In October 1551, Mary of Guise the widow of James V of Scotland stayed a night in the castle as a guest of Sir Richard Cotton.
Queen Mary | Mary | Mary, Queen of Scots | Mary I of England | Mary J. Blige | Mary Shelley | Mary Poppins | Mary Pickford | Mary of Teck | RMS Queen Mary | Mary Magdalene | Mary Robinson | Mary Landrieu | Assumption of Mary | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Mary (mother of Jesus) | Mary-Kate Olsen | The Jesus and Mary Chain | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Mary Tyler Moore | Mary Stuart | Mary Hopkin | Peter, Paul and Mary | Mary Lou Retton | Mary II of England | Mary Froning | Mary Black | Mary Cassatt | Hail Mary | William and Mary |
William MacDowall with six carpenters built a stage of boards, a seat for Mary of Guise and the French ambassador Henri Cleutin, and a 'Convoy House', at the Greenside playfield, with the gallows, 'jebbettis,' used in the final scene.
There the Scottish lords held a consultation, and considering the time of year, the foul weather, and English preparations against them, decided not to attack Wark as Mary of Guise had instructed them.
A number of real historical characters appear in the novel, including Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox and Mary of Guise.
On 21 October 1545, Hugh's second son John wrote to the Queen Dowager, Mary of Guise from Cowthally Castle.
James Somerville wrote to Queen Regent of Scotland, Mary of Guise, from Cowthally Castle on 22 March 1554.
Louis de Lorraine (October 21, 1527, Joinville, Champagne – March 29, 1578, Paris) was the fourth son of Claude, Duke of Guise and Antoinette de Bourbon, and the younger brother of Charles of Guise, Cardinal of Lorraine, and Mary of Guise, queen consort of King James V of Scotland.
After the battle of Pinkie on 10 September 1547, Alexander travelled with the English Norroy Herald, Gilbert Dethick, carrying messages between the Privy Council of Scotland and Mary of Guise at Stirling Castle and Lord Hertford.
These were, for France; Mary of Guise's brother the Marquis de Mayenne; Louis Trémoille; Jean de Bourbon, Comte de Enghien; Francis de Montmorency; Jean d'Annebaut son of the Admiral of France; Francis of Vendôme, were sent to London.
Mary, Queen of Scots, the reigning monarch of the time, may not have wanted the Treaty to be ratified as she was heavily attached to France, having been its Queen Consort, and viewed the Lords of the Congregation as rebels against her mother Mary of Guise.