The Affair of Janet Stewart, the Lady Fleming with Henry II of France
While researching for my book ‘The Challenge to the Crown‘, I came across this story concerning Janet Stewart, Mary Queen of Scots’ aunt, who also served as her Governess, when…
A map of the city of Edinburgh from the time of Mary, Queen of Scots
At about 2.00am on 10th February 1567, there was a massive explosion at the collegiate buildings of Kirk o’ Field being occupied by Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, King Consort of…
Was Mary Queen of Scots involved in the murder of her husband Lord Darnley?
When trying to understand the life of Mary Queen of Scots, generations of historians have puzzled over one important question – was Mary involved in her husband Henry Stuart, Lord…
Lady Margaret Douglas and the Lennox Jewel
This article arises from research that I did for my book ‘The Challenge to the Crown’ and its sequel ‘The Survival of the Crown’. Both books discuss the position of…
What happened to “the four Marys” (Beaton, Seton, Fleming, and Livingston) after the death of their lady, Mary, Queen of Scots?
The four ‘Maries’ accompanied Mary Queen of Scots as a child to France in 1548 and remained her closest lifelong friends. Mary Beaton was the daughter of the head of…
The Complexity of the Entail to the Earldom of Morton
On the death of James Douglas 3rd Earl of Morton in 1550 the title did not pass, as might be expected, to the eldest of his three daughters, Margaret, the…
The Bath of Diana
On 30 June 1559, Henry II of France arranged a spectacular jousting tournament at the Palais de Tournelles, his residence in Paris, as part of the celebrations for two marriages….
The Atholl Inheritance
In researching for my book “The Survival of the Crown“, the second volume of my history of Mary Queen of Scots and James VI, I came across the complex efforts made by…
The Erskine Claim to the Earldom of Mar
When I started writing ‘The Challenge to the Crown‘, I undertook a significant amount of research into my wife’s grandmother’s family, the Erskines. The Erskines laid claim to the Earldom…
The Rothes Inheritance
In researching my history of Mary Queen of Scots in The Challenge to the Crown, I became confused that the Earl of Rothes, who was a loyal adherent of Lord…