MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS 1542-1587

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=mary+queen+of+scots&sa=X&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ved=0ahUKEwia05aHv9PbAhUD3IMKHYfTCqsQiR4I2wE&biw=1255&bih=861

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 – 1587) was well known in her life-time for her skill at many forms of needlework, including quilting. It is thought she learned these skills while growing up in the court of Queen Catherine de Medici, her future mother-in-law.  Much of her work survives and is currently owned by the Duke of Devonshire (Ickis, 1949; Osler, 1987). Read almost any book on her and there will be comments about Mary doing needlework as gifts, for herself, or asking for supplies during her captivity by Elizabeth I. 

Mary, Queen of Scots was recognized as very emotional and not planning for the long term.  She married Lord Darnley in July 1565, whom she very quickly tired of because of his drinking and “whoring”.  However, in her political world, she needed to attempt to make peace with him, and in August 1566, she gave him a “magnificent bed……with its quilt of blue taffeta” (Weir, 2003; pg. 166-167). This same quilt possibly turns up again in one of the longest running mysteries in European history, “how was Darnley murdered and who was responsible”? There is some current thought that he actually was suffocated with the quilt that was found next to his body (Weir, 2003; pg. 283). I do not usually think of quilts as murder weapon.

Sources:

Ickis, M. (1949).  Standard Book of Quilt Making and Collecting. New York: Dover Publication.

Osler, D (1987). Traditional British Quilts.  London:  Batsford Ltd.

            Weir, A. (2003). Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley.  New York: Ballantine.

Update on 11/13/2021: 

In the book, Threads of Life by Clare Hunter, there is an entire chapter of Mary, Queen of Scots. On pages 26-27: After the breakup of Mary and Darnley in 1566-67, he moved to separate lodgings in Edinburgh's Kirk O' Fields. According to Mary's inventory the relocation of textiles from the royal store included velvet drapes stitched in gold and silver. Darnley's bed was furnished with "black velvet cloth of state, a canopy of yellow taffeta, a green velvet tablecloth, two quilts, and various......"