Mary Queen of Scots

Who had ruled Scotland before 1559?

Mary of Guise as regent for MQOS. However, it was really Mary’s uncles who controlled decision making

What happened in oct 1559?

The Scot Prot nobles rose up against Marie of Guise

What was Eliz’s response to the Prot nobles rising up against Marie of Guise?

Although Eliz was initially reluctant, Cecil persuaded her to help the Prot rebels to ensure the survival of this new pro-English gov and to keep Fr away from Eng’s northern border

When/how did Eliz react to the Scot nobles?

1560, sent a Eng army to Scotland

In what way were Eng’s efforts in Scot initially unsuccessful?

Failed to defeat the Fr garrison in Scotland

How did the Prot lords/Eng eventually end up victorious?

Beat the Fr force at sea, Marie of Guise died

What was the treaty agreed to end the conflict in Scotland?

ToEdinburgh

What was agreed in the ToEdinburgh?

Both Eng and Fr would withdraw their troops from Scot, MQoS gave up her claim to the Eng throne and would stop wearing Eng coat of arms

What was important about the MQoS terms in the ToEdinburgh?

She never actually agreed to any of the terms

What was the gov of Scotland like from the ToEdinburgh onwards?

Passed to Prot lords who maintained friendly relations with England

What did Marie of Guise do when she became regent, when Mary was only little

Established an alliance with her native France

How old was Mary when she was engaged to the dauphin of France, Francois?

she was only 6

What happened to Mary when she got engaged to Francis?

She moved to Fr

When did Mary marry Francis?

1558

What was Mary’s bejhavur like at the Fr court?

She was charming and well-liked, kept wearing the Eng coat of arms and pushing her claim to Eng (likely encouraged by Henry II)

When did Francis and Mary become king and queen of Fr?

1559

When did Francis die?

1560

Who died in the same yaer as Francis (1560)?

Marie of Guise

What happened after Francis II died?

Mary left Fr and returned to Scot - Cath de Medici didn’t want her in Fr because of the influence of her and hterefore her uncles

What did Mary want to do when returning to Scotland, what was Eliz’s reaction?

Wanted to travel through England but wasn’t allowed as she still wouldn’t agree to the terms of the ToEdinburgh

What religious situation did Mary return to?

She was a Cath queen in a Prot country

What was Mary’s attitude towards Protesantism?

Promoted religious toleration - smart. Her illegitimate half-brother, Moray, had been leader of the prot party in opposition to Cath and had ruled Scot in her absence

Which Prot did Mary often have confrontations with?

Prot reformer John Knox

How did Mary have a claim to the throne of Eng?

Through her grandmother, Margaret Tudor - was H7’s daughter

How did a minority of Caths perceive Eliz?

As illegitimate (because of her mother AB) and as a heretic

What was one of the reasons why Mary was kept in confinment for so long?

Eliz was trying to pressure her to give in to the terms of the ToEdinburgh

What did Eliz do when she heard Mary was considering a second marriage?

Proposed Leicester (who she was probably in love with) as a candidate. Felt she would be able to keep an eye on Mary if she was married to Leicester

Who was Mary really considering as candidates for her second marriage?

Don Carlos or Darnley (Henry Stuart) - not Leicester

What was Eliz’s attitude towards the Darnley married?

Scared her - Darnley also had Tudor blood (great-grandfather was H7) so any potential chidlren would have a very strong claim to the throne (evidenced by the fact their child went on to become James I). Also, Darnley was Eng so was her subject - she tried to order him not to marry Mary but he ignored her

When did Mary marry Darnley?

1565

What did Darnley turn out to be like after they got married?

Arrogant, self-seeking, demanded to be king and not just king consort

What was the reuslt of Darnley’s nasty nature?

Mary spent a lot of time with Rizzio, Italian musician who was gradually promoted through the court

When was Rizzio murdered?

1566

What happened to Rizzio

He was murdered by Darnley and his Prot accomplices. Stabbed 56 times in front of Mary

What do some historians theorise about Rizzio’s murder?

The Prot conspirators actually wanted Mary to die - she was heavily pregnant at that point so some historians theorise they wanted to provoke Mary into going into early labour and dying

What does Mary make Darnley do when James is born and why?

Forces him to publicly acknowledge James as his child as before Darnley had made accusations that Mary was pregnant with Rizzio’s baby

What is Mary’s control like after she gives birth?

Has very little freedoms - was under surveillance for her ‘own safety’ as she’d just given birth but was essentially a prisoner. Moray returned from England and takes control of government. This angers Darnley, who had aligned himself with the Prot lords in hopes of taking control

How does Mary utilise Darnley’s anger against Moray?

Manipulates Darnley and manages to escape, reclaims power from Moray

Who had helped Mary throughout this process (i.e. escaping, reclaiming control)?

Earl of Bothwell (James Hepburn)

Why does Darnley end up separated from Mary?

He gets smallpox in 1567 so separates from mary and moves to Kirk o Field, a royal rsidence on the outskirts of Edinburgh

When/how did Darnley die? What was suspicious about it?

1567, explosion at Kirk ‘o Field. Bothwell’s men are seen fleeing from the property and Darnley’s body is foun doutside in the garden covered in a sheet alongside his servant. Believed that Darnley/his servant realised that Bothwell’s men were trying to explode the building and tried to escape but were murdered.

How does Darnley’s death worsen Bothwell’s image (and then therefore Mary’s)?

Highly suspicious, plus images of the incident were spread across Edinburgh, turning the city against Bothwell

What is the ultimate verdict against Bothwell/Mary?

Ultimately Bothwell was found not guilty as there wasn’t adequate evidence to prove his involvement. Mary was also implicated but there wasn’t adequate evidence against her

What are the theories about Mary’s role in Darnley’s death/the Bothwell marriage?

Some theorise Mary was in on the plan to kill Darnley so she could marry Bothwell. Others say that she knew nothing of the plot but that Bothwell raped her and she became pregnant so had no choice but to marry him to save herself from ruin

What did Bothwell’s enemies say about what he did to Mary?

Said he raped and abducted her

When did the Scottish lords (and much of the Scottish people) turn on Mary>?

June 1567

What happened when the lords turned on mary and botwhell?

They faced the lords at Carberry Hill but Mary’s troops were decimated and she was forced to negotaite with them

What happened to Bothwell vs Mary after Carberry Hill?

Bothwell allowed to escape (went to Scandinavia and never saw Mary again) whereas Mary was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle

What happened to Mary at Lochleven Castle?

She was bullied, threatened and cajoled into abdication in favour of her infant son, James

How did Moray utilise the situation of the Scot lords turning on Mary etc?

Uses it as a way of ousting Mary, likely with the intention of making himself regent for the young James VI

How does Mary manage to leave Lochleven Castle?

She is able to escape with the help of the Douglas family

What happened to Mary when she escaped Lochleven?

She was able to raise a small army but was defeated again at the battle of Landside in 1568

What does Mary do after being defeated at the 1568 Battle of Langside?

Flees to England to seek the support from her “dear sister and cousin”, Eliz

What was Eliz’s initial reaction to Mary’s request for help?

Eliz initially wanted to see her, but Cecil told her not to. There was now a Prot (moray) in charge of Scot, which was beneficial for Eng compared to Mary, a Cath with Fr links.

What did Eliz to do Mary when she arrived in England?

Refused to grant her an audience and placed her in confinement in Carlisle. She ordered an inquiry into Darnley’s murder - this became the 1570 York Conferene

When was the York Conference?

1570

How did Mary react to how Eliz was treating her?

Was not happy - it was becoming increasingly evident that Mary was being held as a prisoner. She constantly questioned what right Eliz had to keep her captive as she wasn’t her subject.

What was the York Conference?

Was not an actual trial, was an investigative conference. If adequate suspicion was raised, then they’d proceed with a real trial

What were the main pieces of evidence presented ath the 1570 York Conference?

The “casket letters” - a set of 8 letters written by Mary to Bothwell implicating her in Darnley’s murder, were in a silver casket belonging to Mary.

What is important to note about the casket letters?

COPIES of the letters were sent to the conference - Moray said the original versions were too precious to send. It is therefore possibel parts were added/changed to implicate Mary. Contributed to inconclusive verdict

What was the verdict of the 1570 York Conference?

Inconclusive - gave Eliz grounds to continue to keep mary as prisoner

How did Mary worsen her case and ultimately render her seemingly guilty by implication?

She refused to answer the charges against her

What was significant about the York Conference timing?

Was in 1570 - NEs was 69/70

What shows Mary’s level of desperation

Entered into the plot with Norfolk in 69 - NEs

When was the Ridolfi plot?

1571

What was the aim of the Ridolfi Plot?

Assassinate Eliz and put Mary on the throne, married to Norfolk

Why didn;’t the Ridolfi Plot go ahead?

It was uncovered and Norfolk was executed

How long was Mary Eliz’s prisoner for?

19 years

Why do the 1572 Parliament put forward bills against Mary?

69 - NEs, 70 - papal bull, 71 - Ridolfi

What is important to note about the 1572 Parliament?

It was a very Puritan parl! This is the Parl where Strickland’s bill and the alphabet bills were put forward

What bills do the 1572 Parl put forward against Mary?

Bill of exclusion and bill of attainder

What did the Bill of Exclusion entail

Would exclude Mary from the succession and therefore prevent plots - no point in plotting if she can;t become queen

What did the bill of attainder entail>

Would mean that if Mary was ofund guilty of plot involvement, she could be attained (found guilty w/ no trial) of treason and therefore executed

When are the bills of exclusion and attainder?

1572

What is important to note about the bill of exclusion and bill of attainder?

They never become law - Eliz vetoes them and ensures they aren’t passed (for now…)

Despite the fact Eliz vetoes the bills, what can be deduced from the 1572 bills?

MQoS was a real threat in the 1570s

When does the threat of Mary lessen

Mid 1570s

What does Eng do in 1572 that helps to mitigate Mary’s risk?

1572 - sign ToBlois with France, a defensive alliance as both are concerned about the presence of the Sp army in the Neth. Catherine de Medicine agrees to NOT SUPPORT MARY

Why is Fr help unavailable to Mary during hte mid 1570s?

• ToBlois - CdM agrees not to support

• Fr preoccupied by presence of Sp troops on border

• Also preoccupied by Fr wars of religion - literal Civil War

Why is Sp help unavailable to Mary during the mid 1570s?

• Preoccupied by fighting the Ottomans in the Mediterranean

• War in Neth, 1576 especially bad for Philip in neth (pacification of Ghent, all 17 Neth provinces in rebellion)

What’s happening in Scotland in 1572?

Scot comes close to civil war in 1572. The two sides (King’s Lords and Queen’s Lords) were fighting over control of Edinburgh. Control of Edinburgh = control of country = could decide monarch.

Who does Eliz support in the 1572 conflict in Scotland?

King’s Lords - note: Moray is dead at this point so this does not incl him

Why doesn’t mary get any Scot support during the 1570s after 1572?

King’s Lords win control of scotland - support James, not Mary

Where is Mary being housed during the mid 1570s, reducing her threat?

Being moved from house to house (e.g. Hardwick Hall, Bolton Castle, Sheffield Castle), all in the north midlands and Derbyshire region so that she’s away from borders, coastlines, north of eng and london

What suggests that Mary was not perceived as a major threat during the mid 1570s?

Allowed to take the waters at Buxton due to rheumatism, there were no plots in this period!!

Why does Mary become a bigger threat in the 1580s? (papacy)

1580 papal pronouncement encourages Eliz’s assassination

Why does Mary become a bigger threat in the 1580s? (neth)

William of Orange is assassinated in 1584 in the Neth after a similar papal pronouncement. Worries Eliz and the PC

What is the agreement the PC make about Mary (behind Eliz’s back)?

Bond of Assocation

When is the Bond of Assocation?

1584

What is the bond of association?

PC agreement to assassinate MQS if needed

When is the Act for the Queen’s Safety?

1585

What does the 1585 Act for the Queen’s Safety entail?

MQS could be removed from succession if involved in plot

When is the Guise Plot?

1583

Who is involved in the Guise Plot?

Is an ICC - Pope, MQoS, Eng. Caths, Spain, France, Scotland, seminary and jesuit priests

What is the plan for the Guise plot?

Asassinate Eliz, raise the Caths in rebellion and put Mary on the throne

Why doesn’t the Guise plot go ahead?

It’s uncovered by Walsingham and his spy network

When was the Parry Plot and what was it?

1585, lone assassination attempt

What anti-Cath legislation also occurs in this time period?

1585 Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests

When was the Babbington Plot?

1586

Who is involved in the Babbington Plot?

Orchestrated by Anthony Babbington (gentry, enthralled with Mary). He was in touch with the papacy, Mary, Sp ambassador.