About

Scotland’s female Braveheart comes to America

Historic Background

Mary Stuart was Queen of Scotland and reigned about 460 years ago. She was one of the most tragic queens in British history. Born in Linlithgow Palace in the year 1542, (7th or 8th of December)*, Mary was the third child (two young brothers had previously died) and the only daughter of James V of Scotland and his second wife Mary of Guise, a French noblewoman. Her father James V died six days after her birth and with his death Mary became the infant queen. On 23 July 1543, she and her mother were moved to the safety of Stirling Castle where she was crowned Queen on the 9th of September. The young queen was then entrusted to the care and protection of Lords Erskine and Livingstone.

A rift between Mary and her third husband became public knowledge. She turned to a Scottish nobleman, a very powerful man, the Earl of Bothwell, for support. He and other Scottish noblemen proposed to do whatever they could to help the queen in her dilemma. This decision led to a failed explosion plot and to the strangulation death of Darnley. A few months later, Mary and the Earl married. This annoyed the populace who suspected Bothwell’s participation in the murder of their King. Mary’s subjects were infuriated and turned against her.  She fled to England to ask for help from her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Instead, she was imprisoned.

After 19 years of trying to obtain her freedom, she was charged and found guilty of taking part in a plot to kill Elizabeth. Mary was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587. She was 44 years old.

As a teenager I was a Scottish Nationalist and was incensed when the Scottish letter boxes were printed with Queen Elizabeth of England’s name on them.

Having been a keen history student I was exasperated.  Many Scots are now American citizens after the English invaded Scotland and burned the Highlanders out of their homes making them flee to other lands. I have always been an advocate of freedom from tyranny. However, I look down on this being used for political or commercial gain.

That is why I have decided to blog my views in the hope that Americans realize what is happening here in the United States of America the most wonderful country in the world in which I have made my home.  I have traveled extensively (not as a tourist) but as a nomadic Scot.
I have witnessed many atrocities throughout the world so I feel that I am reasonably qualified in my comments and opinions on my blog.
I get irritated when I am referred to as English by Americans who have not read our History.

I am a Scottish born American. A Scot and very proud of that heritage.  I do hope that my readers respect that element of my make-up.