Mary, Queen of Scots, was buried at Peterborough Castle on 1 August 1587 with a heraldic funeral, following her execution at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587. In 1612, her son James VI and I ordered her reburial at Westminster Abbey.
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Mary, Queen of Scots, was buried at Peterborough Castle on 1 August 1587 with a heraldic funeral, following her execution at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587. In 1612, her son James VI and I ordered her reburial at Westminster Abbey.
Adam Blackwood wrote that Mary's body was kept in a chamber near the scene of execution at Fotheringhay, and after a time Mary's body and head were sealed in a lead casket. [1] John Fortescue, Master of the Wardrobe of Elizabeth I, was sent to organise the funeral. Mourning clothes were to be provided for Mary's household, who had remained at Fotheringhay. At first Mary's servants refused the new garments as they already wore mourning clothes and there was disagreement over the fashion of women's mourning hoods worn either in French or English style. A tirewoman was sent from London to make coiffures for the day of the funeral. [2] [3] Fortescue's account mentions fabrics and the "Paris heads", "barbes and linen", "bongraces" and "kerchers" worn as headdresses and face-coverings by female mourners. A wooden hearse was built in Peterborough Cathedral. This hearse was a stationary architectural heraldic display, not a conveyance for the coffin. [4]
Mary's body was brought from Fotheringhay to Peterborough on a chariot drawn by four horses at night on 30 July, a distance of 12 miles. [5] The herald William Dethick organised the procession. [6] The coffin was interred near the resting place of Catherine of Aragon. The graves of both Queens were dug by Robert Scarlett. The official mourners arrived on 31 July. The Countess of Bedford was the chief mourner and representative of Elizabeth I. There was a supper in the Great Hall of the Bishop's Palace. [7]
For the funeral on Tuesday 1 August, Lammas Day, a "representation" of Mary was carried from the Palace into the cathedral, thought to have been an effigy. The procession from the Palace to the church was led by 100 poor women in black cloth gowns and white Holland linen head dresses, provided by Fortescue. Next followed those in mourning cloaks and mourning gowns. Andrew Noel carried the banner of Scotland. [8] Six gentlemen brought in the "representation" under a velvet canopy supported on poles by Thomas Manners, John Hastings, James Harington, and John Knightley. The train of the Countess of Bedford's gown was carried by Katherine, Lady St John of Bletso. Ten or eight women from Mary's household followed, wearing hoods with black taffeta at the front and white veils at the back in the French fashion. [9]
Dominique Bourgoing and most of the Scottish mourners from Mary's household left the cathedral before the service started, not wishing to attend a Protestant service, except Andrew Melville of Garvock and Barbara and Gillis Moubray. [10] William Wickham, Bishop of Lincoln, gave a sermon and a prayer, remarking that he had not met Mary. [11] [12] [13] Banners were placed on the hearse, and symbolic objects including armour, a wooden sword, helmet and crown, were delivered from the hearse to the Bishop. Some of these were displayed in the cathedral until 1643. Richard Fletcher, Dean of Peterborough, read the funeral service where Mary was buried, and then the broken rods of her officers were placed in the grave. [14]
Mourners from Mary's household who attended at Peterborough included; Barbara Moubray, Renée de Rallay known as Beauregard, Christian Hog (wife of Bastian Pagez), Mary Pagez, Gillis Moubray, Jean Kennedy, Elspeth or Elizabeth Curle, and Susanna Kirkcaldy (a daughter of William Kirkcaldy of Grange). [15] [16] [17]
The male servants included Andrew Melville who was given a high-status position at the funeral. The other servants attending were Dominique Bourgoing the physician, Du Preau the almoner, Pierre Gorion the apothecary, the surgeon Jacques Gervais, Balthazar Hully Bastian Pagez, Hannibal Stewart, Didier Siflard the sommelier, Jean Lauder of the pantry, Martin Huet the cook, Nicolas de la Mere, Robin Hamilton, Laurens de la Chapelle the usher, and Simon Jacqui described as the valet de fourrier and possibly an upholsterer like his predecessor Nicolas Guillebault. [18] [19] [20]
Following the Union of the Crowns and his English coronation, James VI and I sent William Dethick to Peterborough with an embroidered velvet pall for his mother's grave in August 1603. [21] In 1606, Cornelius Cure was commissioned to produce the monument to Mary, Queen of Scots, in Westminster Abbey. He was paid for supplying "touchstone and rauncestone", two kinds of alabaster. The monument was finished by his son. Mary was interred in September 1612. [22]
Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange was a Scottish politician and soldier who fought for the Scottish Reformation. He ended his career holding Edinburgh castle on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots and was hanged at the conclusion of a long siege.
Adam Blackwood (1539–1613) was a Scottish author and apologist for Mary, Queen of Scots.
Margaret Carwood, was a maid-of-honour at the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Her wedding to John Stewart of Fincastle was celebrated at the time of the murder of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, the Queen's consort.
Bastian Pagez was a French servant and musician at the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. He was born in Auvergne. He devised part of the entertainment at the baptism of Prince James at Stirling Castle in 1566. When Mary was exiled in England, Bastian and his family continued in her service. The 19th-century historians Agnes Strickland and William Barclay Turnbull considered his court role as equivalent to the English Master of the Revels; in England he was Mary's chamber valet and designed her embroidery patterns.
Jane, Janet, or Jean Kennedy was a companion of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her captivity in England.
Servais de Condé or Condez was a French servant at the court of Mary Queen of Scots, in charge of her wardrobe and the costume for masques performed at the Scottish royal court.
Nichola or Nicolle was a fool or jester to Mary, Queen of Scots.
Andrew Melville of Garvock was a Scottish courtier and servant of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Marie Pieris, Lady Seton was a French lady in waiting at the Scottish court.
The jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), are mainly known through the evidence of inventories held by the National Records of Scotland. She was bought jewels during her childhood in France, adding to those she inherited. She gave gifts of jewels to her friends and to reward diplomats. When she abdicated and went to England many of the jewels she left behind in Scotland were sold or pledged for loans, first by her enemies and later by her allies. Mary continued to buy new jewels, some from France, and use them to reward her supporters. In Scotland her remaining jewels were worn by her son James VI and his favourites.
Mademoiselle Rallay or Madame Raylie was a Scottish courtier. She served as chamberwoman and then lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots. She was described as one of Mary's favorites. Her niece Renée Rallay, also known as Beauregard, also served Mary, Queen of Scots.
The baptism of James VI was celebrated at Stirling Castle in December 1566 with a masque, fireworks, and a staged assault on a mock fortress. The entertainment was devised by George Buchanan and Bastian Pagez.
The wardrobe of Mary, Queen of Scots, was described in several contemporary documents, and many records of her costume have been published.
Gilbert Curle or Curll was a Scottish secretary who served Mary, Queen of Scots during her captivity in England. He married Barbara Mowbray, one of three sisters serving Mary.
On 19 August 1561, the 18-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, returned to Scotland from France following the death of her husband King Francis II of France the previous winter. On 2 September the town of Edinburgh organised a celebration of royal entry for her.
Guyonne de Breüil was a French lady-in-waiting at the court of Mary, Queen of Scots in France and Scotland.
Dominique Bourgoing was a French physician in the household of Mary, Queen of Scots. He is notable as the author of an influential account of Mary's captivity and execution.
Jérôme Pasquier (1560–1605) was a French servant of Mary, Queen of Scots, involved in writing and deciphering coded letters.
John Mowbray of Barnbougle was a Scottish landowner and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Jean de Compiègne or Jehan de Conpiegne was a French tailor who served Mary, Queen of Scots, in Scotland and England. He is frequently mentioned in her accounts and in her letters. His name appears in various spellings in Scottish records, including "Jean Decumpanze". He was also known as "Jehan Poulliet", and signed his name as "Jehan Poullyet".