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Aside from the cathedral there is not much of interest, but if one could linger there is much worth seeing in the surrounding country. The village of Fotheringhay is only nine miles to the west. The melancholy connection of this little hamlet with the Queen of Scots brings many visitors to it every year, although there are few relics of Mary and her lengthy imprisonment now remaining.
Humfrey had to gather what he could from this letter, but he had no opportunity of speech with the prisoner on the remainder of that day, nor on the next, until after Lord Buckhurst and his followers had left Fotheringhay, bearing with them a long and most touching letter from the prisoner to Queen Elizabeth.
He had understood by the colour of the horse left at Nottingham which road to take, and at the hostel at Hull had encountered Gillingham, who directed him on to Mr. Heatherthwayte's. What he brought himself to tell of the last scene at Fotheringhay has been mostly recorded by history, and need not here be dwelt upon.
The pair moved very slowly together along the path which, having left the way to Southwick, ran along the very edge of the broad, winding river towards Fotheringhay. Until they had crossed the wide pasture-land and followed the bend of the stream Hamilton dare not emerge from his place of concealment. They might glance back and discover him.
Across the meadows, beyond the river, could be seen the lantern-tower of old Fotheringhay church, with the mound behind where once stood the castle where ill-fated Mary met her doom. And as the Baron's secretary watched, he saw that the foreigner's attitude was gradually changing from persuasive to threatening.
Cicely felt grateful to the Earl for his absence from Fotheringhay, and, though disappointed of her peaceful home evening, declared she would come up to the Lodge rather than lose sight of "mother."
Two or three retainers of higher degree came round him as he rode into the yard, and, while demanding his news, communicated their own, that my Lord was on his way to Fotheringhay to preside at the execution of the Queen of Scots. He could feel Cicely's shudder as he lifted her off her horse, and he replied repressively, "I am bringing my daughter from thence."
The interior is most imposing and the great church is rich in historical associations. Here is buried Catherine of Aragon, the first queen of Henry VIII, and the body of the unfortunate Queen of Scots was brought here after her execution at Fotheringhay. King James I, when he came to the throne, removed his mother's remains to Westminster Abbey, where they now rest.
Mournful and desolate indeed seemed the straggling little village where three centuries ago "a thousand witcheries lay felled at one stroke," one of the cruelest and most pitiful of the numberless tragedies which disfigure the history of England. From Fotheringhay we returned to the York road and followed it northward for about twenty miles.
Samuel Johnson Coventry Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom Belvoir Castle Charnwood Forest Groby and Bradgate Elizabeth Widvile and Lady Jane Grey Ulverscroft Priory Grace Dieu Abbey Ashby de la Zouche Langley Priory Leicester Abbey and Castle Bosworth Field Edgehill Naseby The Land of Shakespeare Stratford-on-Avon Warwick Kenilworth Birmingham Boulton and Watt Fotheringhay Castle Holmby House Bedford Castle John Bunyan Woburn Abbey and the Russells Stowe Whaddon Hall Great Hampden Creslow House.
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