Mary, Queen of Scotland executed: Monarch uses ‘spiral lock’ technique to keep her last letter secret
An example of letter locking – where people double letters as envelopes to ensure the security of documents – the fallen monarch used a spiral locking process to seal a message is ” wills and last wills and the payment of martyrdom,” the study published on Friday said.
‘Strong and moving’
She used a series of intricate folding and slitting techniques to close the letter, which the researchers describe as “one of the most spectacular examples of spiral locking” in the paper.
A “powerful and moving” testimony, the letter could have been folded by the king himself while she was in her cell. According to the study, there were also smudges on the letter, which some historians say may be evidence of Mary’s tears staining the paper.
Mary became a political target during the reign of Elizabeth I, and was executed at the age of 44. Credit: Universal History Archives / Getty Images
“I asked for my papers, which they took away, so that I could execute my will, but I have not been able to restore anything to my use, or even get a leave of absence. to exercise my will freely or the letter reads: “The body is transferred after my death, as I wish, to your kingdom, where I have the honor of being queen, sister and your old ally”.
“I will be executed like a criminal at eight o’clock in the morning,” the letter added.
Since Mary did not have access to most of her possessions at the time, including her writing utensils, she would have had to cut the letter with a blade instead – and was probably assisted by her two waiting ladies, Jane Kennedy and Elizabeth Curled.
Lock letters
Mary used the spiral locking technique to seal the last letter she wrote before her execution. Credit: National Library of Scotland / Unlock History / British Library Journal
It played an important role in the “history of secret systems”, enabling “global correspondence in early modernity in essentially the same way as computer encryption underpinning technical communication.” number today,” the article said.
.