March 9, 1554

I am very tired. This was not an easy day. I, of course, had to sign the papers that make my mother Queen Regent, but there was the unpleasantness with Lord Arran. It has been discovered that Lord Arran, who was in charge of the treasury, the jewels, and the plate of the estates of Scotland, had been guilty of “defalcations”, which means stealing from the treasury when one is a guardian of that treasury. So first I signed the papers, and then Lord Arran was called in to the grand gallery. I sat in a special chair, the Chair of Estate with the emblems of both my father’s family, the Royal House of Stuart, and my mother’s, the de Guise family, the House of Lorraine. Over the Chair of Estate is the royal canopy. I had rehearsed with my uncles and my grandmama what I was to say. (And to think I had once worried about signing my name and dribbling ink! This was much harder.) But I spoke it well and in a strong voice. “Lord Arran, Duke of Châtelherault, as Queen of the Scots and instrument of the Queen Regent, my mother, I inform you that you are as of this day, this hour, and this minute discharged of your official duties as Lord Governor of the Estates of Scotland and ordered to make restitution to the estates, treasury of the jewels, and plate that you have taken without authority or permission. You are found by the Crown liable and responsible. The Queen Regent in her infinite mercy and the King of France, my own representative in this country, allow that you may keep your titles, but repayment with interest is demanded. Do you accept these requirements?”

“I do, Your Majesty.”

“Go thee to thy confessor and make your peace with our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, now that you have made peace with your Queen.”

This was my first royal act. I wish it had not been a “scolding”. I would have liked to have done something grand and wonderful, something that would improve the lot of a nation and not merely reprimand one greedy soul.

I had received from my dear mother a letter counselling me on Lord Arran. This was one that I was not supposed to show to my uncle. So she provided another to show him. It seems my mother feels that there are some treacherous people in the court who might try to intervene and plot on the Lord’s behalf. She cautions me to be aware. As she always does in her letters, she concludes with the words concerning how a sovereign must always proceed with caution and circumspection, and never on sheer impulse.