The Secret Code of Mary, Queen of Scots
Clip: Season 22 Episode 9 | 1m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
As a child Mary loved writing in code. As a captive queen, it became essential to her survival.
Since childhood, Mary Stuart had enjoyed writing in cipher. Later in life, as Queen of Scots and a prisoner in England for nearly 19 years, the skill became essential to her survival.
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SECRETS OF THE DEAD is made possible, in part, by public television viewers.
The Secret Code of Mary, Queen of Scots
Clip: Season 22 Episode 9 | 1m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
Since childhood, Mary Stuart had enjoyed writing in cipher. Later in life, as Queen of Scots and a prisoner in England for nearly 19 years, the skill became essential to her survival.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipFrom an early age, Mary must learn how Europe's powerful dynasties communicate in secret.
-Mary is being taught how do you send secret messages.
We see in her letters to her mother, her getting quite excited about this new skill.
-"I would have written to you in cipher, but my secretary told me that there was no need and that he would write to you in cipher himself."
-Your entry-level code would just be giving alternative symbols for people's names.
Then there are more complicated codes where each letter of the alphabet has a substitute symbol, and more complicated still are ones where you would have false signals put in there as well.
-It makes it much harder for anyone to read it should it fall into, you know, unwanted hands.
-It's really essential to doing any kind of sensitive politics in this period.
-The coding systems that Mary used in her letters changed constantly, evolving in complexity, making them almost impossible to decipher... ♪
How Mary, Queen of Scots Smuggled Letters Past Her Guards
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S22 Ep9 | 2m 2s | To smuggle her encrypted messages beyond the prison walls, Mary must rely on unconventional methods. (2m 2s)
The Marriage that Destroyed Mary Stuart
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S22 Ep9 | 2m 33s | Mary weds Darnley to secure her crown, but her perfect match soon becomes a dangerous mistake. (2m 33s)
Preview | Cracking the Queen's Code
Video has Closed Captions
Preview: S22 Ep9 | 32s | See how secret letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots, were finally decoded. (32s)
The Secret Letters of Mary, Queen of Scots Finally Decoded
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S22 Ep9 | 1m 53s | After months decoding mysterious letters, codebreakers realize they may belong to Mary Stuart. (1m 53s)
Why Mary Wore Red to her Execution Death
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S22 Ep9 | 1m 32s | Moments before her execution, Mary had one last message to send to the world. (1m 32s)
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SECRETS OF THE DEAD is made possible, in part, by public television viewers.