Mary Stuart was born on December 8, 1542 at Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian, Scotland. Mary was the only legitimate daughter of King James V of Scotland and his second wife Mary de Guise. James V learned of his daughter's birth while on his deathbed at Falkland Palace, where he laid hopeless after an agonizing defeat by the British at Solway Moss. Many believed that Mary's birth on the Immaculate Conception, a feast day of the Virgin Mary, was a good omen; however, her father felt otherwise and said, "It come wi' a lass, it gang wi' a lass." This meant that James V's dynasty started by a woman, Marjory Bruce, would end with the reign of his daughter. James V died six days after the birth of his daughter. Mary was crowned Queen of Scots at nine months old.
             Mary was betrothed at a young age to Edward VI of England, the son of Henry VIII. This betrothal was a treaty between the King of England and the Regents of Scotland in hope to end the constant feuding and warring between the two countries. However, Henry VIII still pushed his armies further north into Scotland. Also, Henry VIII encouraged the assassination of Cardinal Beaton, a great Scottish patriot. This angered the Scots, and many began to oppose the betrothal of Mary and Edward. These feelings of ill-will toward the English influenced the Scottish Parliament to annul the proposed marriage.
             In July 1548, Mary was sent to France, the homeland of her mother, because the Scottish Parliament agreed to the marriage between Mary and the son of Henry II of Francis, Dauphin Francis. Mary set sail from Dumbarton Castle in order to avoid the English patrol ships in the channel. She sailed to France with the children of Scottish nobility, including the "Four Maries": Mary Fleming, Mary Seton, Mary Beaton, and Mary Livingstone. These four would remain with Mary throughout her life. They arrived in France in late August 15...