Captive Queen

The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots

Jade Scott

An expert historian on Mary, Queen of Scots draws on hundreds of her encrypted letters to paint a vivid portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures.

For almost two decades before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was a prisoner. From her chambers, she wrote countless letters, many encrypted using complex ciphers to prevent her communications from being intercepted. In this way, she used language to exert her will and her influence, even while incarcerated.

More than four hundred years after Mary’s death, the discovery of further encoded letters has led to renewed interest in the breadth of her correspondence while in captivity.

In Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots, Jade Scott draws on hundreds of these ground-breaking letters to create a vivid picture of one of history’s most fascinating personalities. She interprets Mary’s complex relationships with friends and enemies alike throughout the years of her imprisonment, illuminating Mary's strategic vision while bringing her captivity to life like never before.

Jade Scott, PhD, is a historian specializing in Mary, Queen of Scots and is an expert on her letters. She is a lecturer in historical linguistics at the University of Glasgow and an associate fellow of the Royal Historical Society, researching early modern Scottish women and their correspondence. Fascinated by Mary since she was a child, Jade was contacted by the DECRYPT Project to consult on the translations of Mary’s newly-decoded letters, which led to the writing of Captive Queen. Jade lives in Glasgow.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"Historian Scott draws on letters by Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), including 57 newly decoded, to create a detailed portrait of the nearly 20 years she spent in captivity. A thoroughly researched historical narrative." Kirkus Reviews

"A triumph compelling narrative. A true marriage of scholarly expertise and literary flair, this is a stunning debut." Nicola Clark, author of The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens