Elizabethan England - MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

How did MQS have a claim to the throne?

her uncle was Henry VIII

In what year did Mary return to Scotland?

1560

What did Mary find upon her return to Scotland in 1560?

she had no support as it was no longer primarily Catholic as a result of Religious Settlement

In 1564, Elizabeth arranges a...

a marriage for Mary to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

Why did Elizabeth want Mary to marry Dudley?

to watch over Mary and ensure she made no plays for the throne

In 1565, Mary marries.....which....

• Lord Darnley

• goes directly against Elizabeth's orders

Why does Mary want to divorce her husband?

he killed her alleged lover

Why can't Mary divorce her husband?

catholic church doesn't recognise divorce

In 1567, Mary starts a second affair with...

the Earl of Bothwell

How is Mary's husband killed?

Mary plots with her current lover to kill him

In 1568, Mary

fled to England, after the Scottish nobles rebelled against her, without consulting Elizabeth

Why is Mary fleeing to England in 1568 a problem for Elizabeth?

she could be a figurehead for potential Catholic rebellions

How was Mary legitimate?

her parents were married when she was born

In what 3 ways did MQS have a claim to the throne?

• she was descended from Henry VII

• her 2nd husband was descended from Henry VII

• she had a son, an heir to succeed her

Why did Mary have foreign support?

• 1st husband was King of France

• Catholicism meant she could gain support from the Pope/Spain if they wanted to overthrow Elizabeth

What did MQS accuse Elizabeth of?

being an illegitimate monarch and claimed she had a right to the throne

How was MQS involved in the Revolt of the Northern Earls?

rebels plan to free her & make her queen

How was MQS involved in the Ridolfi Plot?

restore Catholicism in England, overthrow Elizabeth & make Mary queen (no direct involvement)

How was MQS involved in the Throckmorton Plot?

restore Catholicism in England, overthrow Elizabeth & make Mary queen (no direct involvement)

How was MQS involved in the Babington Plot?

Mary approved of the plan to kill Elizabeth & was directly involved in the plan

Why was MQS executed?

• Plots

• Foreign threats

• Own actions

• push from parliment

How did Elizabeth's excommunication in 1570 influence the execution of MQS?

Catholics were no longer obliged to obey her as queen & foreign rulers were encouraged to take action against Elizabeth

In 1572, the Protestant Dutch rebelled against Spain in the Netherlands. Spain sent a huge force to crush it. The presence of a...

large Catholic army across the Channel was a threat to England

In 1584, the Protestant leader William of Orange was assassinated in the Netherlands. This increased...

fears of something similar happening in England against Elizabeth.

In 1585, ... England faced the most powerful country in Europe with its strongly Catholic ruler, Phillip II.

• war broke out with Spain

Mary declared herself the rightful Queen in...

1558

Why did MQS attract Catholic support?

she was Catholic

Parliament was strongly Protestant & feared what might happen if Catholic Mary ever became Queen. Powerful Protestants, such as ... were Elizabeth's closest advisors.

William Cecil, Robert Dudley & Francis Walsingham,

What did Elizabeth's closest advisors warn her about MQS in 1568?

she was a potential threat to Elizabeth & that she should send Mary to Scotland to face trial or execute her

In 1584, Parliament agreed to the Bond of Association. This meant,...

if anyone was caught plotting against Elizabeth the punishment was death

What was Elizabeth's views on killing Mary?

killing another anointed monarch might put her position in jeopardy (Divine Right of Kings)