Edinburgh by Motorhome
Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.
On the 7th of August, 1548, Mary, Queen of Scots, at five years of age, sailed down the Clyde estuary from Dumbarton Castle to France with the French fleet. Also with her were her guardians, the Lords Erskine and Livingston, her nurse Jean Sinclair, her governess Lady Mary Fleming, the other three Marys, Ladies; Seton, Livingston and Beaton, three of her half-brothers and other children of the Scottish nobility.
Six days later the fleet arrived at Roscoff in France.
Mary was born at Linlithgow Palace, on the 8th December 1542. The news of her birth was greeted by her father’s prophetic words below;
Edinburgh Castle.
The Prophecy.
“It cam’ wi’ ane lass, an’ it’ll pass wi’ ane lass.”
These were the words o’ her faither King James
On hearin’ the news o’ the birth at the Palace
He laid doon an’ deid, haundin’ Mary o’er the reigns
At nine months o’ age, Mary is Queen
Securely strapped intae her wee baby seat
Wi’ rings on her fingers, a sight tae be seen
Suckin’ awa’ merrily on her Royal dummy teat
There were battles a’ ragin’ a’ roon’ aboot
In Kelso, an’ Jedburgh, King Henry did loot
When the wee Queen was four, there was an enquiry
An’ for safety took Mary tae Inchmahome Priory
Wi’ loads o’ disorder, at Dunbar on the border
The English were causin’ a whole lot o’ hassle
King Henri o’ France, then geid oot an order
“We’ll be there, send Mary doon tae Dumbarton Castle.”
On the 29th July 1565, Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Henry Darnley, were married in the chapel of Holyrood Palace.
Mary, aged thirteen, with Francois, at the French Court.
The Scottish Parliament.
