Casket letters
Encyclopedia
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 complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
. The letters are, however, only one detail of the whole problem; even if accepted as fake, this alone does not prove that Mary was uninvolved in her husband's death.
claimed to have found the letters in a locked silver casket in the possession of George Dalgleish, a servant of Bothwell, at Edinburgh on 19 June 1567.
After Mary Stuart's flight into England, Elizabeth I ordered an inquiry into the question of whether Mary should be tried for the murder of Darnley. A conference was held in York
and later Westminster
between October 1568 and January 1569. The accusers were the Scottish Lords who had deposed Mary the year before, and they presented the Casket Letters to underpin their argument. For overriding political reasons, Elizabeth neither wished to convict Mary of murder nor acquit her of the same. So the conference was intended as a political show. The outcome was that the Casket Letters were accepted by the conference as genuine after a study of the handwriting
, and of the information contained therein. Yet, as Elizabeth had wished, the inquiry reached the conclusion that nothing was proven.
The Letters were purportedly found by James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
in Edinburgh in a silver box engraved with an F (supposedly for Francis II), along with a number of other documents, including the Mary-Bothwell marriage certificate. The originals were probably destroyed in 1584 by Mary's son, King James. Only copies exist, one in French, the others are translations from the French into Scots
and English. The nature of these documents—authentic, forged
, or only partly forged—has been the subject of much discussion for more than a hundred years.
Purportedly the silver casket itself was acquired by Mary Gordon, wife to the 1st Marquis of Douglas
. Following her death, it was sold to a goldsmith, but was later reacquired by her daughter-in law, Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton
. The casket originally had the Queen's arms engraved engraved upon it, but was replaced successively by the arms of the Marchioness, then the Duchess. Together with other memorabilia related to the Queen, the casket is currently on display at Lennoxlove House
, East Lothian
.
James 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...
, between January and April 1566 or 1567. If authentic throughout, they would provide definite proof of Mary's complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stewart or Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany , styled Lord Darnley before 1565, was king consort of Scotland and murdered at Kirk o'Field...
. The letters are, however, only one detail of the whole problem; even if accepted as fake, this alone does not prove that Mary was uninvolved in her husband's death.
Discovery
The Earl of MortonJames Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James 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...
claimed to have found the letters in a locked silver casket in the possession of George Dalgleish, a servant of Bothwell, at Edinburgh on 19 June 1567.
Political background
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and later Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
between October 1568 and January 1569. The accusers were the Scottish Lords who had deposed Mary the year before, and they presented the Casket Letters to underpin their argument. For overriding political reasons, Elizabeth neither wished to convict Mary of murder nor acquit her of the same. So the conference was intended as a political show. The outcome was that the Casket Letters were accepted by the conference as genuine after a study of the handwriting
Penmanship
Penmanship is the technique of writing with the hand using a writing instrument. The various generic and formal historical styles of writing are called hands, whilst an individual personal style of penmanship is referred to as handwriting....
, and of the information contained therein. Yet, as Elizabeth had wished, the inquiry reached the conclusion that nothing was proven.
The Letters were purportedly found by James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James 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...
in Edinburgh in a silver box engraved with an F (supposedly for Francis II), along with a number of other documents, including the Mary-Bothwell marriage certificate. The originals were probably destroyed in 1584 by Mary's son, King James. Only copies exist, one in French, the others are translations from the French into Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
and English. The nature of these documents—authentic, forged
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
, or only partly forged—has been the subject of much discussion for more than a hundred years.
Purportedly the silver casket itself was acquired by Mary Gordon, wife to the 1st Marquis of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas and 11th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman.-Master of Angus:William Douglas, Master of Angus was the eldest son of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus and his Countess, Elizabeth Oliphant, eldest daughter of Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant...
. Following her death, it was sold to a goldsmith, but was later reacquired by her daughter-in law, Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton
Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton
Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton was a Scottish peeress.The daughter of Sir James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton and 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, Scottish General and premier peer of the realm, and Lady Mary Feilding, daughter of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh and Lady Susan Villiers, a...
. The casket originally had the Queen's arms engraved engraved upon it, but was replaced successively by the arms of the Marchioness, then the Duchess. Together with other memorabilia related to the Queen, the casket is currently on display at Lennoxlove House
Lennoxlove House
Lennoxlove House is a historic house set in woodlands half a mile south of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. The house comprises a 15th-century tower, originally known as Lethington, and has been extended several times, principally in the 17th, 19th and 20th centuries...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
.
Further reading
- Guy, JohnJohn Guy (historian)John Guy is a British historian and biographer.Born in Australia, he moved to Britain with his parents in 1952. He was educated at King Edward VII School in Lytham, and Clare College, Cambridge, where he read history, taking a First. At Cambridge, Guy studied under the Tudor specialist Geoffrey...
: My Heart is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots Fourth Estate 2004 ISBN 184115752X - Henderson, Thomas Finlayson: Mary, Queen of Scots 1905
- Lang, AndrewAndrew LangAndrew Lang was a Scots poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St Andrews are named after him.- Biography :Lang was born in Selkirk...
: The Mystery of Mary Stuart 1904 - Thomson, G. M.: The Crime of Mary Stuart Hutchinson 1967
- Warnicke, Retha M.: "Mary Queen of Scots" 2006
External links
- Examination of the Letters said to be written by Mary Queen of Scots to James, earl of Bothwell, also an enquiry into the Murder of King Henry, by Walter Goodall (1754) (a discussion and transcription of the Casket Letters with many other documents)
- T. F. Henderson's The Casket Letters at Google Books
- Bartleby.com's Mary Queen of Scots page