Mary Queen of Scots was a keen needlewoman and whiled away much of her 19 years of imprisonment in England at her stitching. Surprisingly, a great deal of it survives to this day housed in the collection of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the Queen's official residence in Scotland and Mary's home between 1561 and 1567.

Mary probably learned needlework as a young girl at the French Court. Her mother-in-law, Catherine de Medici was noted for her skill. Later, as Queen of Scotland, she would sit embroidering at her Council's meetings. However, it was while imprisoned in England that she had most time to devote to her needlework. In her first years of imprisonment at Tutbury Castle she spent much of her time stitching with Bess of Hardwicke, the wife of her jailer the Earl of Shrewsbury.

As with many of her tapestries, a deeper political message lies beneath the simple scene of a cat and a mouse. The ginger cat is the red headed Elizabeth I of England, the mouse Mary, her captive plaything. Mary's cypher is also prominent.

The collection was designed for The Royal Collection and is now on sale at The Palace of Holyroodhouse.

'Catte and Mouse' tapestry: Worked on 12hpi canvas, the worked area measures 18¼" x 17¾" (46 x 43cm) suitable for a pillow or cushion.

'Catte' tapestry: Worked on 12hpi canvas, the worked area measures 6¾" x 6¾" (17 x 17cm) suitable for a small pillow or cushion.

Catte spectacle case: Worked on 18hpi canvas, the worked area measures 6¼" x 3½" (16 x 9cm).

All the designs are available on either printed canvas or unprinted canvas.