E1 - Mary, Queen of Scots

Question 1

The problem of Mary, Queen of Scots

Answer 1

• Mary had a strong claim to the English throne. She was currently in France as she was marries to the French King, Francis II
• Elizabeth’s mum Mary of Guise had been ruling Scotland, but was overthrown by Scotland’s Protestant lords who supported Elizabeth
• With Mary of Guise overthrown the Treaty of Edinburg was signed which said Mary Queen of Scots would give up her claim to the throne
• Elizabeth would never name Mary her heir due to her being Catholic and that it would then divide the country again
• Mary returned to Scotland in 1560 when the French King dies. Although she was queen, the Protestant lords controlled most of Scotland

Question 2

MQS arrives in England - 1568

Answer 2

• Mary remarried in 1565 to a man called Lord Darnley
• In 1567 Lord Darnley was murdered and Mary then married the main suspect in the murder the Earl of Bothwell in 1567. Most people thought she was involved
• The Protestant Scottish Lords were furious and forced Mary to abdicate
• Mary fled to England begging Elizabeth to help her retake her Scottish throne

Question 3

MQS - what to do?

Answer 3

• Letting Mary go abroad would anger the Protestants and the Scottish lords
• A court case was called to hear whether Mary was guilty for murder
• Mary said the court had no right to try her as she was an anointed monarch
• Court reached no decision as because Elizabeth couldn’t decide what to do
• Killing her would anger the Catholics in England, Spain and France
• In the end Elizabeth just kept Mary locked up for now

Question 4

Why was Mary finally executed?

Answer 4

• The Preservation of the Queen’s safety stated action could be taken against Mary if there was proof she plotted
• Elizabeth’s spymaster Francis Walsingham found evidence
• Mary alive gave Catholics hope she would replace Elizabeth
• It is important to note Mary’s execution gave Phillip II of Spain another reason to invade England

Question 5

Sir Francis Walsingham’s spy network

Answer 5

• The aim was to protect Elizabeth
• Walsingham used trained spies and ordinary people
• Wlasingham had spies in Europe and England
• Used ciphers (hidden codes) to hide his plans for catching plotters
• Walsingham threatened to murder Catholic priests if they didn’t give info
• He used again provocateurs to get arrests (they encouraged other to plot so they could then arrest them)