Mary Queen Of Scots Summary

A Book Report on, “The Life of Mary Queen of Scots,” by, Carolyn Savas

“The Life of Mary Queen of Scots”, was written by P.C. Headley. The biography is a full account of the political changes in Europe during Mary’s life. To understand Mary Queen of Scots, it is important to look at her childhood. The majority of Mary’s childhood was spent in Fontainebleau Palace. She lived there from age seven to after her husband’s death, at age 19.

The first six years of Mary’s life were very politically tense. Before Mary was sent to Fontainebleau Palace she was relocated multiple times, on account of the political situation of her birth. At only six days old, Mary’s father died, and she was inaugurated as the queen of Scotland. Mary was then separated from her mother, and spent five years at Stirling castle, under the protection of England, until age six, when the English king died, the previous marriage arrangement was null. She was taken to France, where she spent some time in a convent while her new marriage arrangement was agreed upon. The young Queen took liking to the nuns, and they claimed Mary “…would

Mary knowledge of literature matured as the King’s daughters were linguists, and her artistic understanding grew as arts became a common topic of scrutiny. At age ten, in 1552, Mary wrote a letter to her mother, Queen Dowager, concerning the affairs of Scotland, she wrote with such, “practical sense and precision which astonished even her admirers, as an exhibition of precocious talents and culture, both in science and belles-lettres, and in the policy of ambitions sovereigns.” (11) Mary continued to become a favorite of the court, at age thirteen she composed a Latin speech, and the entire court gathered in the hall of Louvre, to hear her recite it. The Cardinal of Lorraine wrote to Mary of Guise in praise, “…there is no one like her to be found in this kingdom, either among noble ladies or others…”