Mary, Queen of Scots

who was Mary Queen of Scots?

• Elizabeth’s cousin

• heir to the throne

what happened from 1569-1570?

• Northern Rebellion

  • Dukes of Norfolk and Northumberland

  • Duke of Norfolk wanted to marry Mary

• squashed by Earl of Sussex

• Catholics in Britain did not support the rebellion

what happened in 1571?

• Ridolfi Plot

  • Norfolk and Italian banker Ridolfi

  • invade England from Netherlands

  • replace Elizabeth with Mary

• plot discovered before it occurred

• Mary had not involvement

what happened in 1583?

• Throckmorton Plot

  • replace Elizabeth with Mary

  • followed by a French invasion (helped by Catholics)

• Mary put under closer guard when discovered

  • little evidence of direct involvement

what happened in 1586?

• Babington Plot

  • replace Elizabeth with Mary

  • Babington sent coded letters to Mary, who supported

• executed as a result!

what evidence supports the idea that the execution of Mary solved Elizabeth’s Catholic problems?

• Catholics didn’t have anyone to replace Elizabeth with

• new heir was Mary’s Protestant son, James

what evidence does not support the idea that the execution of Mary solved Elizabeth’s Catholic problems?

• Mary became a martyr

• Mary was a queen - dangerous to suggest a queen could be executed

• French and Scottish kings were outraged

• Spain used it as a reason to launch the Spanish Armada