Unit 1.4 - The Problem of Mary, Queen of Scots Flashcards
Who was Mary, Queen of Scots?
The Queen of Scotland and Elizabeth’s cousin - she was a catholic with a strong claim to the English Throne.
What did the Treaty of Edinburgh do?
- forced French and Spanish presence in Scotland to leave and even Mary’s husband Francis 1 to accept Elizabeth as rightful ruler of England.
- Helped Scottish Protestant Lords rebel against Mary of Guise, Mary’s mum, who didn’t like the French or Catholic influence in Scotland.
- Elizabeth was wary of sending help which could end up in the deposing of an anointed monarch but Mary did threaten Elizabeth, so she secretly sent money to the rebels.
The Treaty also said that Mary should give up her claim to the English crown
Did Mary like the Treaty?
No she wanted to be heir
No, Mary, Queen of Scots did not accept the Treaty of Edinburgh. While signed by her representatives in 1560, she never ratified it and continued to hold onto her claim to the English throne. She also never accepted the treaty because it recognized Elizabeth as the rightful Queen of England, a position Mary coveted.
Why did the Protestant Scottish Lords revolt against Mary again?
Allegedly, her husband, Lord Darnley was killed by the Earl of Bothwell, since they were allegedly having an affair.
Later she marries the Earl of Bothwell, hinting that perhaps she killed her husband after having had an affair.
This scandal led to the Protestant Scottish Lords rebelling again. They forced Mary to abdicate.
What happens to Mary after she abdicates?
She is imprisoned in a castle on an island, and eventually escapes.
What does Mary do after escaping imprisonment?
She raises an army in an attempt to win back her throne, but her forces are defeated and she flees to England seeking Elizabeth’s aid.
Elizabeth’s options: 1. help Mary regain her throne
this would anger the Scottish nobility and leave her facing a Catholic monarch on her northern border.
Elizabeth’s options: 2. hand Mary over to the rebels
Since Mary had been married to the king of France, her trial and imprisonment with Elizabeth’s permission would provoke France possibly driving them into alliance with Spain, leading to conflict.
Elizabeth’s options: 3. Allow Mary to leave abroad
could return to France and provoke a French plot that aimed to remove Elizabeth from the English throne and replace her with Mary.
Elizabeth’s options: 4. Keep Mary in England
carried the risk that Catholic plotters may try to overthrown Elizabeth and replace her with Mary BUT it is a safe option
The Casket Letters Affair
A meeting was set up at York where Scottish Lords brought love letters between Earth of Bothwell and Mary proving that they killed Darnley.
Why could Mary not be tried (for the killing of Darnley) or be handed off to the Scots?
She was an anointed monarch and Elizabeth could not support the deposing of a monarch, selected by God.
