Chapter 7
The Scottish royal family owns two important castles: Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace.
Edinburgh Castle, since its construction in the 6th century, has been an important symbol of royal prestige for nearly 1,000 years. If Mary lived in the castle, she could have looked down on all the residents of Edinburgh and kept track of every situation every morning. In the unfortunate event of war, the castle's unique location on an extinct volcano could be used to quickly turn it into a strategic stronghold that could be both attacked and defended.
If there is anything wrong with it, it is that Edinburgh Castle is too simple, more like a military fortress than a palace, and it no longer conforms to the aesthetic of comfort and magnificence that European nobles and kings have pursued since the Renaissance.
As for Holyrood Palace, it was originally a monastery, which was later converted into a comfortable residence by Mary's grandfather and father. Unfortunately, it was looted by the English, and the walls still bear the gray and black marks of the bombardment.
After a period of contemplation, Mary decided, just like in her previous life, to lead everyone to Holyrood Palace to rest first.
If everything had gone smoothly, she should now be traveling in a carriage with a large entourage to tour Edinburgh and its surroundings, receiving cheers and donations from her subjects. However, given her current disheveled state, it would be best to postpone her tour of the territory.
It wasn't that she was particularly concerned with saving face, but rather that as a female monarch who was inherently lacking in authority, she needed to establish her dignity in every aspect so that others would obey her. Just as Elizabeth I would habitually use luxurious clothing adorned with pearls and jewels to distinguish herself from others when she appeared in public.
...
Queen Scott and her entourage soon arrived at Holyrood Palace, where they settled in after a preliminary cleaning by servants. The tumultuous journey home had finally come to an end.
But after nightfall, something unexpected happened.
The common people of Edinburgh spontaneously flocked to Holyrood Palace late at night. Even after being stopped by the guards outside the palace, their enthusiasm remained undiminished, and they lingered there without dispersing.
They quickly gathered large piles of dry branches and started bonfires, ensuring the bright flames were visible from every window of Holyrood Palace, thus expressing their welcome and affection to the Queen.
When Mary was awakened by Seton, she looked out of the stone window of her bedroom and saw bright bonfires in the distance illuminating the night as if it were daytime. People of all ages and genders, dressed in colorful Scottish kilts, were holding hands and dancing around the bonfires.
Beside them, musicians sat on rocks, playing Scottish Highland bagpipes, shepherd's flutes, and sheepskin drums, while dancers joined in, singing hymns loudly.
Those rough, loud sounds carried on the night breeze, allowing Mary, standing by the window, to feel the joy and welcome they contained.
“What a touching scene! Even though you have been away from Scotland for more than a decade, the common people still remember you…” The naturally sentimental Seton covered his mouth and said, his eyes already filled with tears. “…The news of the lords welcoming Your Majesty’s return was passed on to the servants, who then spread it to the citizens. As soon as they heard about it, they rushed to pay their respects to you and offer their blessings from their subjects.”
Mary stood silently by the half-open window, gazing intently at the citizens in front of her, her pupils clearly reflecting the burning flames.
She got up in such a hurry that she didn't have time to put on a warm fur coat. The cold, damp night wind was just like her heart, which had gradually cooled down over the years of imprisonment, devoid of any warmth or affection.
Nothing is beyond the test of time.
While young Mary Stuart's emotions were foolish, they were also passionate and pure. Whether she was in love with Lord Darnley or Boswell, she was willing to give her all to her lovers without holding back.
But that was when I was young.
When Henry rebelled in alliance with other nobles, when her cousin Elizabeth beheaded her, when her own son James VI imprisoned her for over a decade without a word, and when monarchs and Catholics from various countries merely used her as a banner to rebel against Elizabethan rule and vie for their own interests, she no longer cared about any personal feelings.
Mary placed her hand on her chest and touched her heart, which was beating secretly.
Since her rebirth, she has only wanted to change her fate and has no other goals. But now, looking at the people cheering and loving her and listening to their rough and loud singing, she suddenly felt the same excitement she had when she was young.
I should do something for them.
—These most ordinary people, who instinctively love and believe in her as their monarch.
With that in mind, Mary had her maids relight the lights in the palace and then sent people to distribute wine and bread to them, to show that she had felt the welcome of the citizens.
The citizens who had received the drinks and bread quickly realized that the Queen was watching them, and they all stood on tiptoe to look toward Holyrood Palace.
Mary stood at the window, smiling and waving to the people.
"Long live the Queen!"
A burst of cheers erupted instantly as people eagerly gazed at the Queen's young and beautiful figure in front of the window. They then shouted "Long live the Queen!" and sang various songs praising the Virgin Mary at an even louder pace.
Because of the prevalence of Calvinism within Protestantism, under the leadership of John Knox, the citizens of Edinburgh had long been forbidden from all kinds of worldly pleasures, and could even only sing religious songs. But this did not prevent them from referring to their queen as the Virgin Mary at this moment!
...
Earl Morrie, who lived in the next room, was also awakened. After obtaining the Queen's permission, he came in and stood with his sister, watching the commoners singing and dancing in the distance.
“What an amazing sight, my dear sister. After spending more than a decade in France, I never imagined you would still enjoy such a high reputation among the common people. I returned several years before you and give alms to the poor every month, but I have never received such a warm welcome from the public… To be honest, I’m a little jealous of how popular you are, Mary,” Count Maurice teased.
“I think it’s only natural,” Mary said. “People will always hope for a wise and tolerant monarch to rule them so that they can have a better life, and I have just returned home, so I will naturally take on their hopes. As for you, James, I believe that the poor people who have received your charity cheer from the bottom of their hearts and will pray for your well-being every day.”
For the first time, Earl Morley found the sound of these highland bagpipes so noisy and jarring. Resisting the urge to cover his ears, he nodded readily and said, "Yes, that is indeed the case. However, usually, this excessive enthusiasm will dissipate in a month or two."
“Not necessarily, brother. As long as they are under my rule, they will have a richer and better life. I’m sure this cheering will continue. This is a responsibility that a monarch should shoulder,” Mary said.
“Ruling a country is difficult, especially for someone as young as Mary. Why don’t you learn from me for a few years, get to know the situation in Scotland, and then try to figure out how to handle government affairs?” Earl Morley said in a joking tone.
“I believe that the education I received at the French court was sufficient and I need not learn any more. As for ruling Scotland…” Mary turned around and took Earl Maurice’s hand, and said sincerely, “…James, my dear half-brother, in these past few years, I have truly been grateful to you for handling the affairs of Scotland in my place, so that I would not have to worry about my homeland when I was at the French court.”
He was merely a substitute when the monarch was absent.
Upon hearing Mary's words, Earl Morley could hardly conceal his bad mood. He paused for a long while before continuing, "No need for thanks. This is also my country, and we share the same noble bloodline from my father, James V."
“Unfortunately, although my father and Margaret Erskine were deeply in love, they never married. In the end, the only wives he was recognized by God were my mother and the French princess who died young,” Mary said calmly and meaningfully.
This is definitely a show of force against him!
Who does she think she is? Just a little girl who has just returned to her country and knows nothing about Scotland, only able to act arrogantly because of her bloodline!
The tall Earl of Morrie invited her to speak, using all his restraint to stop himself from uttering harsh words, and then bid Mary farewell as politely as possible before leaving.
The Earl of Morley's face was so bad when he left the Queen's bedroom that it made Seton, who had overheard the Queen's conversation with her brother, tremble with fear.
As soon as the Earl left, Seton boldly said, "Your Majesty, I dare not question your decision, but your confrontation with Earl Morley so soon after your return may provoke a conflict between us."
“He wants me to be a puppet on the throne, while I need to reclaim the rights and wealth that are rightfully mine. Our struggle is inevitable… Sleep well, Seton. I have to tour Edinburgh and attend Parliament tomorrow, and I need plenty of sleep to recharge,” Mary said.
Outside the window, as the dead branches gradually burned out, the bonfires went out one by one, and the dancing and singing commoners gradually dispersed, returning to their small homes in Edinburgh to prepare for the next day's work.
...
Mary, who had just arrived in Scotland, had a lot of work to do, such as seeing off the guests from France, holding the Scottish Parliament, summoning the more than twenty earls and lords who actually held power in Scotland, and trying to ease the most important issue at hand.
Religious issues.
The Scottish citizens and most nobles are Protestant, while the peasants in the villages and a small number of nobles still adhere to the old Catholic faith, and the two sides are almost irreconcilably at odds over this.
Unfortunately, Mary, as a monarch, was a Catholic, which put her at odds with most of the nobles who held the main power, and she was ostracized by them.
At the first parliamentary session, Mary took the lead in expressing her goodwill by announcing to the crowd that the lords and commoners would henceforth enjoy freedom of religion, which was met with unanimous cheers.
"So Your Majesty, would you like to renounce the evil faith from Rome and convert to Protestantism—that is, to the Protestant sect that truly follows God's will?" Count Mori stood up in the council and asked in front of everyone.
This statement shattered the peaceful atmosphere that had prevailed since Mary's return to Scotland.
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