Mary Queen of Scots #5

Context

• after Francis II died she remarried Lord Darnley in 1565, he was murdered

• she married the main suspect in 1567, the Earl of Bothwell

• scottish lords forced her to abdicate

• 1568 she fled to England asking Elizabeth for protection

Her Dilemma

• imprisoning her

  • looks bad, anger phil, focus for rebellion

• provide an army to help her regain the throne

  • power to mary, money, more religious conflict

• give her up

  • regret it, queen on trial

• let her live in france

  • can’t keep an eye on her, strengthen FR/SC

• let her free

  • rally a rebellion

• execute

  • phil would go mental

Threat: Religion

• Mary was catholic

• english catholics wanted a catholic monarch and she had a strong claim to the throne

• catholics thought Elizabeth was illegitimate and thus mary was the true heir to the English throne

• she could potentially lead/ be the focus point for catholic plots

Threat: Support from Abroad

• France (Auld alliance), family in france, france is strong and wealthy

• Spain: Elizabeth had annoyed phil in the settlement and supporting rebels

• Pope: encouraging the counter reformation

Threat: Heir

• Liz had no kids or alive siblings

• Mary had a claim to the throne

• only needed Elizabeth to stop reigning to reinstate catholicism