The suspicion that Mary had something to do with Darnley’s death led to her losing the Scottish throne. She was forced to abdicate in favor of her infant son in July of 1567.

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This week I’m started a series of Mysteries—Murder most foul of course as that’s the ultimate in mysteries.

 

I just finished a book about a man that goes thru time to solve historical ones—as you see above.  And so today that’s one mystery that you might be interested in looking into to find WHO KILLED THE KING?  In this case the country was Scotland and the king’s title in name only-which simply means that his wife had inherited the crown and allowed him to be called king but that in truth he was subservient to her.   So all that he had and all those who bowed down to him was by the grace of the queen.

 

 

 

 

Couple: Darnley, who had royal lineage himself, is pictured above with Mary, whom he married in 1565

Couple: Darnley, who had royal lineage himself, is pictured above with Mary, whom he married in 1565

 

You can check out a panel’s findings in 2015’s that cleared Mary of involvement— but you may well–as I was—not be very convinced by the findings and/or the reasons for same:  (the picture above is from the article)

Full article here:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3249401/Mary-Queen-Scots-CLEARED-murdering-husband-panel-experts-examined-evidence-just-428-years-died.html

 

 

 

 

See the source image

 

Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, Stewart also spelled Stuart, also called (1565–67) Earl of Ross, Duke of Albany, (born Dec. 7, 1545, Temple Newsom, Yorkshire, Eng.—died Feb. 9/10, 1567, Edinburgh), cousin and second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, father of King James I of Great Britain and Ireland (James VI of Scotland), and direct ancestor of all subsequent British sovereigns………..Darnley was the son of Matthew Stewart, 4th earl of Lennox, whose pretension to the throne of Scotland was contested by James Hamilton, 2nd earl of Arran. Darnley’s mother, formerly Margaret Douglas, had a claim to the English crown as granddaughter of Henry VII

Encyclopaedia Britannica

 

 

 

The “King” was Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley an Englishman with good (With a capital G) bloodlines (as far as crowns go) both in England and in Scotland.  Some have speculated that Elizabeth I went out of her way to be sure that Mary, the Scottish Queen and a possible claimant to her throne,  be put in the path of the troublesome, but sexually appealing young man.  I among others find this a bit hard to believe given the  confusion of Elizabeth’s birthright of the Tudor’s very confusing marriage and divorce and/or executions which marked Elizabeth’s father’s reign and forever put some in doubt of who should set the throne especially due to the constant change from legal to bastard and back again in regard to Elizabeth and her sister Mary who ruled before her.  It is also noted that Elizabeth and her council while allowing Darnley go to Scotland in turn forbid him to marry the Scottish Queen (and how did that go for you Elizabeth?).   Or maybe she changed her mind who knows.

 

 

 

Darnley was Mary’s Second Spouse.  She married her first husband in April of 1558 and he became  Francis II, king of France in 1559—and died in 1560 of what appears to have been an ear infection that caused an abscess  of his brain and finally death.   France however was Mary’s second throne–be it ever so shortly as she was already Queen of Scotland when she married Francis.

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The Kirk o’Field site

The lands at Kirk o’ Field went on to be granted to the city specifically for the foundation of a new university, including the Hamilton lodging. The University of Edinburgh was founded by King James VI in 1582, and the Kirk o’ Field site has long been considered to be at the current location of the Old College. Recent archaeological investigations following the Cowgate fire of 2002 have raised some questions about the exact location of the house

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11279751

 

 

 

 

See the source image

 

 

Mary, Queen of Scots (December 8, 1542 to February 8, 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Queen Mary I, was the queen of Scotland from December 1542 until July 1567. The death of Mary’s father, which occurred just days after her birth, put her on the throne as an infant.

She briefly became queen consort in France before returning to Scotland

https://www.biography.com/royalty/mary-queen-of-scots

 

 

Mary had almost always been queen and she ruled an unstable country which occupied a a small land base with its bitter enemy England whose throne she also had blood lines to.  She was crowned at nine months, originally in the charge  of the Earl of Arran and then of her mother, Mary of Guise, who was from one of the most powerful families in France.  Mary was protected in holy places, on an island in the Highlands while her mother ruled the country for her.  Eventually she was engaged (both were children) to the future king of France and was sent to be raised in a more stable country France, with the Royal children including her fiance.    So most of her life was far from the strife of the land where she was the crown queen of.

 

 

She was totally unprepared when her husband, always sickly died and she returned to her dynasty of Scotland to reign.  And to make it all worse in a day where woman was normally ruled by the male, the widowed teenager was also a Catholic returning to a land rent by religious conflict—where she was forced to take mass in private.  Not exactly a win win situation

 

 

 

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NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie
“As enthralling as a detective story.” — New York Times Book Review

 

Centuries after her death, Mary continues to be an object of cultural fascination. The 1971 film Mary, Queen of Scots starred Vanessa Redgrave as Mary and Glenda Jackson as Queen Elizabeth I, with Timothy Dalton as Henry Stewart, Earl of Darnley.

 

In 2013, a Swiss-French movie was made on Mary’s life. And the 2018 movie, Mary Queen of Scots, starred Saoirse Ronan as Mary and Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I. Mary’s life also inspired the 2013 to 2017 television show Reign on The CW.

 

 

 

Hardcover Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley Book

 

Darnley met Mary twice before becoming her suitor. He was sent clandestinely to France by his parents in 1559 after the death of Mary’s father-in-law, Henry II. He spent some time at Chambord where the French court was at that moment, under the protective wing of his paternal uncle John Stuart d’Aubigny, who had remained in France. Darnley was not yet thirteen and carried with him a letter from his father, in which he pleaded to have his forfeited Scottish estates restored. This was nothing but a formal audience with Mary, but a subtle way of introducing young Darnley on the scene. In 1560, when Francis II died in his turn leaving Mary a widow, Darnley was once more sent over to offer his parents’ condolences.

 

 

But as it’s often said the third time is a charm:  Then came Darnley to Scotland, and Mary reportedly was smitten….was she really—or not?  Who knows, he was considered handsome and I am sure that he presented some one to her that would be a support and comfort and so .   He had hoped to eventually be given the crown as a full king but that didn’t come about and he wasted his time drinking and contributing nothing to the management of the throne or carry out his consort duties.

 

 

The bad behavior became worse when the nobles that had previously resented him decided to gain his help by aligning with him instead of shunning him…..once they had “welcomed” him into their circle they began whispering rumors that the queen was more than friendly with her Italian secretary Rizzo and this would all end in the death of Rizzo—it is reported that Darnley insisted that he be murdered in Mary’s presence and legend has it that he hid behind Mary for protection and one of the party (though it is insisted that the queens husband had not the strength to preform the deed himself) is reported to have leaned over Mary’s very pregnant body to murder the man.

 

 

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Image result for the date of the death and location of Darnley's death

The National Archives have great site about the death including maps and this drawings of the scenes and includes all the items found with the body.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/kirk-o-field/

 

 

 

See the source image

 

By February 1567 Darnley who  was now the father of Mary’s son James VI of Scotland (and who would eventually become James I of England due to the Tudor’s inability to produce a long living heir).  He had continued his wicked ways, drinking, whoring and all manner of evil totally alienated Mary by the time that he developed a severe case of the pox–Syphilis and was placed in the Kirk of the Fields site—not a usual place for royalty to abide but it was here that he lived and some say that Mary came often to see and nurse her sick husband.

 

 

Then on Feb. 10 the house was blown up with several losses of life in the ruins….Darnley and a servant were also dead, but they were found in a near by orchard with no marks evident of  how they were killed—both dressed in their night shirts which were pulled up to their waists and around the bodies laid objects including a chair, a net, a dagger and some pieces of clothing.  it was obvious the explosion did not kill them but who or what did?

 

The suspect list was impressive and included Mary’s stanchest ally James Hepburn,  Lord Bothwell.  Interestingly enough he was tried in April and found not guilty, he went on to marry the Queen a month later.  This convinced many that the queen was guilty– and many more were convince of this by the nobility many of which were against the queen including her own half brother who gained much when she was forced to fight for her place and eventually lost–Oh and by the way, her final battle which by the way happened on today’s date

 

 

On 5/13/1568:

At the Battle of Langside, the forces of Mary Queen of Scots are defeated by a confederacy of Scottish Protestants under James Stewart (and her illegitimate half brother), the regent of her son  King James VI of Scotland. During the battle, which was fought out in the southern suburbs of Glasgow, a cavalry charge routed Mary’s 6,000 Catholic troops, and they fled the field. Three days later, Mary escaped to Cumberland, England, where she sought protection from Queen Elizabeth I.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mary-queen-of-scots-defeated?cmpid=email-hist-tdih-2019-0513-05132019&om_rid=215826f0296d5a613dbe23a2c91db60ff30e199744e52a41fa14a8f207616902&om_mid=627024702&kx_EmailCampaignID=29844&kx_EmailCampaignName=email-hist-tdih-2019-0513-05132019&kx_EmailRecipientID=215826f0296d5a613dbe23a2c91db60ff30e199744e52a41fa14a8f207616902&fbclid=IwAR2bCFY5cPCIGzY8Ijk8L5eNJRRNNhhKPSAkPs34hfqaCJiOtcmDcSo_CZg

 

 

Lord Bothwell and Mary Queen of Scots A Study of the Life, Character and Times of James Hepburn, ...

 

Place to see in Edinburgh related to Mary and Darnley include

Holyrood Palace:

   You can still see Mary’ chambers in the Palace of Holyrood. And if you look closely, you can spot the marks on the floor which are said to be Rizzio’s blood. 

(Note:  I have heard various stories, I know that the wooden floor has been replace many times…….but I have seen the stains and my guide told us that legend has it that the stains appear in every floor, but that 20th century testing show that it is sap—but they can’t explain why it re-appears in the same area every time)

 

 

Edinburgh Castle:

Where Mary gave birth to her son by Darnley:  James

 

Craigmillar Castle

Where some believe the Lairds sign a pact to rid themselves of Darnley

 

www.rabbies.com/en/blog/guide-places-connected-mary-queen-scots

 

If you go to the above Web site you’ll see Rabbie’s Blog (they are my favorite touring campy in England and/or Scotland) you can see pictures of these castles as well  4 others that might be a great place to see and or visit it you live in the UK or plan a trip there—or will give you a reason to plan one.

 

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Check out the Tudor Society for their thoughts on the matter:

10 February 1567 – The Murder of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley

 

You can see Mary’s tomb—James I who paid little attention to his mother during his life decided to be interested in her after her death and when he became king he had her body moved to one of the most beautiful tombs in Westminster Abbey  check it out there or get a preview at::   https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/mary-queen-of-scots

 

You can check out British Magazine for their take on the whole affair:  https://www.britain-magazine.com/carousel/who-killed-lord-darnley/

 

 

OK we’ll discuss the cast of characters or should that be suspects on my entry Friday—-5/17   If anybody out there comes up with some ideas please let me know under comments.

 

 

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Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley

A kneeling figure of Lord Darnley can be seen on the monument of his mother Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox in the south aisle of Henry VII’s chapel at Westminster Abbey. Her other sons and daughters are also shown as weepers around the tomb chest. This shows him in armour with a crown placed just above his head. Henry Stewart, Duke of Albany, known as Lord Darnley, was the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots (whose tomb is in the same aisle as Margaret’s). They married at Holyrood in Scotland on 29th July 1565 and Henry was declared King the following day. He was mysteriously found dead in February 1567 (possibly suffocated) and was buried in the vault at the abbey of Holyrood.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/henry-stewart-lord-darnley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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