Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Encyclopedia
Henry Stewart or Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany (7 December 1545 — 10 February 1567), styled Lord Darnley before 1565, was king consort of Scotland
and murdered at Kirk o'Field. Many contemporary narratives describing his life and death refer to him as Lord Darnley, his title as heir apparent
to the Earldom of Lennox
, and it is by this appellation that he is now generally known.
He was the first cousin and second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the father of her son King James VI
, who also succeeded Queen Elizabeth I of England
as King James I of England.
, Leeds
, in the West Riding of Yorkshire
, England, the son of the 4th Earl of Lennox
, and his wife, Margaret Douglas
. His father lived in exile in England for 22 years, returning to Scotland in 1564. His tutors included the Protestant Scottish scholar, John Elder. Elder had been an advocate of Anglo-Scottish union by the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Prince Edward
, and gave his opinions to Henry VIII as the Advice of a Redshank
in 1543. Another of his schoolmasters, Arthur Lallart, was interrogated in London after going to Scotland in 1562.
Darnley wrote a letter to Mary I of England
from Temple Newsam in March 1554 mentioning a drama or map he had made, the Utopia Nova. Darnley wished, "every haire in my heade for to be a wourthy souldiour".
In September 1564, the Scottish Parliament
restored his father's rights and titles, and listened to a lengthy speech from William Maitland who offered;
, daughter of King Henry VII of England
and the elder sister of Henry VIII
(Mary descending from Margaret's marriage to James IV of Scotland
, Darnley from Margaret's marriage to Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
), putting both Mary and Darnley high in the line of succession for the English throne; Darnley was a descendant of a daughter of James II of Scotland
and thus also in line for the throne of Scotland; both were descendants of Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland
(Mary through Joan's marriage to James I of Scotland
, Darnley through her marriage to Sir James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn); and Darnley's family surname was due to a much more ancient connection to his and Mary's male-line ancestor, Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
. As a preliminary to the marriage, Darnley was made Lord of Ardmanoch, and Earl of Ross
at Stirling Castle
on 15 May 1565. An entourage of 15 men were made knights, including Sir Robert Stewart of Strathdon
, one of Mary's half brothers. The title of Duke of Albany
was to follow.
In England a concerned Privy Council
debated the perils of the intended marriage on 4 June 1565. One of their resolutions was to relax the displeasure shown to Lady Catherine Grey, another rival to Mary Stuart for the English throne. Mary sent John Hay, Commendator of Balmerino, to speak to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth demanded Darnley's return, and gave John Hay plainly to understand her small satisfaction. The marriage itself took place on Monday 9 July 1565, in the Chapel-Royal of the Palace of Holyroodhouse
in Edinburgh
. On 28 July 1565 Darnley was given the title of King of Scots at a proclamation published at the Cross of Edinburgh. At the same time, it was announced that all official documents would be signed by both Mary and Henry. These events were tracked in the letters of Thomas Randolph
, an English resident in Edinburgh.
The Lennoxes put spies on Mary and their own son, Lord Darnley. When Henri II of France died in July 1559, Lennox's brother, the Sieur d'Aubigny, elevated in the French court as kinsman of the new Queen, Mary, was accused of supporting her title to the throne of England and hinting that even his nephew had a stronger claim than Elizabeth. Aubigny also arranged for Darnley to be dispatched to the French Court in order to congratulate Mary and Francis on their accession and seek restoration for Lennox. Mary did not restore Lennox, but she did give 1000 crowns to Darnley and asked him to her coronation. Lennox's plan was to appeal directly to the Queen of Scots via her ambassador, above the heads of both Elizabeth and the Guise. Nesbit's mission appears to have been a desperate one; not only was Lennox willing to hand over both Darnley and his brother Charles as hostages for his restoration, but he also supplied pedigrees of Darnley, indicating his right to the inheritance of England and Scotland, and the houses of Hamilton and Douglas.
Nesbit was a spy assigned to watch Mary and Darnley, another spy was John Elder, who had accompanied Lennox into England in 1544 and who was responsible for Darnley's fine penmanship and precocious writings to Mary Tudor and the Bishop of Caithness. Elder had presented Mary Tudor with samples of Darnley's hand, and a fanciful map of 'New Utopia'. Elder was a useful emissary for the Lennoxes, and may well have been encouraged by them to establish himself in France. He certainly continued to serve his former patrons in their endeavour to ingratiate themselves and their heir with the Scottish Queen. In 1559, Nicholas Throckmorton
, the English ambassador in Paris, alarmed at the Scots' associations, warned Elizabeth that Elder was "as dangerous for the matters of England as any he knew." Sarah Macauley notes, "After the Queen of Scots, Lord Darnley was the strongest dynastic claimant to Elizabeth's throne. He was also the natural choice for many of Elizabeth's enemies as male, English born and Catholic. Paget supposed in March 1560 that talk of the Catholics raising Darnley to the throne in the event of the Queen's death was 'well founded'".
By the summer of the same year Elizabeth's position was considerably strengthened. A notable spy who was interrogated was Francis Yaxley
, a Catholic, who had been a clerk of the Signet, employed by William Cecil
since 1549 and travelled in France for him. Yaxley had placed Mabel Fortescue and other ladies as servants in the Lennox household at Settrington in November 1560. Yaxley's interrogation at the Tower of London
in February 1562 was a brief one; "Yaxley had obtained much intelligence about the Court from the Spanish ambassador, and that the said ambassador had entrusted him and Hugh Allen with messages and tokens for the Lennoxes and Darnley. Yaxley also admitted that his missions had been sought to arrange the marriage of the Queen of Scots with Darnley, that Darnley's religion guaranteed him greater success in his suit than the Earl of Arran, and that Margaret had many friends 'in the nurtht.'" Although the Lennox threat never died out, Elizabeth did not convict the family of treason in 1562. Nor did she encourage the steps made to annul Margaret's claim to her throne by inquiring into her legitimacy. "Perhaps, as has been suggested, the English Queen feared that such investigations could be directed at herself, or her actions were intended merely to ensure the survival of the monarchy by not reducing the number of potential heirs. In any case, the family was released in February 1563, and within a few months Darnley and his mother were conspicuous by their presence at Court, and the favour they received there from the Queen, although she could not yet bring herself to accommodate the Earl at Court."
Sarah Macauley found three outcomes of the courts' final decision of the trial: "Their elevation at Court was, as it turned out in 1563, a useful complication in the succession issue. First, it presented a public statement that the preferences of parliament (the claim of Catherine Grey in the succession crisis) could not dictate her own policy. Secondly, favouring the Lennoxes could serve as some kind of appeasement of the English Roman Catholics, who, like the Spanish ambassador, might foresee Elizabeth naming Darnley as her successor
... [S]uch speculation would also distract them from favouring the more alarming claim of the Queen of Scots ... [T]hirdly, and most significantly, the elevation of the Lennoxes presented an obstacle between the Queen of Scots and the English throne. Thus was Darnley's uniquely 'British' inheritance put to use at last." In conclusion, Macauley posited, “The subsequent release of Darnley into Scotland and the restoration of his father at the Scottish Court were part of this policy: the political disaster of the Darnley marriage as yet unforeseen."
heard that Darnley's insolence drove Lennox from the Scottish court. Within a short time, Mary became pregnant, but Henry grew more and more demanding. His jealousy of Mary's private secretary, David Rizzio
, by whom he erroneously believed Mary was pregnant, culminated in the bloody murder of the latter by Henry and a group of his supporters, in the presence of the queen herself at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
, subsequently secured pardons for all those involved.
Following the birth of their son, the future James VI, the succession was more secure; in late 1566 and early 1567, Henry and Mary appeared to be close to reconciliation, as she was often seen visiting his chambers. Henry, however, alienated many who would otherwise have been his supporters through his erratic behaviour. His insistence that he be awarded the Crown Matrimonial
, which would have given him executive ruling powers in Scotland, became a source of marital frustration as well. There was also some evidence that he suffered from syphilis
.
, Edinburgh
, where they had been staying. Henry was dressed only in his nightshirt, suggesting he had fled in some haste from his bedchamber. A violent explosion had occurred that night at the house, but evidence pointed to Henry escaping assassination, only to be murdered when he got outside. There was evidence that Henry and his valet had been strangled and that the explosion was set as an attempt to cover up the murders.
Casket Letter 1 was misinterpreted from an innocent letter referencing Mary's son to an incriminating one referring to the treason of her husband, due to clever wordplay by the accusers. Casket Letters II
and III reveal nothing more than a probable decision to bring Darnley to justice (in an innocent fashion). Casket Letter VIII
was dated June 8, 1567 and Letter VII
was dated April 1568, making it impossible to be an original “Casket” document. After Mary's imprisonment, the Lords found the box that belonged to the Queen that contained documents with little to no importance. The actual documents provided no such evidence of Mary wishing death upon her own husband. They proved that she was grateful to Bothwell and treated him with respect, yet nothing beyond that. The decision to put incriminating letters into the box was decided later on during a tribunal in England, which was a complete disaster for everyone involved. It associated Bothwell to the letters and falsely portrayed the Queen as a guilty criminal. It is also important to note where the letters were first discovered, which was in London
. This seems like a completely random place for one of the Casket Letters
to be found if one does not consider the nobleman, Earl of Moray
, who is undeniably guilty of being a major cause of Darnley's death, as well as forging one of the casket letters
for his own gain. This is a very curious discovery, as it shifts the attention of Darnley's death from Moray to the Queen. Moray left Scotland on 10 April 1567 and reached France towards the end of the month. Mary was arrested on 15 June 1567 at Carberry
, where Moray would pursue proving the queen's guilt, stating “There is sufficiency in her own handwriting by the fait of her letters to condemn her.” The manipulation of these letters led to the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots.
However, the actual content of the casket letters and the circumstance of their discovery is irrelevant to the discussion of Darnley's death. The letters were produced by her enemies at a conference in York with the sole purpose of establishing Mary's involvement in Darnley's murder. The letters, or rather the surviving copies of these letters, may or may not be used to demonstrate Mary's involvement. An investigation of their content is unlikely to decide any other issue, and though they might prove her guilty, could never prove her innocent.
Although Mary was tried and eventually put to death for her crimes, Lord Darnley's demise was completely of his own making. Although there is much speculation regarding his death, including the participation of Mary in the plot to end his life, some authors who have made extensive studies of the Casket Letters
have concluded that the reasons for Lord Darnley's death were much more complicated than those of a frustrated wife with a husband that mistreated her. Although significant motive exists for Mary to have wanted Darnley killed, it has sometimes been suggested the explosion of Darnley's residence at Kirk o'Field was a plot of Darnley's own making to have Mary killed, which would therefore grant him the throne of Scotland. One of the most ingenious and entertaining versions of this theory was proposed in Lord Bothwell, written by Robert Gore Browne (published by Collins, 1937).
In these accounts, when the Lords whom he had previously betrayed discovered this plot, they waited for his escape through the courtyard, where they cornered and strangled him. During their brief marriage, Lord Darnley may have attempted to kill Mary several times in order to gain the throne. Darnley and a group of conspirators murdered Mary's secretary, David Riccio. According to Darnley, the stress of Riccio's death would cause the then 6-month pregnant Mary to have a fatal miscarriage. When his plan failed, Darnley betrayed the other Lords that took part in the murder. “The King of all others is in the worst case, for the Queen has no good opinion of his attempting anything against her will, nor the people, that he hath denied so manifest a matter being proved to be done by his commandment, and now himself to be the accuser and pursuer of them that did as he willed them.” (Davison, p. 30) According to this letter, after his first attempt failed to kill Mary, Darnley betrayed his co-conspirators: an act that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He had lost the faith of his own subjects: “They have such a misliking of their king as never was more of man.” (Davison 31)
The Lords' hatred was only furthered by Darnley avoiding a trial for treason, for Mary “had never accused, but had always excused him.” (Davison 37) Darnley's friends in the north of England offered to take Scarborough castle, like Stafford
before him, and then he would claim his right to the English throne, abandoning the Protestant lords who had previously supported him. When this plan failed to come to fruition, Darnley concocted a plot to kill Mary in an explosion, kidnap their child, and gain access to the Scottish throne as the guardian of the Prince. Unfortunately, Darnley mistook the departure of Lord Bothwell from Kirk o'Field as Mary's arrival to Kirk o'Field, therefore he ordered the fuse to be lit, which set off the gunpowder, while Mary was still outside of the residence. When he escaped through the window to avoid the explosion, his previous supporters blocked his exit route and murdered him.
and his supporters, notably Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
, whose shoes were found at the scene, and Mary herself. According to some historians, Mary was taken to Dunbar Castle
and raped by the Earl who, knowing that her Catholic faith would command her to marry him, used her as an access route to the throne.
Suspicions that Mary colluded with conspirators in her husband's death or that she took no action to prevent his death were key factors in the downward spiral that led to Mary's loss of the Scottish crown.
A soldier under the pay of the Earl, William Blackadder of the Clan Blackadder
was allegedly the first non-participant to happen upon the scene and for that reason was initially treated as a suspect. Although initially cleared of any involvement in the murder, he was offered up by the conspirators and convicted at a show trial, after which he was executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered
before each of his limbs was nailed to the gates of a different Scottish town.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and murdered at Kirk o'Field. Many contemporary narratives describing his life and death refer to him as Lord Darnley, his title as heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the Earldom of Lennox
Earl of Lennox
The Mormaer of Lennox or Earl of Lennox was the ruler of the long-lasting provincial Mormaerdom/Earldom of Lennox in the Medieval Kingdom of the Scots. The first Mormaer is usually regarded as Ailin I , but the genealogy of the Mormaers gives earlier names...
, and it is by this appellation that he is now generally known.
He was the first cousin and second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the father of her son King James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, who also succeeded Queen Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
as King James I of England.
Early life
Darnley was born in 1545, at Temple NewsamTemple Newsam
Temple Newsam is a Tudor-Jacobean house with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, England, the son of the 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox was the 4th Earl of Lennox, and leader of the Catholic nobility in Scotland. He was the son of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox. His grandson was James VI of Scotland....
, and his wife, Margaret Douglas
Margaret Douglas
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox was the daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, and Margaret Tudor, Queen Dowager of Scotland...
. His father lived in exile in England for 22 years, returning to Scotland in 1564. His tutors included the Protestant Scottish scholar, John Elder. Elder had been an advocate of Anglo-Scottish union by the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Prince Edward
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, and gave his opinions to Henry VIII as the Advice of a Redshank
Redshank (soldier)
Redshank was a nickname for Scottish mercenaries from the Highlands Western Isles. They were a prominent feature of Irish armies throughout the 16th century. They were called Redshanks because they went dressed in kilts and waded bare-legged through rivers in the coldest weather...
in 1543. Another of his schoolmasters, Arthur Lallart, was interrogated in London after going to Scotland in 1562.
Darnley wrote a letter to Mary I of England
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
from Temple Newsam in March 1554 mentioning a drama or map he had made, the Utopia Nova. Darnley wished, "every haire in my heade for to be a wourthy souldiour".
In September 1564, the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
restored his father's rights and titles, and listened to a lengthy speech from William Maitland who offered;
"it may be affirmid Scotland in na manis age that presentlie levis wes in gritter tranquillitie."
Marriage in Scotland
Darnley was related to his future wife in at least four ways: they shared a grandmother in English princess Margaret TudorMargaret Tudor
Margaret Tudor was the elder of the two surviving daughters of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and the elder sister of Henry VIII. In 1503, she married James IV, King of Scots. James died in 1513, and their son became King James V. She married secondly Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of...
, daughter of King Henry VII of England
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
and the elder sister of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
(Mary descending from Margaret's marriage to James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
, Darnley from Margaret's marriage to Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots...
), putting both Mary and Darnley high in the line of succession for the English throne; Darnley was a descendant of a daughter of James II of Scotland
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
and thus also in line for the throne of Scotland; both were descendants of Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland
Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland
Joan Beaufort was the Queen Consort of Scotland from 1424 to 1437 as the spouse of King James I of Scotland. During part of the minority of her son James II , she served as the Regent of Scotland....
(Mary through Joan's marriage to James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
, Darnley through her marriage to Sir James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn); and Darnley's family surname was due to a much more ancient connection to his and Mary's male-line ancestor, Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
Alexander Stewart was 4th hereditary High Steward of Scotland from his father's death in 1246.A son of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland by his wife Bethóc, daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Angus, Alexander is said to have accompanied Louis IX of France on the Seventh Crusade...
. As a preliminary to the marriage, Darnley was made Lord of Ardmanoch, and Earl of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
at Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
on 15 May 1565. An entourage of 15 men were made knights, including Sir Robert Stewart of Strathdon
Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney
Robert Stewart, Knt., 1st Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland was a recognized illegitimate son of James V, King of Scotland, and his mistress Eupheme Elphinstone....
, one of Mary's half brothers. The title of Duke of Albany
Duke of Albany
Duke of Albany is a peerage title that has occasionally been bestowed on the younger sons in the Scottish, and later the British, royal family, particularly in the Houses of Stuart and Hanover....
was to follow.
In England a concerned Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
debated the perils of the intended marriage on 4 June 1565. One of their resolutions was to relax the displeasure shown to Lady Catherine Grey, another rival to Mary Stuart for the English throne. Mary sent John Hay, Commendator of Balmerino, to speak to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth demanded Darnley's return, and gave John Hay plainly to understand her small satisfaction. The marriage itself took place on Monday 9 July 1565, in the Chapel-Royal of the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. On 28 July 1565 Darnley was given the title of King of Scots at a proclamation published at the Cross of Edinburgh. At the same time, it was announced that all official documents would be signed by both Mary and Henry. These events were tracked in the letters of Thomas Randolph
Thomas Randolph (diplomat)
Thomas Randolph was an English ambassador serving Elizabeth I of England. Most of his professional life he spent in Scotland at the courts of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son James VI. While in Scotland, he was embroiled in marriage projects and several upheavals...
, an English resident in Edinburgh.
The Lennox Crisis
The Lennox crisis arose from the dynastic ambition of the Lennoxes: Matthew Stewart, fourth Earl of Lennox, third in line to the Scottish throne, his wife Margaret Douglas, niece to Henry VIII and granddaughter of Henry VII, and their son, Henry, Lord Darnley. Sarah Macauley states in her article that the Lennoxes were Roman Catholic, adding: "At a time when Elizabeth was trying to accommodate everyone under the spiritual umbrella of the Church of England, their resistance could prove fatal to her policy, and, if they achieved enough support, even her majesty. The Lennox threat became a brief crisis during the first three years of Elizabeth's reign when the possibility of a Roman Catholic backlash was understandably viewed as a likely response to her policies."The Lennoxes put spies on Mary and their own son, Lord Darnley. When Henri II of France died in July 1559, Lennox's brother, the Sieur d'Aubigny, elevated in the French court as kinsman of the new Queen, Mary, was accused of supporting her title to the throne of England and hinting that even his nephew had a stronger claim than Elizabeth. Aubigny also arranged for Darnley to be dispatched to the French Court in order to congratulate Mary and Francis on their accession and seek restoration for Lennox. Mary did not restore Lennox, but she did give 1000 crowns to Darnley and asked him to her coronation. Lennox's plan was to appeal directly to the Queen of Scots via her ambassador, above the heads of both Elizabeth and the Guise. Nesbit's mission appears to have been a desperate one; not only was Lennox willing to hand over both Darnley and his brother Charles as hostages for his restoration, but he also supplied pedigrees of Darnley, indicating his right to the inheritance of England and Scotland, and the houses of Hamilton and Douglas.
Nesbit was a spy assigned to watch Mary and Darnley, another spy was John Elder, who had accompanied Lennox into England in 1544 and who was responsible for Darnley's fine penmanship and precocious writings to Mary Tudor and the Bishop of Caithness. Elder had presented Mary Tudor with samples of Darnley's hand, and a fanciful map of 'New Utopia'. Elder was a useful emissary for the Lennoxes, and may well have been encouraged by them to establish himself in France. He certainly continued to serve his former patrons in their endeavour to ingratiate themselves and their heir with the Scottish Queen. In 1559, Nicholas Throckmorton
Nicholas Throckmorton
Sir Nicholas Throckmorton was an English diplomat and politician, who was an ambassador to France and played a key role in the relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.-Early years:...
, the English ambassador in Paris, alarmed at the Scots' associations, warned Elizabeth that Elder was "as dangerous for the matters of England as any he knew." Sarah Macauley notes, "After the Queen of Scots, Lord Darnley was the strongest dynastic claimant to Elizabeth's throne. He was also the natural choice for many of Elizabeth's enemies as male, English born and Catholic. Paget supposed in March 1560 that talk of the Catholics raising Darnley to the throne in the event of the Queen's death was 'well founded'".
By the summer of the same year Elizabeth's position was considerably strengthened. A notable spy who was interrogated was Francis Yaxley
Francis Yaxley
Francis Yaxley was an English politician and conspirator.-Life:Yaxley was the eldest son of Richard Yaxley of Mellis, Suffolk, by his wife Anne, daughter of Roger Austin of Earlsham, Suffolk...
, a Catholic, who had been a clerk of the Signet, employed by William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
since 1549 and travelled in France for him. Yaxley had placed Mabel Fortescue and other ladies as servants in the Lennox household at Settrington in November 1560. Yaxley's interrogation at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
in February 1562 was a brief one; "Yaxley had obtained much intelligence about the Court from the Spanish ambassador, and that the said ambassador had entrusted him and Hugh Allen with messages and tokens for the Lennoxes and Darnley. Yaxley also admitted that his missions had been sought to arrange the marriage of the Queen of Scots with Darnley, that Darnley's religion guaranteed him greater success in his suit than the Earl of Arran, and that Margaret had many friends 'in the nurtht.'" Although the Lennox threat never died out, Elizabeth did not convict the family of treason in 1562. Nor did she encourage the steps made to annul Margaret's claim to her throne by inquiring into her legitimacy. "Perhaps, as has been suggested, the English Queen feared that such investigations could be directed at herself, or her actions were intended merely to ensure the survival of the monarchy by not reducing the number of potential heirs. In any case, the family was released in February 1563, and within a few months Darnley and his mother were conspicuous by their presence at Court, and the favour they received there from the Queen, although she could not yet bring herself to accommodate the Earl at Court."
Sarah Macauley found three outcomes of the courts' final decision of the trial: "Their elevation at Court was, as it turned out in 1563, a useful complication in the succession issue. First, it presented a public statement that the preferences of parliament (the claim of Catherine Grey in the succession crisis) could not dictate her own policy. Secondly, favouring the Lennoxes could serve as some kind of appeasement of the English Roman Catholics, who, like the Spanish ambassador, might foresee Elizabeth naming Darnley as her successor
... [S]uch speculation would also distract them from favouring the more alarming claim of the Queen of Scots ... [T]hirdly, and most significantly, the elevation of the Lennoxes presented an obstacle between the Queen of Scots and the English throne. Thus was Darnley's uniquely 'British' inheritance put to use at last." In conclusion, Macauley posited, “The subsequent release of Darnley into Scotland and the restoration of his father at the Scottish Court were part of this policy: the political disaster of the Darnley marriage as yet unforeseen."
Estrangement
Darnley's marriage to Mary was a disaster. Henry was three years younger than Mary (their birthdays were only a day apart) and not particularly mature. He was unpopular with the other nobles and had a mean and violent streak, aggravated by a drinking problem. Already in August 1565, William CecilWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
heard that Darnley's insolence drove Lennox from the Scottish court. Within a short time, Mary became pregnant, but Henry grew more and more demanding. His jealousy of Mary's private secretary, David Rizzio
David Rizzio
Davide Rizzio, sometimes written as Davide Riccio or Davide Rizzo , was an Italian courtier, born close to Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts de San Paolo et Solbrito, who rose to become the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots...
, by whom he erroneously believed Mary was pregnant, culminated in the bloody murder of the latter by Henry and a group of his supporters, in the presence of the queen herself at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas, was also Parson of Glasgow, a Senator of the College of Justice, Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England, and a notorious intriguer....
, subsequently secured pardons for all those involved.
Crown Matrimonial
The Crown Matrimonial is a legal concept used to describe a person's right to co-reign equally with his or her spouse.The Crown Matrimonial was offered to King Francis II of France, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, by the Parliament of Scotland and Mary's mother, Mary of Guise, who was regent of...
, which would have given him executive ruling powers in Scotland, became a source of marital frustration as well. There was also some evidence that he suffered from syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
.
Death
On 10 February 1567, the bodies of Henry and his servant at the time were discovered in the orchard of Kirk o' FieldKirk o' Field
Kirk o' Field in Edinburgh, Scotland, is best known as the site of the murder in 1567 of Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots....
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where they had been staying. Henry was dressed only in his nightshirt, suggesting he had fled in some haste from his bedchamber. A violent explosion had occurred that night at the house, but evidence pointed to Henry escaping assassination, only to be murdered when he got outside. There was evidence that Henry and his valet had been strangled and that the explosion was set as an attempt to cover up the murders.
Conspiracy Theories
Although it is often assumed that the Queen is the one responsible for the death of her husband, Lord Darnley, recent deciphering of the Silver Casket letters proved that to be false. The letters were neither signed nor addressed, so they were still used as evidence against the Queen (Pearson, p. 17). This mass assumption undoubtedly originated from the likes of men such as Crawford, who claimed to have received confessions from those associated with Darnley's murder prior to their executions that stated that the queen would never let Bothwell rest until Darnley was dead and gone. (Villius, p. 528)Casket Letter 1 was misinterpreted from an innocent letter referencing Mary's son to an incriminating one referring to the treason of her husband, due to clever wordplay by the accusers. Casket Letters II
Casket letters
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...
and III reveal nothing more than a probable decision to bring Darnley to justice (in an innocent fashion). Casket Letter VIII
Casket letters
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...
was dated June 8, 1567 and Letter VII
Casket letters
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...
was dated April 1568, making it impossible to be an original “Casket” document. After Mary's imprisonment, the Lords found the box that belonged to the Queen that contained documents with little to no importance. The actual documents provided no such evidence of Mary wishing death upon her own husband. They proved that she was grateful to Bothwell and treated him with respect, yet nothing beyond that. The decision to put incriminating letters into the box was decided later on during a tribunal in England, which was a complete disaster for everyone involved. It associated Bothwell to the letters and falsely portrayed the Queen as a guilty criminal. It is also important to note where the letters were first discovered, which was in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. This seems like a completely random place for one of the Casket Letters
Casket letters
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...
to be found if one does not consider the nobleman, Earl of Moray
Earl of Moray
The title Earl of Moray has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland.Prior to the formal establishment of the peerage, Earl of Moray, numerous individuals ruled the kingdom of Moray or Mormaer of Moray until 1130 when the kingdom was destroyed by David I of Scotland.-History of the...
, who is undeniably guilty of being a major cause of Darnley's death, as well as forging one of the casket letters
Casket letters
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...
for his own gain. This is a very curious discovery, as it shifts the attention of Darnley's death from Moray to the Queen. Moray left Scotland on 10 April 1567 and reached France towards the end of the month. Mary was arrested on 15 June 1567 at Carberry
Carberry, East Lothian
Carberry is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, UK.It is situated off the A6124 road, a mile east of Whitecraig, two miles south east of Musselburgh, and 2 miles south west of Dalkeith....
, where Moray would pursue proving the queen's guilt, stating “There is sufficiency in her own handwriting by the fait of her letters to condemn her.” The manipulation of these letters led to the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots.
However, the actual content of the casket letters and the circumstance of their discovery is irrelevant to the discussion of Darnley's death. The letters were produced by her enemies at a conference in York with the sole purpose of establishing Mary's involvement in Darnley's murder. The letters, or rather the surviving copies of these letters, may or may not be used to demonstrate Mary's involvement. An investigation of their content is unlikely to decide any other issue, and though they might prove her guilty, could never prove her innocent.
Although Mary was tried and eventually put to death for her crimes, Lord Darnley's demise was completely of his own making. Although there is much speculation regarding his death, including the participation of Mary in the plot to end his life, some authors who have made extensive studies of the Casket Letters
Casket letters
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's...
have concluded that the reasons for Lord Darnley's death were much more complicated than those of a frustrated wife with a husband that mistreated her. Although significant motive exists for Mary to have wanted Darnley killed, it has sometimes been suggested the explosion of Darnley's residence at Kirk o'Field was a plot of Darnley's own making to have Mary killed, which would therefore grant him the throne of Scotland. One of the most ingenious and entertaining versions of this theory was proposed in Lord Bothwell, written by Robert Gore Browne (published by Collins, 1937).
In these accounts, when the Lords whom he had previously betrayed discovered this plot, they waited for his escape through the courtyard, where they cornered and strangled him. During their brief marriage, Lord Darnley may have attempted to kill Mary several times in order to gain the throne. Darnley and a group of conspirators murdered Mary's secretary, David Riccio. According to Darnley, the stress of Riccio's death would cause the then 6-month pregnant Mary to have a fatal miscarriage. When his plan failed, Darnley betrayed the other Lords that took part in the murder. “The King of all others is in the worst case, for the Queen has no good opinion of his attempting anything against her will, nor the people, that he hath denied so manifest a matter being proved to be done by his commandment, and now himself to be the accuser and pursuer of them that did as he willed them.” (Davison, p. 30) According to this letter, after his first attempt failed to kill Mary, Darnley betrayed his co-conspirators: an act that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He had lost the faith of his own subjects: “They have such a misliking of their king as never was more of man.” (Davison 31)
The Lords' hatred was only furthered by Darnley avoiding a trial for treason, for Mary “had never accused, but had always excused him.” (Davison 37) Darnley's friends in the north of England offered to take Scarborough castle, like Stafford
Thomas Stafford (c1533-1557)
The Hon. Thomas Stafford was the ninth child of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford and Ursula Pole. He was involved in two rebellions against Queen Mary and was executed for treason in 1557.-Early life:...
before him, and then he would claim his right to the English throne, abandoning the Protestant lords who had previously supported him. When this plan failed to come to fruition, Darnley concocted a plot to kill Mary in an explosion, kidnap their child, and gain access to the Scottish throne as the guardian of the Prince. Unfortunately, Darnley mistook the departure of Lord Bothwell from Kirk o'Field as Mary's arrival to Kirk o'Field, therefore he ordered the fuse to be lit, which set off the gunpowder, while Mary was still outside of the residence. When he escaped through the window to avoid the explosion, his previous supporters blocked his exit route and murdered him.
Aftermath
Suspicion fell on the Earl of BothwellJames Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell
James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney , better known by his inherited title as 4th Earl of Bothwell, was hereditary Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He is best known for his association with and subsequent marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third husband...
and his supporters, notably Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas, was also Parson of Glasgow, a Senator of the College of Justice, Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England, and a notorious intriguer....
, whose shoes were found at the scene, and Mary herself. According to some historians, Mary was taken to Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle is the remnants of one of the most mighty fortresses in Scotland, situated over the harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian.-Early history:...
and raped by the Earl who, knowing that her Catholic faith would command her to marry him, used her as an access route to the throne.
Suspicions that Mary colluded with conspirators in her husband's death or that she took no action to prevent his death were key factors in the downward spiral that led to Mary's loss of the Scottish crown.
A soldier under the pay of the Earl, William Blackadder of the Clan Blackadder
Clan Blackadder
Clan Blackadder is a Scottish clan. The clan historically held lands near the Anglo-Scottish border.-Clan status:Today Clan Blackadder does not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, therefore the clan has no standing under Scots Law...
was allegedly the first non-participant to happen upon the scene and for that reason was initially treated as a suspect. Although initially cleared of any involvement in the murder, he was offered up by the conspirators and convicted at a show trial, after which he was executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered
Hanged, drawn and quartered
To be hanged, drawn and quartered was from 1351 a penalty in England for men convicted of high treason, although the ritual was first recorded during the reigns of King Henry III and his successor, Edward I...
before each of his limbs was nailed to the gates of a different Scottish town.
Titles and styles
- 7 December 1545 – 15 May 1565: Master of Lennox (Scotland); Lord Darnley (English title)
- 15 May – 20 July 1565: The Earl of Ross and Lord of Ardmanach.
- 20–28 July 1565: The Duke of Albany
- 28 July 1565 – 10 February 1567: His Grace The King of Scots
- February 1565: Order of Saint MichaelOrder of Saint MichaelThe Order of Saint Michael was a French chivalric order, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469, in competitive response to the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece founded by Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, Louis' chief competitor for the allegiance of the great houses of France, the Dukes of...
; the Scallop or Cockle-shell Order. This was conferred by the King of France.
In popular culture
- Timothy DaltonTimothy DaltonTimothy Peter Dalton ) is a Welsh actor of film and television. He is known for portraying James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill , as well as Rhett Butler in the television miniseries Scarlett , an original sequel to Gone with the Wind...
played the part of Darnley in the movie Mary, Queen of ScotsMary, Queen of Scots (film)Mary, Queen of Scots is a 1971 Universal Pictures biographical film based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. Leading an all-star cast are Vanessa Redgrave as the titular character and Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I. In the same year, Jackson played the part of Elizabeth in the TV drama Elizabeth...
, starring Vanessa RedgraveVanessa RedgraveVanessa Redgrave, CBE is an English actress of stage, screen and television, as well as a political activist.She rose to prominence in 1961 playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has since made more than 35 appearances on London's West End and Broadway, winning...
. He marries Mary as part of a plot by Elizabeth IElizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
(Glenda JacksonGlenda JacksonGlenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...
) to weaken Mary's claim to the English throne. Dalton portrays Darnley as a bisexual who even beds the Queen's advisor, David RizzioDavid RizzioDavide Rizzio, sometimes written as Davide Riccio or Davide Rizzo , was an Italian courtier, born close to Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts de San Paolo et Solbrito, who rose to become the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots...
(Ian HolmIan HolmSir Ian Holm, CBE is an English actor known for his stage work and for many film roles. He received the 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance as Lenny in The Homecoming and the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role of King Lear...
), but later falls out with Rizzio and has him murdered by other plotters (referred to in the film as the Lords of the Congregation). Darnley then mourns the death of his former lover. A plot to murder Darnley is later planned and carried out by Lord BothwellJames Hepburn, 4th Earl of BothwellJames Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney , better known by his inherited title as 4th Earl of Bothwell, was hereditary Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He is best known for his association with and subsequent marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third husband...
(Nigel DavenportNigel DavenportNigel Davenport is an English stage, television and film actor.- Early life :Davenport was born Arthur Nigel Davenport, however he goes by the first name of Nigel. Davenport was born in Shelford, Cambridgeshire, the son of Katherine Lucy and Arthur Henry Davenport. Davenport's father was a bursar...
), Mary's illegitimate half-brother Lord MorayJames Stewart, 1st Earl of MorayJames Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray , a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V, was Regent of Scotland for his nephew, the infant King James VI of Scotland, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570...
(Patrick McGoohanPatrick McGoohanPatrick Joseph McGoohan was an American-born actor, raised in Ireland and England, with an extensive stage and film career, most notably in the 1960s television series Danger Man , and The Prisoner, which he co-created...
), and the various Scottish Lords who participated in the murder of Rizzio (HuntlyGeorge Gordon, 5th Earl of HuntlyGeorge Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly , was Lord Chancellor of Scotland and major conspirator of his time.-Biography:...
, MortonJames Douglas, 4th Earl of MortonJames Douglas, jure uxoris 4th Earl of Morton was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four, since he did manage to win the civil war which had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of...
, Falconside, and others). The plot is depicted in the film as having Mary's tacit approval.
- Rizzio's murder at Holyroodhouse is also a crucial plot point in The Italian SecretaryThe Italian SecretaryThe Italian Secretary is mystery fiction by Caleb Carr. This literary pastiche is meant as an honourable homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and one that had the approval of the Doyle estate.-Plot introduction:Sherlock Holmes and Dr...
, a Sherlock HolmesSherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
-pastichePasticheA pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
by Caleb CarrCaleb CarrCaleb Carr is an American novelist and military historian.-Biography:A son of Lucien Carr, a former UPI editor and a key Beat generation figure, he was born in Manhattan and lived for much of his life on the Lower East Side. He attended Kenyon College and New York University, earning a B.A. in...
. - The years of Darnley's marriage to Mary, including the murder of David Rizzio and Darnley's subsequent suspicious death, are covered in Jesse Blackadder's historical novel, The Raven's Heart, HaperCollins (Australia) Pty (2011)