New Version of Friedrich Schiller's 'Mary Stuart'

We have received a very interesting communication from the Rococo Players in Gloucestershire.

Between Tuesday 26th. and Saturday 30th. November the company will be staging a new version by Peter Oswald of Friedrich Schiller's play 'Mary Stuart' to be performed tin the stunningly atmospheric 13th. century Blackfriars Priory in Gloucester. 

The play, on which Donizetti's opera Maria Stuarda is based was first performed in 1800. It is set in the final days on Mary's imprisonment in England and has been criticised, involving as it does, a meeting between May and her captor, Elizabeth 1. Notwithstanding some speculative theories to the contrary in every probability this was a meeting which just did not happen. The concept does though make for good drama.

It would  appears Peter Oswald now wraps round the meeting a text which covers National Security, International Terrorism and questions about the rights and responsibilities of those in power.

Certainly makes for an evening of theatre

Tickets (£15, £12 concession) can be purchased on line at http://therococoplayers.org.uk/or telephone 01242 522852. There are discounts for early booking.

Titian Portrait of Mary?

Rediscovered Portrait of Mary?

Has a new portrait of Mary by no less an artist that Titian come to light?

Below an image of the painting and the reverse on which is clearly legible the words " Titianus F(ecit). 

 

Assuming the portrait is of Mary she is obviously somewhat older and could not be a life painting.

Titian lived from 1488 to 1576 and the painting has been dated to 1574 and suggested that it was commissioned by King Henry 111 of France when he visited Titian and when he seems to have commissioned quite a number of portraits. If this is correct this would make Mary 33 and Titian in his late eighties. It has also been stated that there was communication by letter between Mary and Francis at this time .

Anyone able to confirm or throw further light on this? I have certainly found reference to letters to Francis penned by Mary at Tutberry in 1569; said to be 'written without light' and smuggled out of the Castle although intercepted and not received, (by this time though Titian would be dead) and also of remonstrations by Francis to Elizabeth regarding the strictness of Mary's confinement.

Assuming this to be the case what image of Mary might Francis have passed to Titian for him to work on?

My attention has also been drawn to a book "The Castles of Mary, Queen of Scots" by Charles Mackie of 1835 which (page 53) contains the following;

"I thought I had done very well by this transaction, until I saw in the Morning Chronicle ,a flaming puff, stating that "an original portrait of Mary Queen of Scotland the undoubted work of Titian, value one thousand guineas was to be seen at No 14 Pall Mall price of admission 2s.6d"

The bait took Mr. F... put £300 or £400 in his pocket by the exhibition and sold the portrait for £700 or £800."

Could this be the same portrait? Even if it is doesn't of course in itself prove the genuineness of the portrait.

The book is out of copyright and can be downloaded free on http://archive.org/stream/castlesmaryquee00mackgoog#page/n69/mode/2up

Lots of background work on the provenance of the portrait still to be done - obviously for the experts but if genuine a most interesting historical portrait.

Ronald 

Carberry Tapestry

We have recently had an inquiry regarding a tapestry depicting Mary, Queen of Scots'  surrender to the Confederate Lords at Carberry.

The enquirer advises that he is the owner of such a tapestry and mentions that a similar one is on display at Mary, Queen of Scots' House in Jedburgh.

He goes on to say that on the face of things his might appear to be older mentioning that it is rather faded, also that some of the stitches are missing and that there are certain differences between the two particularly perhaps in regard to the faces.

He wondered as to the history of the tapestry and which if either might be the original.

Below images of the two tapestries, the top one, the one at Jedburgh.

After contacting Mary, Queen of Scots House we received a reply from Zilla Oddy of Scottish Borders Council, Museum Services who wrote: (the reply reproduced with her consent)

Unfortunately we don't have very much information about our tapestry, other than that its title is "Surrender of Mary Queen of Scots to the Confederate Lords at Carberry Hill in the year 1567".  A note on the catalogue sheet says that the picture from which this tapestry was taken was first published on 1st May 1843 by Mary Parks, London and Paris, and engraved by J G Mure.  A label with documents concerning this tapestry mentions Bowyer Gallery, Golden Square, London and A Hauser, Boulevard des Italiens, Paris. It was sewn by Agnes Wilson (nee Shanks) of Hamilton. 

I understand that this type of tapestry was produced in quantity in kit form, so in a sense there is neither an original nor a copy, but many copies taken from an original painting.

Delighted to hear (via our website) from anyone who might have any more information on these tapestries or on the original painting.

Ronald

8th. August 2013

Further to the above lots of responses.

One of our members Marie Macpherson has managed to track down the original of the painting which it would appear was for sale in Canada in 2011 and at seemingly a very reasonable price of $550 

The painting measuring 22" x 30" would appear to have been by Alexander Chisholm (1792-1847) who was a Scottish painter of historical subjects and portraits. He studied in Edinburgh and came to London in 1818. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. Many of his subjects were taken from 17th century English history. This painting among his most noted is indeed entitled "The Surrender of Mary Queen of Scots. To the Confederate Lords of Carberry Hill in the year 1567".

Member Anne Gwynn has mentioned that there is apparently a similar tapestry in the Hilton Hotel in Dunkeld in Perthshire  it would appear to bear out Zilla's statement (as also confirmed by member Linda Root) that these were produced in kit form.

Dundonald and Crossraguel

Recently a very successful Scottish Branch outing to Dundonald Castle and Crossraguel Abbey in Ayrshire.

Not the destinations we had intended but circumstances rather conspired against us . The intention had been a visit to Rowallan Castle and to Dean Castle in Kilmarnock with their associations with Mary. However access problems to Rowallan and literally only a few days beforehand intimation that Dean Castle was closed to all after masonry fell from the peel tower and the site considered dangerous.

Full credit for Society member Ann McMillan for reorganising everything at very short notice and as seems commonly to happen in these circumstances everything went so smoothly and a most excellent day out enjoyed by all.

In fairness not too much to do with Mary, although she may have visited Crossraguel when she stayed at Dunure Castle on her progress to the west and south west of Scotland in 1563.

Dundonald much more associated with King Robert 11 of Scotland who probably rebuilt it on his accession to the throne in 1371, almost certainly his favourite castle and where he died in 1390.

Crossraguel a finely preserved mediaeval monastery of the Cluniac Order which emerged virtually unscathed from the Reformation.

Two excellent guides with lots of background information from Ann herself. Good company, good meals and a splendid day out.

To view images of the day; - http://mariestuart.jalbum.net/Ayrshire/

above; Looking down from the Gatehouse at the Abbey to the Cloisters

below; Ann hold court in the sedilia and three members look on enrapt.

Ronald

The Friars in Haddington

Jean Fairbairn and Isobel Brown have arranged a most interesting visit to Haddington on 13th.

July and am sure we are all looking forward to that - fuller details on the website

Meantime though Jean has also brought to our attention a talk which will be taking place  in Holy Trinity Church (below) on the Monday immediately prior to out visit (8th. July at 7.30 p.m.). Holy Trinity Church is situated on the site of the Franciscan Friary at Haddington (the first 'Lamp of Lothian')

 

The talk is being given by Dr. Colman O Clabaigh OSB, an expert on mediaeval monasticism who has published widely on the Franciscan mission to Britain and Ireland and who has agreed to visit Haddington while in Scotland on a lecture tour.

His lectures will be illustrated with reference to the extensive remains of Franciscan friaries in Ireland where more evidence of both the friars and their activities have survived as the Franciscans built their friaries to common plans and lived a common rule of life.

Admission £5, payable at the door.

Mary, Queen of Scots Statue

Look in on Reporting Scotland on the BBC Television on Friday evening 10th May to learn about the proposed statue to be erected to Mary, Queen of Scots, and the exhibition at the Scottish Museum in Edinburgh.

Poetry at Carberry

Carberry Tower Hotel

A very enjoyable afternoon last Sunday at Carberry Tower Hotel near Musselburgh - certainly something a bit different for the Society.

Among Mary's many talents was a certain ability to compile verse and a number of these works are included in the Society's publication "Poetry for a Queen"

Most of course were in 16th. century French or in Latin and these have been very sensitively translated and set out in Robin Bell's book "Bittersweet within my Heart"  published in 1992.

Mary's own works and a number of others relating to Mary were enthusiastically recited, pondered over and discussed by Society members. Some of the readings were in the original French or Latin - some on broad Scots! Also greatly appreciated were fine renditions on the hotel's grand piano by Society member Lilian Cameron of some musical pieces of the period

To add to the completeness of the afternoon a fine room afforded us in this historic hotel and an afternoon tea per excellence.

Subsequent to the meeting I received from Society member Linda Root (who has written the book "The First Marie and the Queen of Scots") of the following poem written by Sir William Kirckaldy of Grange in February 1571 during the siege of Edinburgh Castle.

Kirkcaldy of Grange

Perhaps not the greatest of works poetically but a most interesting one historically.

Kirkcaldy had converted to the reformed faith and had fought on the Confederate side at the Siege of Leith and was also in their ranks at Carberry - indeed he was one proposed to settle the matter in the chivalric fashion of 'trail by champions' and to fight a duel with Bothwell - what an interesting contest that would have been.

However he changed sides and became the leader of the Queen's Party holding Edinburgh Castle in her name (at the time of the writing of this poem).

Interesting his philippic invective against the Reformed Church, his former allies and all who now fail to lend full allegiance to Mary.

Ane Ballat of the Captain of the Castle

At the castell of Edinburch

Upon the bank baith green and rouch

As mine alne I lay

With paper, pen and ink in hand,

Musing, as I could understand

Of the suddane decay

That unto this puir nation

Appeirandly does come

I fand our Congregatioun

Was cause of all an dsome,

whose authors, instructors,

Has blindit them so lang,

That blameless and shameless

Both rich and puir they wrang

These wicked vain venerians,

Proud poisonit Pharisians,

With their blind guides but grace,

Has causit the puir country

Assist unto their traitory

Their prince¹ for to displace:    

For tene I cannot testify

How wrangously they wrocht

When they their prince¹ so piteously

In prison strang had brocht,

Abusit her, accusit her

With serpent wordis fell

             of schavels² and rebels,                

Like hideous hounds of hell.

¹= Mary, Queen of Scots        ² rogues

These despard birds of Belial

Thoucht not bot to advance themsell

Frea they had her doun thrown

With error and hypocrisy

To commit open traitory,

As clearly now is known:

Bot the great God omnipotent

That secret thochts does search,

Releivit has that innocent

Out of their rage so fierce

Providit and guidit

Her to an uncouth land

Where wander and slander

With enemies name she fand

Sen time of which ejectioun

This country is come in subjectioun

And daily servitude,

With men of weir in garrison

To the commons oppressioun

By slicht and Soudron blood,

Whose craft, ingyne and policy

Full ready bent is ever

By treason under amity

Our nobles to dissever

Some rubbing, some buddin

Their study they employ

That slichtly, unrichtly

They may this realm enjoy.

This guiding gart great grief arise

In me, whaq nae ways could devise

To mend this greatr mischance:

As as I arguit all the case

I heard ane say within this place:

"With help of God and France

I shall within a little space,

Thy dolours all to-dress;

With help of Christ thou shallo, or Pace

Thy kindly prince possess

Detrusers, refusers

Of her authority

Nae carand or sparand

Shall either die or flee.

Though God in his just judgment

Thole them to and punishment

To her, their supreme heid

Yet, sen they were participanty

With her, and she now penitent

Richt surely they may dried

As wicked scourges has been seen

Get for the scourging hire,

When sinners repents from the spleen

The scourge cast in the fire:

Sae Morton by fortune

May get the same reward

His boasting, nor posting

I do not regard.

Baith him and all their company,

Though England wad them fortify,

I care them nocjht a leek

For all their great munitioun

I am in sure tuitioun

This hauld³ it shall me keep                           

My realm and prince's liberty

Therein I shall defend

When traitors shall be hangit hie

Or mak some shamefulend.

Assure them I cure them

Ev'n as they do deserve

Their treason,this season

It shall not make me swerve.

³ Castle

 

For I have men and meat eneuch

They know I am ane tuilyeour teuch⁴                                

And will be richt soon grievit

When they have tint as mony teeth

As they did at the siege of Leith

They shall be fan to leave it

Then wha I pray you shall be boun

Their tinsall to advance

Or gie sic compositioun

As they gat then of France

Thus splitm beguilit

They will but get the glaiks⁵                               

Come they here thir twa year

They shall not miss their paiks⁶                             

 ⁴ 'a bonny fighter'     ⁵ trickery   ⁶ deserved punishment

As for my neighbours Edinbruch toun,

What shall be their part, up or dounn

I can no yet declare;

But ane thing I mak manifest

Gif they me ony thing molest

Their booths shall be made bare

Gif fire may their building sack

Or bullet beat them doun,

They sahll not fail that end to mak

the stairs made in this toun

Sae use them and chuse them

What part they will ensue

Forsake me or tak me

They shall drink as they brew.

He bade me rise and muse nae mair,

But paray to God baith late and air

To save this noble ludge

Which is, in all prosperity

And likewise in adversity

Our prince's plain refuge

Therefore all true men I exort

That ye with me accord

That we all, baith in earnest and sport

Ask at the living Lord

That hangit or mangit

Mot ilk man mak his end

Wha duly and truly

Wad nocht this house defend.

Ronald Morrison



 

Of the Monstrous Regiment

Am looking forward very much to our next meeting - Poetry Reading and Afternoon Tea at historic Carberry House Hotel on 17th. March. Full details will be e-mailed to members or will in the post within the next 48 hours.

 Meantime thought it very appropriate that this week's "Poem of the Week" in the Scotsman Magazine should be  "On the Monstrous Regiment"  by Henry Marsh

Henry Marsh has written  quite a few poems on Mary and John Knox and will be reciting a number of them  at the Scottish Poetry Library off the Canongate  (above) on Wednesday evening at 6.30 - just sorry I am not going to manage along.

 The poem:

Were you fed by ravens

Master Knox? At the least,

your zealous brethern

obliged with a wilderness,

where you could approve,

crows nodding

amongst shards and ashes.

 

Jezebel- how convenient

the heft of the old stories

a stolen vineyard,

 Naboth stoned,

and Yahweh harrying,

your captive souls,

 half demented.

 

How neat to cast

 our mischievous Marys

in one image

a painted whore.

Did you ever catch

in the mirror your own

soul's darker strands?

 

Thou shall die the death-

even Calvin winced

at regicide. Were not all

equal in the sight of God?

But who dares walk

that perilous ridge

between iniquities.

 

 Find it a thought provoking if somewhat dark poem.

 Probably a bit unfair to suggest Knox preached regicide - not aware that he ever did so and why in the third verse is Mary(mischievous) in the plural (was he purporting to refer to the four Marys or perhaps including Mary Tudor - or a simple typo?)

 

 

Marie Stuart News

Marie Stuart News

by Anne Gwynn

Being a keen member of the Marie Stuart Society I would like to share some interesting facts about the Queen of Scots which have come to my notice this week.

1.       As Valentine’s Day approaches, it appears that Marie met her 2^nd. husband at Wemyss Castle   in Fife on the 14^th. of February, 1565.  Not a lucky day for her as it transpired.  This little gem was found in the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute magazine.

2.   The next two discoveries were contained in the Scots Heritage Magazine.  This is an excellent, quarterly publication which is printed in Australia. It has the most beautiful photographs and well written articles on all things Scottish. It states that in 1566 Marie spent a night at Langton Castle near Duns in the Borders. The house was built in the 1100s and was demolished in 1950.

 

3.    The other reference to Marie in this publication is that whilst staying at Blair Castle in 1563 she shot a wolf on a hunt in the Forest of Atholl.

 

 4.    Innerpeffary Library, (above) near Crieff, founded by David, Lord Madderty, is Scotland’s oldest lending library. An exhibition there which will run for a year from March 1^st. is entitled ‘Crime and Punishment’. On show will be commentaries from ancient books in the Library’s collection of famous trials such as those of Mary, Queen of Scots and James Stewart of the Glen (the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s 'Kidnapped') , as well as Archbishop Laud’s sermon from the scaffold which opens with the line ”This is an uncomfortable time to preach….” 

 5.   Lastly the National Museum of Scotland will mount an exhibition opening on 28^th. June,  providing  an opportunity to revisit much that has been written and speculated about one of our most charismatic monarchs: Mary, Queen of Scots.  It will take a fresh approach using jewels, textiles, furniture, documents and portraits. Marie’s dramatic story and this fascinating period of Scottish history will be explored in detail.    Don’t miss it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Four Marys

The Four Marys

 

 

A most enjoyable visit to Linlithgow on Thursday catching up with some other members of the Society, including two our London members in Scotland for the New Year celebrations.

 After walking round and admiring (yet again) the splendour of the Palace where Mary was born, a meal in the 'Four Marys' restaurant in the High Street which much enjoyed.

 
Needless to say some discussion as to the identity of the four Marys and what became of them. Agreed these were;

 1. Mary Seton who never married  and the only one of the four to accompany Mary into captivity. Because of declining health she was released from service in 1583 and retired to France  living in the convent of St. Pierre at Rhiems. Nevertheless she survived until at least 1615

 2. Mary Beaton daughter of Robert Beaton of Creich and nephew of Cardinal Beaton. Regarded as the most classically beautiful of the four. Married Lord Ogilvie of Boyne and died sometime before 1599.

 

3. Mary Livingston - known as 'Lusty' - married John Semple of Belries son of Lord Semple. May be buried in Linlithgow Churchyard.

 

4 Mary Fleming  - married William Maitland of Lethington. On his death following the fall of Edinburgh Castle in 1573 she married George Melrum of Fyvie.

 Needless to say we then tried to make sense of the traditional Scots ballad the  "Four Marys".

 

"Yestreen the Queen had Four Maries

The nicht she'll have but three

There was Marie Seton and Marie Beaton

and Marie Carmichael and me"

 

  While there was a Mary Carmichael, daughter of John Carmichael of that ilk who was for a while warden of the west marches there is no record of her ever serving  at Court.

 Who then is the "Me?

 It is believed that this may refer to a Mary Hamilton who has absolutely no connection with Mary or her period. but a Mary Hamilton who was executed by Czar Peter the Great in Russia in 1719. This Mary Hamilton was lady in waiting to the Czar's second wife the Empress Catherine (with whom it is recorded she insulted over  her looks) was a favourite of the Czar and was married to a Minister of State. She had an affair with an officer of the guard and a babe was found wrapped in a Court napkin. Under torture Mary admitted not only to the murder of this child but also previously of another two and was condemned to death. After the execution the Czar picked up the severed head and kissed the still quivering lips.

A ballad was written in Russia about the death and it is believed this found its way to Scotland and adapted to suit a Scottish audience