On this day in 1587Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringay Castle.

Mary had been imprisoned in England for the best part of twenty years, and had taken to depserate measures to regain her crown. A plot was discovered in 1586 which would involve a Catholic revolt and the assassination of Elizabeth. This sealed Mary's fate. At the time of her death, Mary was 44 and had outlived three husbands.

On the 8th February 1429a contingent of a thousand Scots, commanded by the brothers John and William Stuart, headed to the relief of the beleagured French garrison at Orleans. The expedition ended in disaster when the force was defeated by the English at Rouvray Saint Denis and both Stuarts were killed.

Today's recipe: a traditional Scots meal with a twist! Haggis-in-the-hole with neeps, tatties and onion gravy.