2110-6-5-3

Eoligarry, Isle of Barra.

11 YORK PLACE, EDINBURGH

16 June. [1933?]

Dear Mr Buchan,

Forgive me for my rude delay in acknowledging your extremely kind letter about Queen Mary. It was not for lack of appreciation - but I got married a week ago, &, in addition, the weather here has been so magnificent that ink & paper seemed to have no place in the universe.

I was peacock-proud to have

your approval: when the author of Montrose accepts a piece of historical interpretation, it means something. It was only after planning, in a lazy way, a kind of guilty-but-with- recommendations-for-mercy interpretation of Mary that I found the evidence simply wouldn't fit in; & I was compelled to re-plan & take the view I did. I expected - & I've got - the usual accusations of special pleading, but your approval shoulders them out & fortifies me in my faith. - And how charming of you to write from Holyrood House!

Very gratefully & sincerely,

Eric Linklater.