[MR] Wikipedia: Mary Queen of Scots marries Darnley

Garth Groff via Atlantia atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sat Jul 29 02:31:34 PDT 2017


Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots:

On this date in 1565, Mary Queen of Scots married her cousin Henry 
Stuart, Lord Darnley: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Stuart,_Lord_Darnley . Darnley is 
important in history not just for this unfortunate marriage. He also had 
a close claim on the throne of England just behind his bride, and was 
considered a possible successor to Elizabeth I by recusant English 
Catholics. Darnley's marriage to Mary produced their son James VI, later 
James I of England.

Not much of a marriage though. The couple bickered constantly over 
Darnley sharing power. He was unstable, prone to excessive drinking, and 
alienated most of the other nobles. Then there was Mary's music master 
and private Secretary, David Rizzio. Darnley hated Rizzio and was 
jealous of the favor Mary showed the servant. Rumor said Rizzio was 
actually the father of Mary's yet unborn son. Could be, could be. On 9 
March 1566, Darnely and a number of his cronies daggered Rizzio 56 times 
in the approved Scottish fashion before the shocked queen. Talk about a 
marriage on the rocks! You can read more about Rizzio and his demise at: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rizzio  .

On 9 February 1567, the bodies of Darnley and his personal servant were 
found strangled in an Orchard near Darnely's lodgings at Kirk o' Field. 
The house itself was blown up. The likely culprit was James Hepburn, 4th 
Earl of Bothwell, possibly with Mary's collusion. Mary later married 
Bothwell, an act which was to divide Scotland and force her to abdicate 
the throne.

And you thought GAME OF THRONES was complicated! Scotland and England 
were just as twisted and bloody.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot


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