A striking story that rings true to what we know of how power, greed and depraved behaviour affects woman (and other 'weaker' humans).
The Anglocentric perspective, which sees Scotland as the 'first colony' remains pervasive. The newly opened Perth Museum barely mentions Scotland and is clearly controlled by Anglocentric benefactors and Directors.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the deeply troubled custodian of our heritage, has a strong Anglocentric bias, with several board members from doon sooth (and the rest from Edinburgh). Beware English 'patronage'
History is written by the victors as they say, but not always now thankfully. I could go on but thanks for illuminating this tragic story, which I fear is only 'the tip of the iceberg!
the newly opened "Inverness Castle Experience" is well worth a visit, where the Highland and even the native Gaelic story is given pride of place. Refreshing!
This is a true horror story, when presented from this perspective. Maybe not the only “truth” of these times, but surely more valid than ones from the traditional “English” perspective.
On second thoughts, the trouble with blaming an “English” perspective, is that we remain blind to our anti catholic biases, which are all too persuasive in “Scottish” mentalities.
Thank you so much for this. I have a History degree and have lived in Scotland all my life. There are however great gaps in my knowledge of the history of my country. There are also great confusions/misconceptions.
At the risk of being a tedious so and so, allow me to say that the comments which follow arise from supervising a PhD on sexual violence in antiquity (the Cassandra stories in particular).
It becomes quickly that modern concepts of consent simply do not fit ancient contexts. I would delicately suggest that simply applying those lenses to 16th century Scotland might be equally wise- none of which makes what we have identified as sexual hybris (and that should not be read through a Shakespearean model, either) acceptable behaviour.
What our ancient researches also show is how much these debates about sexual violence are often about property and possession. And, of course, the old Marxist dictum, that history is always written by the victors.
Now, to calm down. Time to listen to the late Sandy Denny's stunning voice on Fotheringay
And , if you think the usurping of Scots history by English historians is irritating, try being a Piskie in the Anglican Communion, which has a completely blinkered Anglocentricity, and knows nothing of our liturgical tradition and the brilliance that flourished in the writings of the Aberdeen Doctors. A powerful antidote will soon be published by EUP: the Australian liturgist, Brian Douglas's "The Eucharist in Scottish Episcopalianism: An Alternative History and Theology"
That’s really interesting. Yes - a 16th century woman who was raped and maybe pregnant would feel constrained to marry the perpetrator. That clearly would not be the case now so I am not applying current norms. I just read in ‘Queen James’ by Gareth Russell that Bothwell was also using necromancy to control Mary and the wedding ceremony was held at 4am.
She made Bothwell the Earl of Orkney and gifted the Orkney and Shetland islands to him. She suffered the miscarriage after Carberry. She could go no further in her condition. He left to go to Orkney (he had ships at Dunbar) with the plan of seeking French help but was blown into Bergen where he was recognised by Anna of Troms, a Norwegian noblewoman whom he had abused some years before when in Europe. He was arrested by Anna’s father and sent to Denmark, to Copenhagen, where he died in imprisonment. He offered to give the Danes Orkney and Shetland back in return for his freedom but they refused.
Bothwell was unable to make contact with Mary after being imprisoned in Denmark shortly after Carberry. He kept pleading with the Danish authorities to be freed and allowed to go to France to raise support for Mary’s cause. Mary was similarly held captive in England.
Thanks for clarifying. That’s a great story. Did Mary write to him or anything? You know the story of Alison Craik - it’s in the Fraser biography. Bothwell forced his way into her house - she was Hepburn’s mistress. Fraser said it caused an uproar. Is there an implication that he raped Craik? Sounds like he did more than AF said to cause an uproar in 16th century Edinburgh
Didn’t know that story. Don’t know if Mary ever tried to contact Bothwell but after she was taken prisoner it would have been difficult. For him likewise imprisoned in Denmark-Norway. Was always a tad suspicious of him being made earl of Orkney and Shetland as a ‘wedding gift’. The Danes didn’t believe his claim to be married to Mary and refused to help (for whatever reason, even after he offered them the islands back in return for his freedom. The islands had only come to Scotland’s crown in 1469 as part of a dowry arrangement when James III married Princess Margaret of Denmark-Norway.)
He met Anna of Troms in Europe some years earlier, got her pregnant, stole or spent her money, leaving her without the means to get home. The resourceful Anna begged an audience with the Pope, told him the sad tale and asked to borrow money (which she said her father would repay) so she could return home. Even though Denmark-Norway was Protestant at the time. The Pope ex-communicated Bothwell (he didn’t so much become a Protestant as be kicked out of the Catholics) and lent her the funds. After she gave birth the Norwegians arranged for a raid to get some of the money back. Bothwell was the Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He owned ships at Dunbar. A fleet of Norwegian ships sailed to Dunbar and seized Bothwell’s ships at anchor, overcoming the watch crew (the rest were ashore). They also came ashore and dumped Anna’s baby at Bothwell’s mother’s door.
It’s gratifying to know that even in the sixteenth century women could sometimes get some form of justice against men who had wronged them.
And Mary’s main occupation was writing letters - she could have written to Bothwell but she doesn’t seem to have done so or even mentioned him very much
Wow, what a woman! Although it’s a shame about the baby. Interesting that it was the Earl of Orkney who warned Darnley that Bothwell was about to murder him, according to Melville. That must have been why Darnley was escaping when he was killed. And I guess Bothwell took revenge on the Earl of Orkney by seizing his lands and title? .
A striking story that rings true to what we know of how power, greed and depraved behaviour affects woman (and other 'weaker' humans).
The Anglocentric perspective, which sees Scotland as the 'first colony' remains pervasive. The newly opened Perth Museum barely mentions Scotland and is clearly controlled by Anglocentric benefactors and Directors.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the deeply troubled custodian of our heritage, has a strong Anglocentric bias, with several board members from doon sooth (and the rest from Edinburgh). Beware English 'patronage'
History is written by the victors as they say, but not always now thankfully. I could go on but thanks for illuminating this tragic story, which I fear is only 'the tip of the iceberg!
the newly opened "Inverness Castle Experience" is well worth a visit, where the Highland and even the native Gaelic story is given pride of place. Refreshing!
This is a true horror story, when presented from this perspective. Maybe not the only “truth” of these times, but surely more valid than ones from the traditional “English” perspective.
Thanks again Jackie!
On second thoughts, the trouble with blaming an “English” perspective, is that we remain blind to our anti catholic biases, which are all too persuasive in “Scottish” mentalities.
The point is to explore our own history warts abd all instead of making it a footnote to England’s story.
Thank you so much for this. I have a History degree and have lived in Scotland all my life. There are however great gaps in my knowledge of the history of my country. There are also great confusions/misconceptions.
At the risk of being a tedious so and so, allow me to say that the comments which follow arise from supervising a PhD on sexual violence in antiquity (the Cassandra stories in particular).
It becomes quickly that modern concepts of consent simply do not fit ancient contexts. I would delicately suggest that simply applying those lenses to 16th century Scotland might be equally wise- none of which makes what we have identified as sexual hybris (and that should not be read through a Shakespearean model, either) acceptable behaviour.
What our ancient researches also show is how much these debates about sexual violence are often about property and possession. And, of course, the old Marxist dictum, that history is always written by the victors.
Now, to calm down. Time to listen to the late Sandy Denny's stunning voice on Fotheringay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlV6YE6TRhI
And , if you think the usurping of Scots history by English historians is irritating, try being a Piskie in the Anglican Communion, which has a completely blinkered Anglocentricity, and knows nothing of our liturgical tradition and the brilliance that flourished in the writings of the Aberdeen Doctors. A powerful antidote will soon be published by EUP: the Australian liturgist, Brian Douglas's "The Eucharist in Scottish Episcopalianism: An Alternative History and Theology"
That’s really interesting. Yes - a 16th century woman who was raped and maybe pregnant would feel constrained to marry the perpetrator. That clearly would not be the case now so I am not applying current norms. I just read in ‘Queen James’ by Gareth Russell that Bothwell was also using necromancy to control Mary and the wedding ceremony was held at 4am.
She made Bothwell the Earl of Orkney and gifted the Orkney and Shetland islands to him. She suffered the miscarriage after Carberry. She could go no further in her condition. He left to go to Orkney (he had ships at Dunbar) with the plan of seeking French help but was blown into Bergen where he was recognised by Anna of Troms, a Norwegian noblewoman whom he had abused some years before when in Europe. He was arrested by Anna’s father and sent to Denmark, to Copenhagen, where he died in imprisonment. He offered to give the Danes Orkney and Shetland back in return for his freedom but they refused.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dragsholm-castle
Bothwell was unable to make contact with Mary after being imprisoned in Denmark shortly after Carberry. He kept pleading with the Danish authorities to be freed and allowed to go to France to raise support for Mary’s cause. Mary was similarly held captive in England.
Thanks for clarifying. That’s a great story. Did Mary write to him or anything? You know the story of Alison Craik - it’s in the Fraser biography. Bothwell forced his way into her house - she was Hepburn’s mistress. Fraser said it caused an uproar. Is there an implication that he raped Craik? Sounds like he did more than AF said to cause an uproar in 16th century Edinburgh
Didn’t know that story. Don’t know if Mary ever tried to contact Bothwell but after she was taken prisoner it would have been difficult. For him likewise imprisoned in Denmark-Norway. Was always a tad suspicious of him being made earl of Orkney and Shetland as a ‘wedding gift’. The Danes didn’t believe his claim to be married to Mary and refused to help (for whatever reason, even after he offered them the islands back in return for his freedom. The islands had only come to Scotland’s crown in 1469 as part of a dowry arrangement when James III married Princess Margaret of Denmark-Norway.)
He met Anna of Troms in Europe some years earlier, got her pregnant, stole or spent her money, leaving her without the means to get home. The resourceful Anna begged an audience with the Pope, told him the sad tale and asked to borrow money (which she said her father would repay) so she could return home. Even though Denmark-Norway was Protestant at the time. The Pope ex-communicated Bothwell (he didn’t so much become a Protestant as be kicked out of the Catholics) and lent her the funds. After she gave birth the Norwegians arranged for a raid to get some of the money back. Bothwell was the Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He owned ships at Dunbar. A fleet of Norwegian ships sailed to Dunbar and seized Bothwell’s ships at anchor, overcoming the watch crew (the rest were ashore). They also came ashore and dumped Anna’s baby at Bothwell’s mother’s door.
It’s gratifying to know that even in the sixteenth century women could sometimes get some form of justice against men who had wronged them.
And Mary’s main occupation was writing letters - she could have written to Bothwell but she doesn’t seem to have done so or even mentioned him very much
Wow, what a woman! Although it’s a shame about the baby. Interesting that it was the Earl of Orkney who warned Darnley that Bothwell was about to murder him, according to Melville. That must have been why Darnley was escaping when he was killed. And I guess Bothwell took revenge on the Earl of Orkney by seizing his lands and title? .