Mary, Queen of Scots

This section introduces Mary, Queen of Scots and gives a background to her arrival in England and her impact on Elizabeth I’s reign. Mary, Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth I’s cousin, giving her a strong dynastic claim to the English throne. Unlike Elizabeth, who was Protestant, Mary was a devout Catholic and had close ties to France, which made her a contentious figure in predominantly Protestant England.

Mary’s life was marked by significant drama and upheaval:

• She became Queen of Scotland in 1542 at just six days old after the death of her father, King James V.
• She was married three times, but her first two husbands died under suspicious circumstances, and she was implicated in the murder of her second husband, Lord Darnley.
• Forced to abdicate in 1567 after a rebellion led by Scottish nobles, she was imprisoned in Scotland but escaped the following year.

In 1568, Mary fled to England, seeking refuge from Elizabeth. Her arrival created an immediate dilemma for Elizabeth, as Mary’s presence in England brought potential risks to the stability of Elizabeth’s reign.

Why Did Mary Pose a Threat to Elizabeth?

Mary was a figurehead for Catholics in England who viewed her as a legitimate alternative to Elizabeth. This threat was rooted in both religious and political factors.

Mary’s Dynastic Claim

• As the granddaughter of Henry VII’s daughter, Mary had a strong claim to the English throne.
• Some Catholics viewed Elizabeth as illegitimate because her father, Henry VIII, had divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to marry Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn. The Catholic Church did not recognise this divorce, making Elizabeth’s birth illegitimate in their eyes.

Religious Tensions

• Mary’s Catholic faith appealed to English Catholics who wanted to reverse Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement of 1559, which established Protestantism as the state religion.
• Many Catholics hoped Mary would restore Catholic supremacy in England.

French Connections

• Mary’s mother, Mary of Guise, was from a powerful French noble family, and Mary herself had been married to Francis II, the King of France.
• These ties to France made Mary a potential ally of France in any conflict against England, heightening her threat as a political figure.

Support Among English Catholics

• Many English Catholics saw Mary as a preferable alternative to Elizabeth and hoped she could be named as Elizabeth’s successor.
• A more radical minority sought to overthrow Elizabeth altogether and crown Mary as queen.

Elizabeth’s Dilemma

Elizabeth faced a difficult decision after Mary arrived in England in 1568:

• Grant Mary Refuge: Offering Mary protection risked encouraging Catholic plots and uprisings in support of her claim to the throne.
• Hand Mary Over to the Scottish Nobles: Returning Mary to Scotland could lead to her execution, but this might provoke backlash from Catholic powers like France and Spain.
• Keep Mary Under Guard: By keeping Mary closely watched in England, Elizabeth could monitor her movements and prevent her from becoming a rallying point for Catholic dissent.

In the short term, Elizabeth chose the third option. Mary was confined to Carlisle Castle under close surveillance, officially as a "guest" but effectively as a prisoner. This cautious approach allowed Elizabeth to avoid making an immediate decision while keeping a close eye on the potential threat Mary posed.

Mary’s Impact on Elizabeth’s Reign

Mary’s presence in England significantly increased the tension between Protestants and Catholics. While her claim to the throne made her a natural focus for Catholic hopes, her imprisonment limited her ability to act independently. However, over the years, Mary became involved, directly or indirectly, in several Catholic plots to depose Elizabeth, including the Ridolfi, Throckmorton, and Babington plots.

Ultimately, Elizabeth’s government viewed Mary as too dangerous to remain alive. In 1587, after uncovering evidence of Mary’s involvement in the Babington Plot, Elizabeth reluctantly ordered her execution. This decision eliminated a significant Catholic threat but also risked provoking retaliation from Catholic powers such as Spain.

Conclusion

Mary, Queen of Scots, posed a unique and persistent challenge to Elizabeth I’s reign. Her dynastic claim, Catholic faith, and connections to France made her a natural focus for Catholic hopes of reversing the Protestant Reformation in England. Elizabeth’s cautious handling of Mary’s arrival in 1568 and her eventual execution in 1587 reflected the complexities of balancing internal stability with external threats in a divided and volatile political landscape.