{"product_id":"mary-queen-of-scots-secretary-william-maitland-politician-reformer-and-conspirator-9781399001557","title":"Mary Queen of Scots' Secretary: William Maitland - Politician, Reformer and Conspirator","description":"Maitland was the most able politician and diplomat during the lifetime of Mary Queen of Scots. It was he who master-minded the Scottish Reformation by breaking the 'Auld Alliance' with France, which presaged Scotland's lasting union with England.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlthough he gained English support to defeat French troops defending Mary's Scottish throne, he backed her return to Scotland, as the widowed Queen of France. His attempts to gain recognition for her as heir to the English crown were thwarted by her determined adherence to Catholicism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter her re-marriage, he spearheaded the plotting to bring down her objectionable husband, Lord Darnley, leading to his murder, after concluding that English and Scottish interests were best served by creating a Protestant regency for their son, Prince James. With encouragement from Cecil in England and the Protestant Lords in Scotland, he concocted evidence to implicate her in her husband's murder, resulting in her imprisonment and deposition from the Scottish throne.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite her escape to England, he remained personally loyal to her and attempted to conjure Scottish support for her restoration by backing her allies holding Edinburgh Castle on her behalf. When it fell in 1573, he resorted to suicide.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Pen and Sword History\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/09\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781399001557\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304","brand":"Robert Stedall","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52604512993461,"sku":"9781399001557","price":28.01,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/mary-queen-of-scots-secretary-william-maitland-politician-reformer-and-conspirator-9781399001557","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}