Series 3 > Scottish correspondence of Mary of Lorraine

THE SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENCE
OF MARY OF LORRAINE
Nos. I-XXIII: INTRODUCTORY
The following twenty-three letters, dealing with the events
that culminated in the coronation of the infant Queen at
Stirling on Sunday, 9th September 1543, introduce the
principal actors, and the problems that they had to face,
in the crisis arising out of the defeat of Solway Moss and
the death of James v. When the Correspondence opens,
on 20th February 1542-3, Henry vm. had already
launched his schemes for the marriage of Queen Mary to
his son, and for making himself master of Scotland. His
action provides the pivot round which swings the tangle
of Scottish intrigue and faction during this period. In
Scotland, the Cardinal, the Governor, and the Dowager
are the outstanding figures in the complicated drama : the
Cardinal by pre-eminence of position, of intellect, of force
of character and determination of purpose ; the Governor
by reason of his official position, his ambition, and his
moral weakness and irresolution; the Dowager in virtue
of her rank, her character, and aims. In this phase the
Cardinal and Dowager are united in a common policy in
opposition to the Governor : the result is a victory for the
Cardinal at the coronation of the Queen.
The first letters deal with the Dowager’s efforts to effect
her emancipation from control. In Linlithgow her posi¬
tion was exposed, accommodation was limited, and she
was not fully her own mistress : in Stirling she would be
in her jointure castle, a strong place of strategic import-
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