The eighth day of Februari 1587. My Majesty, Cousin Elizabeth, They will say that my last letter is the one to Henri, my dearest brother-in-law, King of France. We are close, but not the way we were at times, Elizabeth. The letter to him will be about the final housekeeping for my staff, it will become my last political act, ultimately my testament to the future. The inner truth resides within me, my dear cousin. I know, how can I think of you as dear after your cruelty these past decades? Years that are inherently bent and twisted, distorted beyond any recognition. Every year became a lifetime yet fleeting and gruelling. I wake on the four-poster bed, the heavy drapes a cocoon from my life, my fate, my death. The majestic red material in tired folds, the red blood of martyrs. Do you want to make one of me, cousin? Cousin, what a sweet word of family. The familiar, a close relation and we know each other well. Don’t we? As I open my eyes in the morning, the dreams of our childish giggles echo into the bedchamber. Do you recall the games of tag, darting between the roses in the gardens, around the lakes? Of course, being older, I often let you win. Maybe I should have overruled you already then? My kindness has perhaps become my downfall. Those were the times of joy, before the tragedies in our lives, when our chortles bubbled up to life-affirming laughter. ‘Most unladylike,’ our guardians reprimanded us, as once again we ran away to play on the manicured lawns. The day you sequestered me in castle after castle, year after year, you banished the laughter out of us, out of our people, our country. As a sovereign, I thought I would one day visit these illustrious habitations, just never as a regal prisoner, wanting for nothing, wanting for everything. We never stood a chance, your majesty. History has ruled our every step even before our conception. Blame! What a simplistic, naive concept, and I don’t hold it in any regard. None lies with you. Yet the fault is all yours. I hold you close in my heart, dear cousin. I hate you with every fibre of my being, you contemptuous Queen. My legacy will haunt you and your England forever. This, Elizabeth, is my last letter to you and to you alone. It may not survive me but it is writ. Yours grievously, Your Cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots
©Annika Perry
‘My True Final Letter’ was inspired by an article about Mary, Queen of Scots’ actual last letter on display at the National Library of Scotland. Why would her final writing be to her brother-in-law when surely her cousin, Elizabeth, Queen of England, must be first and foremost in her mind?
For over two decades, Elizabeth had kept Mary as an enforced ‘guest’ across the country. Mary reigned as Queen of Scots from 1561 to 1567. However, she was forced to abdicate and flee to England after a rebellion by the protestant Scottish lords. Elizabeth, Queen of England, felt that her cousin threatened her position, yet for years managed to keep her alive in captivity. However, in February 1587, Mary was implicated in a plot to overthrow Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth’s ministers insisted she sign her cousin’s death warrant.
Note: Photographs from the National Library of Scotland
Annika Perry 
This was a tumultuous and terrifying time in history. No one was safe. Well done, Annika.
This is brilliant, Annika. Although they never met, I liked the doomed Mary imagining they played together as children. How cool that Mary’s actual last letter is on display at the National Library of Scotland. I would love to see it.
There is real drama here!
Well done Annika.
As a historian, loved reading your take on the letter. Even though she didn’t actually write to Elizabeth, I’m sure she was on her mind till her last moments.
Pooja, it’s great that you liked this so much. I was trying to get a sense of the era through in my choice of words and phrasing. Do you specialise in a certain area of history? Although I don’t write much historical fiction it is a genre I am increasingly drawn to. Yes, I think Elizabeth, her cousin who had signed her death warrant, would very much be on Mary’s mind.
WOW Annika… You wrote a powerful last letter in the wake of this historical event.. This again showing how those who rule, and control fear losing their positions, so they will go to any lengths to stop others, including their cousins for speaking out against them..
Thank you too for sharing a part of our history xx
Sue, thank you so much for your thoughtful and thought-provoking comment. It is a vicious cycle of the brutality of those in power at times, clinging to their position at nearly any price. Supposedly it was not a decision Elizabeth took lightly, yet one she agreed to all the same. I am drawn to history and increasingly to historical fiction – maybe it will become more of an influence in my writing?!
I’m not sure if it was better to be noble or peasant in those days.
I’m not sure either!! Being a peasant was equally fraught depending on the ruler at the time!
Very emotional storytelling in this tale! It is a sad tale in respect to ‘cousins’, a term that surely evokes a tender-hearted relationship. (Like brothers and sisters, cousins are a child’s first friends.)
Absolutely, it is an evocative term for close familial relationship – yes, often first friends and most trusted. Linda, thank you for your thoughtful comment and glad you liked the letter.
Happy New Year Annika! Welcome back. It is great to read your stories again. Best wishes.
A very Happy New Year to you, Ernie and hope you’re having a good start! It’s wonderful you’re enjoying a chance to read my stories – it’s great to post some here again. Wishing you a good rest of the week.
A fantastic post about two women who were living figurehead and in spite of all luxury and power missed out on just being. Except in the touching part when Mary talks about their play and games, especially in the “ manicured gardens”.
it all through you feel the dislike of each other. The ending is grim but your telling makes it come very close. I knew the bare history but now I feel I know the women .
miriam
Miriam, thank you so much for your wonderful in-depth comment. I love how you are touched by the personal relationship between Mary and Elizabeth – I think that was pivotal in both their lives. From childhood friends when young, the cousins became effectively bitter enemies until one doomed the other to death. It means a lot that you felt moved by my piece and I’m glad that it brought the women closer for you.
Well done, Annika. Agreed, I would think her last letter would be to her cousin, the one who could change her fate, relent, even to the very last moment.
One does wonder if she was waiting, expecting a last minute reprieve. Mary’s emotions must have been in a turmoil and I imagine she would want to give a voice to her thoughts of those last years of captivity. It’s great you liked this piece, Lynette.
This is very emotionally compelling and I love the way the letter goes through childhood, her captivity and then to her anger. Brilliant.
Thank you so much, Georgina. When I read a transcript of her actual letter it just felt too cool and collected at such an emotional time, hours from her execution. It was interesting to try and get inside her head to write this.
Ahh, interesting and potentially so much control of emotion but sounds rather like the way our late Queen controlled her emotions because of her position.
I totally agree, Georgina! It must be difficult to live a whole life under such a microscope with emotions tightly reined in. Even in a personal missive as this one imagines it is nigh impossible to give feelings absolute freedom.