Mary Queen of Scots

Why was Mary a problem for Elizabeth?

* Mary was Elizabeth’s Catholic cousin and next in line to the throne, she had become Queen of Scotland as a baby in 1542.

* Many believed she was the rightful Queen of England as they did not recognise Henry VIIIs divorce from Catherine of Aragon so did not believe Elizabeth was legitimate.

* She moved to France at a young age and married the heir to the French throne, when he died in 1560 she had to return to Scotland and re-establish control.

* In her absence Protestant nobles had become very powerful in Scotland.

* There were suggestions that she was involved in

the death

of her second husband Lord Darnley. She fled to

England

and her son James was crowned King of Scotland.

* Many Protestants were worried at the thought of

Mary

becoming Queen, they remembered the treatments of Protestants under the rule of Mary I.

* Parliament agreed and felt Mary was a threat and

some

members of the Privy Council called for Mary’s immediate execution.

* Elizabeth did not want to kill a Queen so had her

imprisoned for 19 years, she was moved around between nobles. For 15 years she was under the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury, Bess of Hardwick’s husband who was also made a Privy Councillor. In fact, Mary and Bess would create Tapestry’s together and these are displayed at Hardwick Hall.

* There is no real evidence that Mary was involved in multiple plots against Elizabeth but the Catholic plotters were often inspired by her and planned to make her Queen of England

The Babington Plot

* In 1586 the final plot to make Mary, Queen of England took place. This was led by Anthony Babington.

* Babington’s plan was to kill Elizabeth and establish Mary as Queen of England. He would be joined by five others who would kill Elizabeth and free Mary from prison.

* Babington tried to contact Mary to see if she supported his plan. Mary’s servants agreed to hide coded messages in beer barrels. Mary replied to Babington agreeing to his plan.

* The servants had been employed by Elizabeth’s spy master Sir Francis Walsingham and were taking the letters directly to him who was showing Elizabeth.

* The code was broken and it was clear Mary had plotted against the Queen of England.

* Members of Parliament demanded she be arrested; Elizabeth was hesitant

but agreed to put her on trial.

The Trial and Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

* In October 1586, Mary was put on trial before a court of 36 noblemen which included Sir Francis Walsingham and Elizabeth’s main advisor Sir William Cecil.

* Mary argued they had no authority to try a foreign Queen and argued she had not seen the evidence against her.

* She was sentenced to death on 25th October 1586.

* Elizabeth was very reluctant to execute her cousin and fellow Queen and described events as an ‘unfortunate affair’ to the French Ambassador.

* Despite worries about the reaction of Catholic Spain, Elizabeth signed the death warrant on 1st February 1587.

* Mary was executed at Fotheringhay Castle on the 8th February 1587, this was a private execution witnessed by the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent.

* Before her execution Mary removed her robes to expose a red petticoat and bodice, red was the colour of Catholic’s dying for their cause.

* Elizabeth was so upset that she imprisoned the Privy Councillor who announced Mary’s death briefly. Elizabeth wrote to James VI of Scotland apologising for executing his mother and expressing her regret at events.

Advantages to executing Mary

The Catholic threat was severely limited, without Mary, there was no obvious Catholic alternative to Elizabeth.
There were few serious plots after this against Elizabeth
The next king was to be Mary's Protestant son James.

Disadvantages to executing Mary

Executing Mary created a Catholic Martyr
Elizabeth had executed a Queen, breaking the idea that only God could kill a King or Queen.
Catholic Spain was angry, which was one of the main reasons King Philip II launches the Spanish Armada.