The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1587
Mary, Queen of Scots was tried in October 1586 at Fotheringhay Castle on evidence, obtained through Francis Walsingham's interception of the Babington Plot correspondence, that she had approved a plan to assassinate Elizabeth. Found guilty, Mary was sentenced to death, and both Parliament and the Privy Council pressed Elizabeth to sign the death warrant, arguing that Mary would remain a focus for Catholic plots as long as she lived. Elizabeth hesitated for months, reluctant to order the execution of a fellow anointed monarch and fearful of the precedent this would set and of provoking retaliation from Catholic powers abroad, particularly Spain. She eventually signed the warrant, and Mary was executed at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587. The execution removed the figure around whom Catholic plots against Elizabeth had repeatedly formed, but it also angered Philip II of Spain and became one of the factors contributing to the launch of the Spanish Armada the following year, in 1588.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn the sequence precisely: Mary was tried in October 1586 at Fotheringhay Castle on the evidence uncovered in the Babington Plot, found guilty, and executed at Fotheringhay on 8 February 1587.
- Learn why Elizabeth hesitated to sign the death warrant: she feared setting a precedent for executing an anointed monarch, worried about provoking Catholic Europe, particularly Spain, and was wary of the political risks of the decision.
- Learn who pushed for the execution and why: Parliament and the Privy Council argued Mary would remain a permanent focus for Catholic conspiracy for as long as she lived, making her execution necessary for Elizabeth's safety.
- For 'describe two features of' questions on the execution, choose two specific, factual features (e.g. the evidence used at the trial, and Elizabeth's hesitation) rather than a general narrative.
- For 'explain why' questions on why Elizabeth eventually agreed to execute Mary, separate the pressure from Parliament and the Privy Council from the strength of the Babington Plot evidence, and use a fact for each.
- For 16-mark judgement questions on the consequences of the execution, weigh the argument that it removed a serious internal threat against the argument that it damaged relations with Spain and helped provoke the Armada, before reaching a supported judgement.
Worked example
Explain why Elizabeth eventually agreed to sign Mary, Queen of Scots's death warrant in 1587. You may use the following in your answer: the evidence from the Babington Plot, and pressure from Parliament. You must also use information of your own.
- Plan the two given factors plus one of your own: the Babington Plot evidence, pressure from Parliament, and a third point such as the risk of further Catholic plots while Mary remained alive.
- Develop the evidence point: Walsingham's interception of coded letters, deciphered by Thomas Phelippes, produced clear proof that Mary had personally approved a plan to assassinate Elizabeth, removing any reasonable doubt about her involvement.
- Develop the Parliament point: both Parliament and the Privy Council pressed Elizabeth strongly to sign the warrant, arguing that Mary's continued survival made further plots against Elizabeth's life almost certain.
- Add the own-knowledge point: earlier plots such as Ridolfi and Throckmorton had already shown that Mary would repeatedly become the focus of conspiracies, so ministers argued that only her execution could permanently remove the danger.
- Conclude by linking the points: the weight of the evidence, the pressure from her own government, and the pattern of repeated plotting together overcame Elizabeth's personal reluctance to execute a fellow monarch.
Practice questions
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Q1Where was Mary, Queen of Scots tried in October 1586?Show answer
Answer: Fotheringhay Castle.
Q2What evidence was used to convict Mary at her trial?Show answer
Answer: Deciphered letters, intercepted by Francis Walsingham's network, showing she had approved the Babington Plot's plan to assassinate Elizabeth.
Q3On what date was Mary, Queen of Scots executed?Show answer
Answer: 8 February 1587, at Fotheringhay Castle.
Q4Give one reason Elizabeth hesitated before signing Mary's death warrant.Show answer
Answer: She was reluctant to set a precedent for executing an anointed monarch, and feared provoking retaliation from Catholic powers abroad, especially Spain.
Q5Which two bodies pressed Elizabeth to execute Mary?Show answer
Answer: Parliament and the Privy Council.
Q6How did Mary's execution affect relations with Spain?Show answer
Answer: It angered King Philip II of Spain and became one of the factors contributing to the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE History exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Describe two features of the trial and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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Explain why Elizabeth eventually agreed to sign Mary, Queen of Scots's death warrant in 1587. You may use the following in your answer: the evidence from the Babington Plot, and pressure from Parliament. You must also use information of your own.
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'The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots was the right decision for Elizabeth's government.' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: the threat Mary posed while alive, and the reaction of Spain. You must also use information of your own.
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