First known letter by King James VI of Scotland to go on display
The display offers a special look into the life of the king who became the first to unite the crowns of England and Scotland.Born on 19 June 1566 in Edinburgh Castle he became King of Scots when he was just 13 months old after his mother - Mary, Queen of Scots - was forced to abdicate.Described as a "shrewd ruler" he became King of England in 1603 following the death of Elizabeth I. He was then known as both James VI of Scotland and King James I of England. He died on 27 March 1625 and was succeeded by his second son, Charles.The documents going on display help tell his story from his early days through to his time ruling the much wider kingdom.
Among the papers going on show is a childhood "thank you" letter.In it, young James expresses gratitude to his guardian's wife, the Countess of Mar, for sending him fruit.Dr Alan Borthwick, head of medieval and early modern records at NRS, said: "These records are rarely seen in public."They help us understand James's remarkable story, from becoming king of Scots as a baby, his mother's exile, his childhood and going on to become the first monarch to rule Scotland, England and Ireland."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
James Maddison spotted on crutches as Thomas Frank gives worrying injury update on Tottenham star
JAMES MADDISON was spotted on crutches after manager Thomas Frank issued a worrying update on his latest knee injury. The midfielder was carried off on a stretcher as Spurs drew 1-1 with Newcastle in Seoul - where Son Heung-Min bid farewell to fans. 5 5 5 Maddison sustained the problem in a routine challenge with Anthony Elanga in the 83rd minute. The 28-year-old instantly knew something was wrong as he put his hands on his head, waved to the bench and then crumpled in a heap, before being carted away. Maddison had only just returned from a knee ligament problem sustained in May and was seen on crutches leaving the stadium in South Korea. Manager Frank revealed: "We're pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before. "I think sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal. That's what we got today. "It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players. "First we had the walkaround and then the team-mates gathered around and he was emotional. In the changing room it was more of the same. "I just said a few things but not much because it's about Sonny and then he said a few things. It was beautiful." The injury overshadowed what looks to be Son's final game as a Tottenham player - after he announced plans to leave the club. Son - linked with a move to MLS with Los Angeles FC - has become a legend of the North London side following his ten-year stay. His press conference revelation meant the friendly against Eddie Howe's Alexander Isak-less Toon was always going to be more about a Son love-in than the action on the pitch. Actor Park Seo-Joon, star of Oscar-winning Parasite and a close pal of Son, gave a touching tribute to his mate before kick-off from the centre circle, claiming the people of South Korea could not sleep after Son's exit-plan announcement. Chairman Daniel Levy shook Son's hand as the two teams lined up, along with all the players, while Magpies star Anthony Gordon gave the Spurs skipper a big hug. A trumpet in the crowd played the tune 'Nice one Sonny' song, to which the 66,000 fans added the words, while 'Hey Jude' was belted out over the loudspeaker, allowing fans to change the eponymous words to 'Sonny'. Brennan Johnson even did Son's trademark camera-shot celebration after giving Spurs an early lead, much to the delight of his outgoing team-mate. The hope had been that Son could cap the occasion with a goal, but unfortunately, he did not have any chances to make it happen, as Harvey Barnes' banger on 38 minutes sealed a draw. Son's number was up in the 64th minute and the players on both sides formed an impromptu guard of honour as he came off. The 33-year-old, who capped ten years at the club in May by finally winning a trophy with the Europa League triumph, hugged everyone on the Spurs bench as he came off. Frank revealed: "I think it's very likely Sonny's last game because it's very close." 5 5
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- The Guardian
Famous faces: Australia's Martin Kantor portrait prize finalists
This black and white photograph depicts artist Hoda Afshar, whose acclaimed work has significantly shaped contemporary visual culture in Australia. Photographed on analogue film, resisting digital immediacy. The double exposure introduces a layered visual language reflecting identity as shifting, contingent and multiple. Photograph: David Rosetzky Peter Singer AC is best known for his work in bioethics and his role as one of the intellectual founders of the modern animal rights movement. In this portrait, inspired by The Tears of Saint Peter by Juan Bautista Maino, Human and non-human are depicted at equal height. Photograph: Petrina Hicks This portrait captures Yual Reath, a Ballarat athlete whose story transcends sport. At 24 he represented Australia at the Paris Olympic Games and continues to compete at the highest level. His journey from a hopeful immigrant boy to an elite athlete embodies the relentless pursuit of dreams. Photograph: Ian Kemp From Queen Elizabeth II, Nick Cave, Cate Blanchett, Polly Borland's portraits are unforgettable. Polly costumed as a silhouette beneath a flying cape conjures the super-heroic, the oracle, trickster – all herself. 'This portrait is not a mirror,' says photographer and friend Bronwyn Kidd, 'it is a myth unfolding.' Photograph: Bronwyn Kidd John Gollings is an Australian architectural photographer. This portrait was created in John's final days in his studio building, in front of a photo of his hand taken by his son Gus. Photograph: Suzanne Phoenix 'The night before the shoot, I watched Troye Sivan's music videos with my six-year-old daughter, Sidney,' says photographer Mia McDonald. 'She adored theatricality.' The chosen setup, comprised of just McDonald and her assistant Arnaud gave space to be intimate. Outside, a line of about 150 people were all waiting to catch a glimpse of Troye Sivan. Photograph: Mia McDonald Environmentalist, doctor and former politician Bob Brown stands on the stump of a giant eucalyptus regnant in the southern forests of Lutruwita, Tasmania. Bob has been fighting for the end of native forest logging in Australia for many years, and even in his 80s continues to do so. Photograph: Matthew Newton Anne Zahalka is one of Australia's most highly regarded photo-media artists, with a career spanning 40 years. Her practice deconstructs familiar scenes, re-presenting them to allow alternative narratives that reflect on cultural diversity and the climate crisis. Photographer Joy Mei En Lai's portraits reflect a direct connection with her subjects: intimate, engaged and affirming their accomplished creative careers. Photograph: Joy Mei En Lei Tim Winton is one of Australia's most revered literary voices, whose work's, including Cloudstreet, Dirt Music, Breath and his latest novel Juice have profoundly shaped the nation's cultural and artistic identity. Winton stands as a pillar of contemporary Australian storytelling – introspective, unpretentious, and deeply attuned to place. Photograph: Adam Ferguson Poet and multidisciplinary artist and 2020 NSW Aboriginal woman of the year Kirli Saunders (OAM) alongside musician and illustrator, Mark Chester Harding who have come together to form Cooee. The project brings together Kirli's poetry and Mark's music, with both artists also producing visual works under the Cooee name. Photograph: TW Baker Callum Linnane, a principal artist with the Australian Ballet, was born and grew up in Ballarat and entered the Australian Ballet School at a young age. Callum has gone on to dance so many of the leading roles in the classical and contemporary repertoire and recently premiered the role of Oscar Wilde in a newly created work, Oscar by lauded choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon. 'Our portrait session was a beautiful opportunity to share past, present moment and future dreams,' says photographer Simon Dow. Photograph: Simon Dow Benjamin Law captured in a moment of precarious equilibrium by photographer Dane Beesley, seemingly on the verge of toppling yet utterly balanced and confident. The image is a visual metaphor for Law's multifaceted career and public persona. His work frequently pushes boundaries, challenging conventional thinking and inviting audiences to consider perspectives they might not have otherwise encountered. Photograph: Dane Beesley Tajette O'Halloran was commissioned to photograph Missy Higgin's album campaign for The Second Act. 'The intention was less about creating traditional portraits and more about documenting a moment of transformation.' says O'Halloran. 'It was an opportunity to capture a woman in the midst of an unraveling, quietly sitting with the weight of her own evolution.' Photograph: Tajette O'Halloran The self-portrait captured in motion-blur, overlaid with childhood memories, printed on to LD45 foam, and hand-sculpted to echo emotional distortion and displacement. Red threads spill from severed hands, symbolising a quiet unravelling, being handcuffed by grief and inability to stop what has been lost or still to come. 'This work reflects the lasting impact of migrating from Iran to Australia, losing family and friends, and the slow disconnection from my origin,' says photographer Forough Yavari. Photograph: Forough Yavari Tim Rogers, frontman of iconic rock band You Am I. Beyond music, he has contributed to Australian arts as an author, playwright, and actor, enriching the country's creative landscape. 'My hope with this shoot was to create a bold and unpolished portrait, inspired by You Am I's early grunge aesthetic,' says photographer Thérèse Maher. Photograph: Thérèse Maher Ken Seaton is a poet that has written and published a mountain of work. He has also organised more than 2,000 poetry events in Melbourne. Photographer Alan Mitchell first saw Ken in a late night folk and poetry venue in Melbourne in the late 70s. 'He did not recite his words, he performed them,' says Mitchell. 'This portrait is my visual attempt to represent Ken's longevity and lifetime passionate dedication to words.' Photograph: Alan Mitchell Renowned Indigenous activist, writer, actor and academic, Prof Gary Foley, photographed by long-term friend Rod McNicol. 'A year or so ago the Indigenous voice referendum came and went,' says Foley. 'This portrait of Gary was made in that post-referendum period, and it reflects something of the gravitas that underlied our reaction to the emphatically negative response that the voice referendum received.' Photograph: Rod McNicol Having long been an admirer of Melbourne-based artist and lecturer Harry Nankin's work, photographer Naomi Herzog was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet him. 'He talked about various ideas he was working on and I was given a glimpse into some of the work in his studio. Using one of his images as a backdrop, I worked with the strong lines of Harry's profile to capture this portrait.' Photograph: Naomi Herzog A portrait of Merryn Schriever, the only female director of a fine art auction house in Australia. Merryn's extensive knowledge of Australian contemporary art, building knowledge of and strong relationships with artists and collectors helped her break the glass ceiling in a male-dominated auction world. 'I have photographed Merryn with a rare collection of ceramic 'Wally Birds' which had surfaced in Australia in the 1870s,' says photographer Kellie Leczinska. Photograph: Kellie Leczinska
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
My boyfriend was a CIA agent... it came with a slew of glamorous perks but also some VERY strict rules
A woman who dated a CIA agent has laid bare the glamorous perks that came with being in a relationship with a government official - as well as the strict rules she had to follow. Nyla Caselli, 23, based in California, said she met the man, named James, after he approached her at the airport and asked to take her to dinner. From that night on, Nyla says she was whisked into a lifestyle of private jets, chauffeurs, designer handbags, and spontaneous bank transfers, including a $40,000 payment simply because 'he missed her.' She was soon introduced to 'the fast life' of elite hotels and whirlwind weekends abroad... but dating a CIA agent also came with its downsides. James had intense regulations when it came to privacy, including no social media, no photos, and no personal questions. Nyla explained exclusively to the Daily Mail, 'From day one, James had very strict boundaries. No photos - ever. No tagging him in anything. 'I wasn't even allowed to post when or where we were if he was nearby. I had to turn off my phone sometimes.' Nyla recalled James using 'encrypted phones,' and doing 'security checks' whenever he'd enter a public building. 'He used a phone with no traceable apps, and sometimes would only communicate on burner numbers,' she continued. 'We'd enter restaurants through back doors. He always sat facing the exits. Even in hotels, he'd sweep the room for cameras. 'He once made me leave my bag in a separate car just to "be safe."' But he also loved to spoil her. He whisked her away on trips to places like Morocco and Switzerland and moved her into a $10,000-a-month penthouse in downtown Los Angeles. At first, James kept his line of work a secret from Nyla and she believed he was just a 'rich businessman.' She explained, 'At the time, I didn't question it. But now I realize I was basically living in a spy movie. 'He said [all the rules] was for "operational security," and at the time, I just thought he was a privacy freak… but it turns out, he was living a double life. 'I thought maybe he was in tech or finance, but deep down, something always felt… off.' After three months of his secretive behavior, security details, and constant travel, Nyla said she jokingly asked him, 'What are you, CIA?' and he went 'stone cold.' That's when he dropped the bombshell that he did indeed work for the US government. While she first thought he was joking, Nyla said that suddenly, 'everything made sense.' And knowing the truth about his profession only added an extra 'thrill' to their relationship. 'It was like living in a fantasy. There were spontaneous first-class trips, dinners where the room got cleared out just for us, and this underlying feeling that no one could touch me. It was definitely a high,' she dished. But with the life of luxury also came a fierce 'loneliness' as she had to tell lies to her own friends and couldn't share anything on social media. 'I was a ghost in my own life sometimes - living the dream, but unable to wake anyone else up to it,' she recalled. 'I wasn't able to post or share anything about my life with the world and I had to hide everything. 'There were nights I didn't know where he was or when he'd come back. It was glamorous, but it was also extremely isolating.' Though things ended a year in after James was reassigned overseas, Nyla said she learned a lot from their relationship. And in the end, she concluded that she'll always remember James with affection. 'Now I'm hyper-aware of my surroundings. He taught me to never assume I'm not being watched, and honestly, in today's world, that advice has aged very well,' she reflected.
