INTERESTING DISCOVERY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1984, 14 May 1875, Page 3

INTERESTING DISCOVERY.

' The London correspondent of the Ofcago Daily Times communicates the fo'lowing:— An historical discovery oi considerable interest has been made public by the discoverer—Mr John Stuart, of • the General' Register House, Edinburgh ' —in a book just published by him. Ita 1 title is "A Lqs't,Chapter in the History of Mary Queen of Scots Recovered.' Students of Scottish history, will recollect

that when it was considered necessary or desirable for Mary to marry Bothwell, the latter's marriage with Lady Jane Gordon, of the Huntley family, was annulled. To make quite sure, tho latter marriage was cancelled in both the Protestant and Eoman Catholic Courts, sufficient cause, according to the respective requirements of the different Courts, being brought forward. If, however, a Papal dispensation had been obtained in the first instance' for the marriage, it could not have been afterwards annulled in the Eoman Catholic Courts. As it was usual.for persons of rank in those days to obtain such a dispensation, its existenco had been firmly believed'in by many, and as strongly denied by the upholders of Mary's character. Dr Stuart has discovered tho dispensation, so that Bothwell's marriage with Mary was bigamous, and all the circumstances of the case,would seem to point to Mary having been aware of the fact. It is - well Miss Agnes Strickland departed this life before Dr Stuart published his book, which would hare .been a grievous blow to her. Dr Stuart, I may add, is an. antiquarian of note in Scotland and -secretary of the Antiquarian Society. His previous writings ' have gained him the" notice of: numbers of educated persons, from the Queen downwards; nnd 1 speak from personal knowledge when I say that he is not a man to publish statements for which he has not ample proof. ;