Queen of Scots return?

[Ozman1944]

Saw this on News International; Looked intersting.


Queen Mary's body 'should return'

Mary fled to England after being forced to abdicate
A Nationalist MSP has called for the remains of Mary Queen of Scots to be returned to Scotland.

The Catholic monarch's body has lain at Westminster Abbey in London since shortly after she was executed on the orders of her cousin Elizabeth in 1587.

South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame is to make a motion to the Scottish Parliament later this week demanding the body be repatriated.

Composer James MacMillan and Lib Dem MSP Hugh O'Donnell backed the call.

Ms Grahame also plans to write to culture minister Linda Fabiani urging the Scottish Government to support the campaign.

"She [Mary Queen of Scots] was an iconic historical Scots figure and ultimately the victim of English plotting," Ms Grahame said. Mary Queen of Scots is undoubtedly held in very great and affectionate esteem by Scots Catholics who admire her religious devotion and fidelity to the church

Catholic Church in Scotland spokesman

"Given the House of Stuart's association with Falkland Palace, a place where Mary is believed to have spent her happiest days, that would appear to be an appropriate place to inter her remains."

Mary fled to England after being forced to abdicate in 1567.

She was held prisoner by Elizabeth I, found guilty of treason and executed at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire 20 years later.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said: "Mary Queen of Scots is undoubtedly held in very great and affectionate esteem by Scots Catholics who admire her religious devotion and fidelity to the church.

"As such, there would be significant interest among many Catholics in any plan to repatriate her remains."

Westminster Abbey said the body of Mary Queen of Scots was taken there at the "express instructions" of her son, and it takes its responsibility very seriously.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Reason 122 why I moved to the USA...

In 1612 Mary's body was removed from Peterborough Cathedral and re-buried at Westminster by order of her son, James VI of Scotland and I of England. Had Mary outlived Elizabeth she would have lost no time in abandoning Scotland for London. There she would have ascended the throne of England as Mary II, lived out her days, and been buried in Westminster.

Sorry folks, she should stay where she is.

[BoldHighlander]

In 1612 Mary's body was removed from Peterborough Cathedral and re-buried at Westminster by order of her son, James VI of Scotland and I of England. Had Mary outlived Elizabeth she would have lost no time in abandoning Scotland for London. There she would have ascended the throne of England as Mary II, lived out her days, and been buried in Westminster.

Sorry folks, she should stay where she is.

I would agree.
An interesting story nonetheless.

[Galician]

Not to hijack this thread, but locally something similar was done which might illustrate the value of transporting the remains of the long-deceased.

Here in New York, about 30 miles north of the city, there is a small community of nursing Sisters who specialize in caring for indigent cancer patients. They were founded by the daughter of the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Apparently, Hawthorne moved to England for a while. It was while living there that his wife and another daughter died and were buried. Last year, the Sisters carried out a long-term wish of their foundress and had their remains brought from England to be buried with those of Nathaniel.

So some people really do care about where the bodies are buried.

On a more personal note, whose connection came only as I was writing this: A few weeks ago, I had to bury my mother. The fact that her remains were interred with those of her parents gave me a lot of comfort.

[Highland Logan]

So some people really do care about where the bodies are buried.

Yes I think a great many do, but this sounds like a matter for Scots to deside, and is more than a little polticial and as such anyone not living in Scotland should stay out of it... it's their business.

Frank

[macwilkin]

This reminds me of the ongoing feud between Missouri and Kentucky over the remains of Daniel and Rebecca Boone.

Regards,

Todd

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

... this sounds like a matter for Scots to deside... and as such anyone not living in Scotland should stay out of it... it's their business.

Frank

Sorry Frank, but I'd have to disagree-- suppose a journalist in Aberdeen decided that, as he was born in Scotland, the body of John Paul Jones should be removed from the U.S. Naval Academy and re-buried in Scotland?

The same applies to Mary. As the dowager Queen of France it could be argued (by French monarchists) that she should be buried next to her husband, Francois II. In France.

The reality is that Mary considered herself to be the de jure, if not the de facto, Queen of England. To underscore that point her son had her dug up, and dragged (with full ceremony) to London to be re-buried at Westminster.

Really, given the generally anti-royalist views voiced by many Scots-- especially in the media and the Scottish Assembly, I'd have thought the last thing most Scots would want would be the body of a long deceased Royal dragged across the border and planted at some to-be-determined tourist destination.

Yours,
formerly of post code EH7 1UH

[Woot22]

I have a hard time believing that UK citizens, most of whom I imagine are Protestant, would be OK with spending their tax dollars on this. It is an interesting idea none the less. But again I just cannot see this happening.

[pdcorlis]

Fascinating idea - I am interested in hearing from our brothers and sisters in Scotland and England. I suspect my personal opinion is both unimportant and unnecessary.

[Phil]

Westminster Abbey said the body of Mary Queen of Scots was taken there at the "express instructions" of her son, and it takes its responsibility very seriously.

Her son was James VI of Scotland and 1st of England and identified very much with his new role. There seems to be a fashion, particularly in the catholic church, for digging up people and re-interring them elsewhere. Something similar is planned for Cardinal Newman who is buried in the same grave as his lifelong companion, Ambrose St. John. I really think it best that they remain where they are.