Mary Queen of Scots' claim to the throne

Background

(1)Henry VII’s great granddaughter, no question marks around her legitimacy. She had been queen of Scotland from 6 days old.

Treaty of Edinburgh

1560

(1)Elizabeth had helped Scottish Protestant lords rebel against Mary of Guise, Mary QoS’ mother, who was Catholic. The rebellion ended with the Treaty of Edinburgh which stated that Mary QoS would give up her claim to the English throne. Mary QoS was in France at the time and never personally agreed to the treaty and she wanted to be named as Elizabeth’s heir

Arrival in England

1568

(1)Mary QoS had then married the reckless Lord Darnley who was murdered. She then married Earl of Bothwell who was the lead suspect in killing Darnley. This led to rebellion by the Protestant Scottish lords who forced Mary to abdicate and escape to England

Elizabeths options

(1)Elizabeth and Mary never met but she nonetheless did not want to hand her back to Scotland because they were cousins. She also did not want to find her innocent and release her because then she could challenge Elizabeth’s position. She therefore decided to keep Mary QoS in captivity (house arrest) indefinitely.

Rebellion

1569

Mary was involved in plans in 1569 to marry herself to the Duke of Norfolk, a leading Protestant noble. This would solve the issue of the succession but Elizabeth was informed of the plan by the Earl of Leicester