Why James V thought that the Stuart Dynasty was over!
"It came wi' a lass, and it shall pass wi' a lass"
Hi!
Welcome to the latest history blog article published on my Substack, for paying members. I’ve included a free extract from the article, below. This article is also published in my British History Patreon club
Extract from this article
“It came wi’ a lass and it will pass with a lass.”
On the 14th December 1542, James V of Scotland lay dying at Falkland Palace. Only a few days earlier he had been with his heavily pregnant wife, Marie of Guise, at Linlithgow Palace. On arriving at Falkland James took ill, suffering from cholera or dysentry. News reached him just in time, that his wife had given birth on 8th December and he had a new baby daughter, Mary. According to John Knox, James exclaimed “It came wi’ a lass and it will pass with a lass,” or in other words, it started with a female and it will end with a female. He was referring to the Stewart (also spelt Stuart) dynasty, but why was he convinced it would end with Mary and who was he referring to when he said “It came wi’ a lass?”British History is a reader-supported publication. To read the full, illustrated, article please become a paid member for £3.50.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to British History to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.