The Queen Of Scots'

9 Pages 2278 Words

Mary was dubbed the ‘the daughter of debate’ by her cousin, Elizabeth I. Does this description accurately reflect the Queen of Scots?

In order to establish whether or not Elizabeth’s description ‘the daughter of debate’ accurately reflects the Queen of Scots it is necessary to firstly examine who Mary was, considering early events in her life including her succession to the throne and her departure to France. Consideration must then be given to Elizabeth with a brief look at her succession to the throne and a more in depth look at what the early relationship between the two monarchs was like and considering the question was Mary obsessed with the throne of England? My focus, however are the events in her life up to and including what Wormald calls ‘the major scandals of 1566-7’ (2001:147). These events that have sparked debate include what were the reasons behind Mary’s marriage to Lord Darnley? Did she as accused commit adultery, and was she involved in the murder of her husband? Did she then marry Bothwell willingly or was she forced? What led Mary to resign her crown to her infant son? Finally did Elizabeth call Mary ‘the daughter of debate’ and if so in what context?
Wormald remarks that Mary Queen of Scots from the very start created uncertainty even before her distinctive character emerged (2001:12). Interestingly the first detail in Mary Stewart’s life under debate is the date of her birth. Mary’s birth date is recorded as the 8th of December 15421 however Fraser remarks that it has been suggested she was actually born on 7th December 1542 and the date was changed to occur with the feast of the virgin (1970:32/33). Mary herself saw her birthday to be the 8th2. Mary was the daughter of King James V and became Queen of Scotland when only six days old. Mary was not only a Stewart, but she was a Guise through her mother and a Tudor, through her grandmother. She therefore had claims to the thrones of Englan...