Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Book review: Mary was a 'Captive Queen'


Jade Scott, is a specialist on Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), and the secretary of the Scottish History Society and an associate fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Dr. Scott's dissertation increased her interest in Mary, imprisoned for almost half her life (19 years) by her first cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603).

These cousins never met. 

Although she signed the papers for Mary's execution, Elizabeth was supposedly unaware the death sentence would be carried out and became angry with her ministers when she learned of it. The irony, of course, is that Mary's son, James (1566-1625) became King of England after Elizabeth died and had his mother's body exhumed from Peterborough Cathedral and re-interred in 1612 near Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey.

James was less than one year old the last time he saw his mother and 13 months old when he was crowned King of Scotland. Mary wrote to her son often.

According to an interview with Dr. ScottMary wrote and received thousands of letters. Dr. Scott's book, 
Captive Queen The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots sheds light on 57 newly encrypted letters which describe Mary's many attempts to escape but never presents proof that she intended to participate in the murder of the Queen, a plot which was Mary's downfall.

Some of the letters were exchanged with the Spanish and French ambassadors. If you are familiar with the Babington Plot, Dr. Scott's book has more for you to read.

The most interesting chapter was Mary's everyday life in prison, luxurious by commoners' standards, with meals served on silver plate and in crystal glassware, prepared by her French chef who offered her a choice of 32 different dishes, wine and beer (up to 20 gallons daily for herself and her servants).

The English are different from you and me; and so are the Scots! Did you know they had their own language? Nor did I, but the author mentioned that a few times. 

So many names! Jumping hither and yon, it’s hard to keep track of all the characters, even with the dramatis personae at the beginning and how is that arranged, please?

Alphabetically, non.

Chronologically, non.

Type of person? Conspirators, courtiers, women, to name a few differentiated "types," but even within those segments, their arrangement is ...? I never could figure it out.

The end of the book has an excellent, extensive chronology of Mary’s life.

Captive Queen is not so much a great book for the lay, but it is more appealing to academicians and her "deep scholars." Still (being of the "lay" persuasion), I can’t seem to get her out of my mind.

For more on Mary and photos of her life, go here.

Former burial place of Mary, Queen of Scots, Peterborough Cathedral/Wikipedia and Derek Voller

patricialesli@gmail.com




Thursday, August 9, 2012

Loch Ness monster scene in Scotland

In the distance "Nessie" made her appearance/Patricia Leslie


Take a look at these photos:  What do you think?  From a boat on the famed Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands last week, this is what we saw from onboard:  "Nessie" who (which?) inhabits the huge loch, according to legend, that is 22.5 miles long and quite deep (754'), but she (of course) needs all that space to roam. And swim.  And eat. (What does she eat?)


Nessie's presence was keenly observed/Patricia Leslie

Giving life to the much-searched sea creature was "Nessie's Monster Mash" premium beer sold on the boat which, to those who consumed it, made Nessie seem even larger than life, however, Nessie neither growled nor roared nor made any sounds whatsoever, strangely enough.  

The only noise came from liquid sloshing both onboard and overboard, and from the boat's crowd, captured by the sights and romance of the day and making toast to the subject which drew us to the gorgeous loch in the first place. 

The boat rocked gently whenever "Nessie" came up for air/Patricia Leslie

In a LiveScience story this month, Benjamin Radford makes folly of "sightings."  Whatever.

We were just happy our boat and crew were well enough equipped to supply all the necessities we needed:  a thorough description of Nessie and the search for her, a powerful boat engine to make a quick "getaway" (if needed), life jackets, Nessie books, trinkets, nuts, and plenty to drink, mate. 

The cattle weren't bothered too much by "Nessie"/Patricia Leslie


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