Quotes from John Guy

Mary was a Catholic, and Cecil's overriding ambition was to remold the whole of the British Isles

Mary was forewarned. When she reached the river crossing, she had three thousand men

Between October 19 and 23, the rebel lords did the unthinkable.

into a single Protestant community. He had little room for an independent Scotland

Mary's uncle presented the fifteen-year-old king with the scepter, the rod of justice and a ring

which he placed on the fourth finger of his right hand.

Their timing was perfect, because the regent was seriously ill.

Up to now, Mary's own impresa, chosen while she was in France

He then raised the heavy gold crown above his head.

had been the marigold turning to face the sun.

Mary of Guise, whose emblem, or impresa, was the phoenix.

the mythical bird that set fire to itself and rose anew from the ashes every five hundred years;

unsurpassing beauty or quality, for hope and for ultimate triumph.

The entire congregation joined in, most of them doubtless relieved that their long ordeal of sitting still

liberty" and "freedom" here meant merely the dislodgement of the Guises by the English:

But if Mary sometimes lapsed into pessimism, she never forgot she was a queen.

Like Elizabeth, she enjoyed two "courses" at both dinner and supper

the keeper of the royal aviaries released some seven hundred goldfinches and other songbirds

Elizabeth and her chief adviser were repeatedly at loggerheads.

On January 3, 1567, Mary wrote to say that she accepted the offer

Mary watched everything as a mere spectator.

dearest sister," subject to a judicial examination of Henry VIII's will.

Although the queens of France were also anointed and crowned

ceremony was held at a time and place different from the king's coronation.