Mary Queen of Scots' Secretary: William Maitland - Politician, Reformer and Conspirator

by Robert Stedall

Overview

Maitland was the most able politician and diplomat during the lifetime of Mary Queen of Scots. It was he who masterminded the Scottish Reformation by breaking the ‘Auld Alliance’ with France, which presaged Scotland’s lasting union with England.

Although he gained English support to defeat French troops defending Mary’s Scottish throne, he backed her return to Scotland, as the widowed Queen of France. His attempts to gain recognition for her as heir to the English crown were thwarted by her determined adherence to Catholicism.

After her remarriage, he spearheaded the plotting to bring down her objectionable husband, Lord Darnley, leading to his murder, after concluding that English and Scottish interests were best served by creating a Protestant regency for their son, Prince James. With encouragement from Cecil in England and the Protestant Lords in Scotland, he concocted evidence to implicate her in her husband’s murder, resulting in her imprisonment and deposition from the Scottish throne.

Despite her escape to England, he remained personally loyal to her and attempted to conjure Scottish support for her restoration by backing her allies holding Edinburgh Castle on her behalf. When it fell in 1573, he resorted to suicide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526787798
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	03/18/2021
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Robert Stedall has made a specialist study of Tudor history and is the curator of the popular www.maryqueenofscots.net. He has also written Men of Substance, on the London Livery Companies’ reluctant part in the Plantation of Ulster.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Also by the same author viii

Introduction ix

Preface xi

Part I The Brilliant but Devious Secretary

Chapter 1 Maitland establishes his standing under Mary of Guise 2

Chapter 2 The Lords of the Congregation challenge French authority 12

Chapter 3 The return of the widowed Mary Queen of Scots 31

Chapter 4 Diplomatic efforts to establish Mary as Elizabeth's heir 45

Chapter 5 Lord James (soon to be Earl of Moray) and Maitland establish authority 54

Chapter 6 The negotiations for Mary's remarriage 60

Part II Mary Takes Personal Control

Chapter 7 Mary's efforts to take up the reins of government 72

Chapter 8 Marriage to Darnley 76

Chapter 9 Moray's rebellion 88

Part III Maitland Re-Establishes his Standing

Chapter 10 Riccio's murder 94

Chapter 11 Restored as Secretary of State 109

Chapter 12 Ending Mary's marriage to Darnley 116

Part IV Developing the Tale of a Crime of Passion

Chapter 13 The Chameleon 128

Chapter 14 The plot for Darnley's murder unfolds 131

Chapter 15 Providing evidence of a crime of passion 139

Chapter 16 Enticement for Mary to marry Bothwell 148

Chapter 17 Bothwell's exoneration and marriage to Mary 155

Part V Mary's Arrest and Maitland's Contrition

Chapter 18 The Confederates challenge Mary and Bothwell 168

Chapter 19 Negotiations while Mary is held at Lochleven 180

Chapter 20 Mary's escape and Maitland's signs of sympathy 194

Chapter 21 The Conferences at York and Westminster 201

Chapter 22 A last hurrah for Mary's cause 223

Conclusion 240

Endnotes 243

Bibliography 249

References 253

Index 270