own park and beside Linlithgow Loch. While in ruins it still offers an insight into the lives of the Stuart monarchs. It is not difficult to ima.....

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By Mark Nicholls

Section : Scottish Legends

Page number : 64