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.

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.

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.

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

 

 

Stirling Castle

At Stirling Castle over the week-end - a wet miserable day and looking out from the ramparts over the Carse of Stirling a great deal of flooding evident - see picture above.

Still though quite a number of tourists about which befits a site recently voted the best Heritage  attraction in Britain by 'Which' members.

The picture was taken from the spot where in 1507 one John Damian, convinced he would be able to fly, jumped from the ramparts only to land ignominiously on to tree tops below, miraculously it would appear surviving with only a few broken bones. He later claimed his mistake was to use hen rather than eagle feathers.

Unlike recent visits with the Society, a family occasion with youngsters in tow. Very impressed indeed with all there is for children (young and old) which had previously passed me by - dressing up in period clothes, interactive educational games, learning about the jesters, meeting with ladies of the Court and generally learning what life was like in the Castle in Mary's time and immediately before. Always more to see and experience every visit

Lots of events coming up over the Christmas period - see

Ronald

Mary,Queen of Scots got her Head Chopped off

Mary, Queen of Scots got her Head Chopped Off.

Have just learned that Liz Lockhead's highly acclaimed but historically very inaccurate play "Mary, Queen of Scots got her Head chopped off "will be running at the The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh until 15th. October.

So far as I can see the production would seem to be receiving very favourable reviews.

For full details of of cast, performance times and admission charges see

Ronald