Day 66.5/365 Off With Her Head

On this date, 422 years ago, Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded for taking a hit off a bong.


NO NO NO, wait, that's the last post (and a warning to you Michael Phelps).

Mary I was beheaded for being herself, meaning she was next in line to Elizabeth I's throne of England. At the time religion occupied way too much of people's time, and the Protestant Elizabeth was nervous about the Catholic support for Mary (as well as the Catholic opinion that Mary was the true Queen, and Elizabeth was an imposter).

While referred to as "Queen of Scots", Mary had actually been raised in France, and Scotland was only the jumping off spot for reclaiming her throne.

The definitive book on Mary is by Antonia Fraser, Mary, Queen of Scots, and it's a story full of treasonous plots, intrigue and mystery, child brides, castles with dungeons, "rough wooing", doomed love affairs, and of course, beheadings and at least one murder by explosion.

I just had to mention the anniversary because we love all things Scottish, and Braveheart is only the tip of the iceberg.