The Other Queen, by Philippa Gregory
I enjoy the way Ms. Gregory writes the thoughts of others, others of so long ago. It fascinates me that Mary, Queen of Scots (imprisoned at this writing by house arrest and Queen Elizabeth, her cousin) would feel the way she does:
“I am only twenty-six years old and I have lived three lifetimes already! I deserve the highest place in the world and yet I occupy the lowest. But still I am a queen, I am a queen three times over. I was born Queen of Scotland, I was crowned Queen of France, and I am heir to the crown of England…I am a queen: different rules apply for queens. I have had to endure events as a woman that I would never even name as a queen. I would not stoop to acknowledge them..I will never complain of it. As a queen my person must be inviolate, my body is always holy, my presence is sacred. Shall I lose that powerful magic for the benefit of moaning on about my injuries? Shall I trade majesty itself for the pleasure of a word of sympathy? Would I prefer to command, or do I long to whimper about my wrongs? Shall I order men, or shall I weep at the fireside with other injured women? Of course. The answer to this is simple. Bien sur. No one must ever pity me…I cannot be robbed of myself, I cannot mislay my own divinity. I may be abused but I will always deny it. Whether I am seated on a throne or wearing rags, I am still a queen…I am ordained, I am chosen by God. How can they be so dense as to not see it?…I am queen till death. It is not an office, it is not an occupation, it is an inheritance of blood.”
I enjoy Mary’s take on life. She certainly had strength of character. I admire that! Oh to have just a little of that strength…
It's All About the Journey 