Evening star., 1937-07-03

ySoi Doflo tAiS 1 ioO' 40 q bildllh OllCl
ing for miraculous deliverance from
death, erected the abbey of the Holy
Rood or Cross, where future Kings
were ever welcome visitors. It was
James Nv, nearly four centuries later.
who gave the Holyrood monks a new
home and built a palace adjoining
their ancient abbey for his English
bride.
The charming consort Of King
George VI, before whom the elite of
social and official Scotland will make
obeisance next week, is the first Scot
tish Queen since Mary Stuart, and her
return to Edinburgh aWakens a proud
memory that has grown somewhat dim
except in her own country-the men,
ory that the son Of Mary and Darnley
James vi of Scotland, became the first
sovereign of the United Kingdom
True-the direct line of his descend
ants died out with the brother of Bon
ME Prince Charlie, but it was to Scot
land again that Great Britain had
meantime turned for her Georgian
Kings Princess Elizabeth Stuart
daughter of this same James VI, had
married Elector Frederick Of the Rhine
Palatinate in 1913 and founded the
Hanoverian dynasty, which was called
to England almost a hundred years
later on the death of Queen Anne.
The story of Princess Elizabeth be-
longs to European. rather than tc
British history. Like her famous
grandmother, Mary, Queen of Scots
she was tragic figure, knowing pow
erty and exile. She left the scene Of
Scottish history as bride of II, but
she had been christened in Holyrood
and until Margaret Rose Of York came
into the world at Glamis Castle in
1880 Elizabeth held the record of hav-
ing been the last princess of the blood
royal born on Scottish soil-and she
was in 1896.
RETWEEN 1851 and 1867 Holyrood' s
walls echoed to the light tread
and lighter laughter of Mary Queen OF
Scots. From Holyrood this fun-loving
girl-she was not yet 19. remember
when she came back from her beloved
France-loved to steal at night, dressed
as boy. to mingle with the crowd in
the HE" High street! Such pranks
despite their innocent intention. be-
came known and scandalized others
than Knox. although it was he who
did the scolding.
Mary's private suite Of rooms is still
reached by the narrow. winding stair
that communicated with Darnley's
apartment below. and guides today
point to the spot where Rizzio was
done to death before her Mortified ewes
Her marriage to Darnley took place
in Holyroods Chapel Royal as die
her later wedding to Boutwell,, and al
this latter event one of the guests was
Lord Glamis, an ancestor of today's
Queen Elizabeth.
Mary's father. King James V OF
Scotland, was born in Holyrood, and
Charles I, the martyr King. was an
other royal baby christened in the
chapel. Long after the tumult and
shouting Of these times had died. when
England and Scotland had fought the
last of their battles. Holyrood gave
sanctuary to an exiled King of France
A T HOLLYWOOD the curtain went
up on new era in world affairs
on March 26, 1903. 1t was a black
night. with high wind blowing over
Edinburgh. when an exhausted rider
spurred into the palace courtyard and
demanded immediate audience of the
King. The hour was late-lO of the
clock-bedtime in the age before arti-
fetal light was employed to turn the
long darkness into another day.
But the courtier who expostulated
with the guards stressed the urgency
Of his errand, and he was finally ad-
mitted to the presence of King James
vi. Dropping on bended knee and
kissing the hand of Mary Stuart s
son. Sir Roger Carey made his mo-
mentous announcement. Elizabeth
the great English Queen. had died at
Richmond three days before and had
at last named her Scottish relative