Mary Queen of Scots House
In October 1566 Mary Queen of Scots was 23 years old. She had been Queen of Scotland since returning from France in August 1561. She had entered a disastrous marriage to Lord Henry Darnley in July 1665. She bore him a son, who was later to become James 1st of England. In March. In March 1666 Lord Darnley was complicit in the murder of Mary’s secretary and companion Davido Rizzio. This effectively brought her relationship with her husband to an end. At Court was James Earl of Bothwell with whom a relationship developed. It was against that background that she would she travelled to the Royal Burgh of Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders to be present in the town and at the Jedburgh Circuit Court. She stayed in aTower House let to her by the Kerrs of Ferniehurst. That house became known as Mary Queen of Scots House. Bothwell was a Border Lord who had responsibilities for law and order in the Borders from his home at Hermitage Castle. In a skirmish he sustained a sword wound. At the conclusion of her formal business Mary decided to visit him which involved a ride of around 25 miles across hills, bogs and moorland. The weather was bad and Mary returned on the same day. The result was serious illness, near death, and an extended stay at the house in Jedburgh. Lord Darnley was later murdered and suspicion fell on Bothwell and Mary but nothing was proved.
Mary Queen of Scots House
In October 1566 Mary Queen of Scots was 23 years old. She had been Queen of Scotland since returning from France in August 1561. She had entered a disastrous marriage to Lord Henry Darnley in July 1665. She bore him a son, who was later to become James 1st of England. In March. In March 1666 Lord Darnley was complicit in the murder of Mary’s secretary and companion Davido Rizzio. This effectively brought her relationship with her husband to an end. At Court was James Earl of Bothwell with whom a relationship developed. It was against that background that she would she travelled to the Royal Burgh of Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders to be present in the town and at the Jedburgh Circuit Court. She stayed in aTower House let to her by the Kerrs of Ferniehurst. That house became known as Mary Queen of Scots House. Bothwell was a Border Lord who had responsibilities for law and order in the Borders from his home at Hermitage Castle. In a skirmish he sustained a sword wound. At the conclusion of her formal business Mary decided to visit him which involved a ride of around 25 miles across hills, bogs and moorland. The weather was bad and Mary returned on the same day. The result was serious illness, near death, and an extended stay at the house in Jedburgh. Lord Darnley was later murdered and suspicion fell on Bothwell and Mary but nothing was proved.