Marthe’s Secret

Overview and Issue

Article on
WG145

Abstract

The author argues that in CM, the text was, in fact, hiding a secret in plain sight and that her article will make a case for the following claims by examining key scenes in the text:

- Marthe knows about the marriage between Sybilla and Francis I, at least from the time when she moves in with Nostradamus in CM.
- It is Nostradamus, under instruction from the Dame, who tells her about it.
- Marthe needs to know about it to make the denouement work properly and for the full prophecy to come to fruition.

The author gives credit to fellow members of The Outlander Book Club: "...You will also find there a treasure trove of other speculations and comments from the wonderful community with whom I have shared my journey with Checkmate and without whose insight and support I would never have been alert enough to delve deep and find hidden treasure. Whether that treasure is real or just another red herring, only Dorothy Dunnett knows...".

Author

Salatheel

Dunnett Book Citations

Historical People

Fictional Characters

The author notes that to avoid confusion, she refers to the First Baron Crawford as Francis I; Francis Crawford of Lymond

and Sevigny as Lymond; and the Dame de Doubtance as the Dame.

Marthe
Sybilla– Dowager Lady Culter
Francis Crawford, First Baron of Culter
Renée Jourda
Philippa Crawford
Lymond- – Comte de Sevigny;
Leonard Bailey
Gavin Crawford – second Baron of Culter
Béatris
Danny Hislop
Richard Crawford – third Baron of Culter
Mariotta Crawford
The Dame de Doubtance
Catherine D’Albon
Maréchale de St Andre
John Elder

Locations

Sevigny
Blois

Bibliography

(none)

Literature

(none)

Illustrations

The Head of Leda, Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1505–8. RCIN 912518. Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019.

Historical Events

(none)

Other References

URL = https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/outlanderbookclub/viewtopic.php?f=202&t=8122

Quotes from Dunnett

(none)