1.4 The problem of Mary, Queen of Scots

Question 1

What date was MQS born?

Answer 1

8th December 1542

Question 1

How old was MQS when she became Queen of Scotland?

Answer 1

6 days old

Question 2

Who was MQS’ parents?

Answer 2

Mary of Guise (French noble family)
James V

Question 3

Why did Mary of Guise rule Scotland?

Answer 3

MQS was in France with her husband, King Francis II.

Question 4

Who defeated Mary of Guise in 1560?

Answer 4

Elizabeth I and Scotland’s Protestant Lords

Question 5

Why did the Scottish Protestant Lords rebel?

Answer 5

They did not like the French, Catholic influence brought by Mary of Guise.

Question 6

Why did Elizabeth wary of sending help? Why did she end up doing it?

Answer 6

Helping a rebellion may result in the deposing of an anointed monarch. However, she was under constant threat meaning MQS could take the throne.

Question 7

In what way did Elizabeth support the rebellion?

Answer 7

She sent money in secret and then eventually sent troops.

Question 8

What does it mean when holy oil is applied to a monarch during the coronation (the most important part of the ceremony)?

Answer 8

To be anointed

Question 9

When did the rebellion end and how?

Answer 9

1560, with the Treaty of Edinburgh

Question 10

What did the Treaty of Edinburgh entail?

Answer 10

MQS would give up her claim to the English throne.

Question 11

When did King Francis II die?

Answer 11

December 1560

Question 12

Who was ruling Scotland when MQS returned to Scotland?

Answer 12

Protestant Lords

Question 13

How did MQS react to the treaty?

Answer 13

She was angry because she never approved of the treaty, and maintained that she had a claim to the English throne. She wanted to be named heir.

Question 14

Who persuaded Elizabeth I to help the Scottish rebellion?

Answer 14

Sir William Cecil - he threatened to resign if she didn’t help them.

Question 15

What year did MQS arrive in England?

Answer 15

1568

Question 16

What year did MQS marry her 2nd husband?

Answer 16

1565

Question 17

Who was MQS’ 2nd husband?

Answer 17

Henry Stuart AKA Lord Darnley.

Question 18

What year did she give birth to her son, James?

Answer 18

1566

Question 19

What year was Lord Darnley murdered?

Answer 19

1567

Question 20

Who was suspected to have murdered Lord Darnley?

Answer 20

The Earl of Bothwell, MQS suspected to be involved.

Question 21

What year did MQS marry her 3rd husband, the Earl of Bothwell?

Answer 21

1567

Question 22

What did the scandal trigger?

Answer 22

Another rebellion from the Protestant lords, forcing MQS to abdicate in favour of her son, James.

Question 23

Where was MQS imprisoned?

Answer 23

An island in the middle of a loch (lake)

Question 24

When did MQS try to escape from imprisonment?

Answer 24

1568

Question 25

What did MQS try to do when she escaped from imprisonment?

Answer 25

Raise an army and win back her throne.

Question 26

What caused MQS to have to flee to England?

Answer 26

Her forces were defeated at Langside near Glasgow.

Question 27

What did MQS do when she fled to England?

Answer 27

Seek Elizabeth's help against the rebels.

Question 28

What were Elizabeth's options when Mary came to England?

Answer 28

1. Help her to regain her throne 2. Hand her over to the Scottish lords 3. Allow Mary to go abroad 4. Keep Mary in England

Question 29

Why did MQS want to meet with Elizabeth?

Answer 29

To persuade her of her innocence in Darnley's murder, but her request was denied.

Question 30

Between what years was a court convened to hear the case against MQS?

Answer 30

October 1568 and January 1569.

Question 31

What was the results of the court case?

Answer 31

No verdict: - If guilty she would be returned to the Scottish lords as prisoner and she would have been responsible for deposing an anointed monarch - If innocent she would be free to raise an army with foreign Catholic support, which would pose a massive threat to the English throne.

Question 32

Where did Mary stay?

Answer 32

In comfortable captivity.

Question 33

Why do people sometimes think that Elizabeth was jealous of Mary?

Answer 33

She was considered to be a great beauty.

Question 34

What year was MQS placed under house arrest in England due to being implicated in a plot against Elizabeth?

Answer 34

1569

Question 35

What year did MQS return to Scotland following the death of her husband?

Answer 35

1561

Question 36

When and why was MQS executed?

Answer 36

8th February 1587 for treason

Question 37

What title did her son hold?

Answer 37

King James VI of Scotland

Question 38

What was Elizabeth's plan in response to the plot in 1569?

Answer 38

To marry MQS to the Duke of Norfolk, England's most senior noble. He was Protestant, so their children would be too. They would also have a strong claim to the throne.

Question 39

Who else was in favour of Elizabeth's plot?

Answer 39

Some of Elizabeth's favourites such as the Earl of Leicester.

Question 40

Why did Elizabeth refuse to take any strong action against Mary?

Answer 40

She was too dangerous, even in captivity.

Question 41

Where was MQS moved to?

Answer 41

Further south (more Catholics in the north) to Coventry