大象传媒

锘縄t is one of the most dramatic and tragic stories in Scotland鈥檚, and arguably England鈥檚, history: The killing of one queen by another, her cousin. Mary, Queen of Scots is perhaps best known for the manner of her execution 鈥� sanctioned by Elizabeth I. But offers insights into the intense turmoil which infused the first twenty five years of her life; exile, widowhood, the brutal murder of her Secretary David Rizzio, the violent death of her second husband, Lord Darnley, and her marriage to the Earl of Bothwell, with whom she was implicated in . 锘�

Forced to abdicate in her favour of her son (King James VI of Scotland and James I of England) Mary escaped to England, dressed as an ordinary woman, and never saw Scotland, or her son again. This striking regal Queen, 5ft 11 inches tall, multilingual, cultured, musical, and a lover of books, could not navigate the way to restore her power- a Roman Catholic in a Protestant land, the centrifugal force of a religious storm.

It is wonderful to see a letter she wrote from France to her mother, Mary of Guise, aged just eight, signed, 鈥測our very humble and obedient daughter, Mary , and then to juxtapose that with the inventory of books, ornaments and masquing clothes she left behind when she fled to England. The exquisite include a gold filigree necklace of pomander beads, and a double-sided priceless cameo pendant depicting Mary herself.

One of the most beautiful exhibits is an enamelled gold necklace said to have been presented by Mary to her most faithful lady-in-waiting, Mary Seton. Another of the exhibits is a fascinating satirical placard depicting Mary as a mermaid - a symbol, then, of prostitution - and Bothwell as a hare, part of his family crest, referring to their alleged adulterous relationship. The little card was sent to Elizabeth I鈥檚 Ministers by an English spy.

The large-scale Marian Hanging comes to Scotland from the V&A for the first time 鈥� made up of embroidered panels on a green velvet background, mainly worked by Mary when she was held by the Earl of Shrewsbury, her principal gaoler, together with Shrewsbury鈥檚 wife, Bess of Hardwicke. In the panels Mary interprets her life, including her marriage to the Dauphin, and to Darnley, and the central piece contains Latin inscription which translates as, 鈥淰irtue Flourishes by Wounding.鈥�

I toured the exhibition for The Review Show鈥檚 Edinburgh Festival Special in the company of , the playwright and poet whose wonderful play Mary Queen of Scots had her Head Chopped Off did much to revive conversation and argument about The Queen that Liz described as one of Scotland鈥檚 most enduring myths.

Find out more about the 锘縠xhibition in .