The problem of Mary, Queen of Scots

When was Mary Queen of Scots born?

• December 8th 1542

How did Mary Queen of Scots have a claim to the throne?

• She was descended from Margret Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister

• Her claim was legitimate, and couldn’t be denied unlike Elizabeth who was facing protests from Catholics

Why may Mary Queen of Scots claim to the throne be seen as more legitimate that Elizabeth’s?

• Elizabeth’s legitimacy was debated over, especially by Catholics due to the situation with Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon and her mother Anne Boleyne

• This undermined Elizabeth’s claim to the Throne

How was Mary Queen of Scots related to Henry VII?

• great-granddaughter

Who was Mary Queen of Scot’s mother?

• Mary of Guise

When did Mary Queen of Scots become queen of Scotland?

• at 6 days old

Who ruled Scotland on Mary’s behalf until she was old enough?

• her mother, Mary of Guise

Who was Mary Queen of Scots married to?

• Francis II, King of France

What religion was Mary Queen of Scots?

• Catholic

Why did Mary, Queen of Scots’ religion make her a threat to the Crown?

• Many Catholics, included members of the nobility would be prepared to support her claim to the Throne

• it would also ignite plots from abroad to put a legitimate, Catholic heir as the monarch of England

Which group of people in Scotland did not like Mary being queen and why?

• Scottish protestants

• They did not like the French, Catholic influence overbearing Scotland

• They also didn’t like a foreign woman being the ruler

What did the Scottish lords in Scotland do to Mary and why?

• They rebelled

When was the Scottish rebellion?

• 1560

Who did Elizabeth support in the Scottish rebellion and why?

• Scottish protestants

• She didn’t like the increasing French and Catholic influence in Scotland is it was a threat to her

How did Elizabeth support the Scottish protestant rebels?

• Initially, she was wary of sending help due to the constant threat of Scotland and France

• She secretly supported Scotland by sending money, and she eventually sent troops

What treaty ended the conflict in Scotland?

• Treaty of Edinburgh

When was the Treaty of Edinburgh signed?

• 1560

What were the terms of the Treaty of Edinburgh?

• Mary gave up her claim to the English throne

• She eventually became a puppet to the protestant lords

Did Elizabeth want to make Mary the heir to the Scottish throne? Why or why not?

• No because it would

  • cause divisions

  • weaken her position

Did Mary approve of the Treaty of Edinburgh, and why?

• No because she wanted to be the heir to the English throne

What event catalysed Mary’s return to Scotland?

• death of Francis II, King of Scotland

When did Francis II die?

• 1560

Who did Mary marry after Francis II died?

• Lord Darnley

When did Elizabeth marry Lord Darnley?

• 1565

When did Mary and Lord Darnley have James?

• 1566

When was Lord Darnley murdered?

• 1567

Who did Mary Queen of Scots marry after Lord Darnley was murdered?

• Earl of Bothwell

When did Mary and Earl of Bothwell marry?

• 1567

What did the Scots assume happened to Lord Darnley and what did they do as a result?

• they assumed Mary murdered Darnley

• they rebelled against her, imprisoned her, forced her to abdicate

When did Protestant Scottish lords imprison Mary and force her to abdicate in favour of James?

• 1568

What did Mary attempt to do in response to the Protestant rebellion (1568) and was this successful?

• she raised an army

Where was Mary’s army defeated?

• Langside near Glasgow

When did Mary flee to England and why?

• 1568

• she was seeking Elizabeth’s help in defeating the Scottish rebels

How did Elizabeth treat Elizabeth when she fled to England?

• She was imprisoned but held in comfort

• She was under guard until Elizabeth decided what to do with her

What did the Scottish rebels want Elizabeth to do with Mary?

• they demanded Mary be handed over so she could be tried for the murder of Lord Darnley

Why did Mary’s arrival in England create such an issue for Elizabeth?

• By remaining in England, Mary could encourage Catholic rebellion

• However, acting against Mary would show defiance against the Divine Right and would therefore encourage the rebellion of anointed monarchs, reducing Elizabeth’s power

What were Elizabeth’s options regarding Mary between 1568-69?

1. Help Mary regain the throne

2. Hand Mary over to the Scottish Lords

3. Allow Mary to go abroad

4. Keep Mary in England

Why should Elizabeth help Mary regain the throne?

• If Mary was Queen of Scotland again, she may be in debt to Elizabeth

• It could make Mary abandon any desires of being on the English throne

What would be the problems is Elizabeth helped Mary regain the throne?

• It would anger the Scottish nobility

• She would be facing a Scottish monarch on the northern border

• The Auld Alliance with France could be revived to threaten her

Why should Elizabeth hand Mary over to the Scottish lords?

• The Scots would be in debt to Elizabeth

• The Lords would support her

What would be the problems is Elizabeth handed Mary over to the Scottish lords?

• Her imprisonment, with Elizabeth’s permission, could provoke France and cause an alliance with Spain

• They may execute her, setting an idea it is okay to overthrow and kill monarchs

Why should Elizabeth allow Mary to go abroad?

• it would stop English catholics attempting to put her on the throne

• she wouldn’t be executed

What would be the problems is Elizabeth allowed Mary to go abroad?

• Perhaps allies abroad would aid her in invading

• Provoke threats from France

Why should Elizabeth keep Mary in England?

• No plots from enemies abroad

What would be the problems is Elizabeth kept Mary in England?

• risked Catholic plotters from England attempting to overthrow her

What was the Casket Letters Affair

• The meeting set up to hear Mary’s case on the murder of Lord Darnley

Where was the meeting to hear the case against Mary?

• York

When was the meeting to hear the case against Mary?

• October 1568 → January 1569

What did the Scottish lords bring with them to prove Mary’s guilt?

• love letters, supposedly written by Mary to the Earl of Bothwell that showed she had plotted Lorn Darnley’s murder

What did Mary claim in her defence?

• She was an anointed monarch and would not offer a plea unless Elizabeth guaranteed a verdict of innocence

What was the result of the hearing?

• No conclusions reached

• Mary remained captive in England

By not handing over Mary, what did Elizabeth ensure?

• The Scottish nobility would not imprison or execute Mary

• The French would be satisfied

• An anointed monarch was not punished

Why did Elizabeth not make Mary her heir?

• It would upset English Protestants, whom she could not afford to lose the support of due to already rocky relations with Catholics

• Could result in civil war