Mary, Queen of Scots' Execution, 1587 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Mary caused issues for Elizabeth from her arrival in England in 1568. Elizabeth did not know how to deal with Mary. Her government pressured Elizabeth to find Mary guilty of murdering her husband, Lord Darnley. They believed that Mary would remain a constant threat to Protestant England if Elizabeth did not punish her. Elizabeth had to consider the religious tensions within England. Many English Catholics believed Mary was the true Queen of England. Elizabeth also had to judge the risk posed by foreign powers. The punishment of Mary, Queen of Scots could trigger a violent retaliation from Catholic countries such as Spain. 

Elizabeth’s decision about Mary became easier in 1587. By 1586, England and Spain were effectively at war. Elizabeth prepared England for an impending Spanish invasion. The prosecution of Mary would add to, rather than cause, Spanish aggression. Another important event was the Babington Plot. The work of Sir Francis Walsingham was pivotal in proving Mary’s involvement in Catholic plots against Elizabeth. Her letters to Babington provided substantial evidence that Mary was dangerous. If Elizabeth did not punish her, Mary might succeed in deposing Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth signed Mary’s death warrant in February 1587. After Mary’s execution, she claimed she had no knowledge of signing the warrant as other papers hid it from view. Elizabeth was uncomfortable with the concept of killing an anointed monarch. She worried about the reaction of Mary’s son, James VI of Scotland. By apologising and blaming her government for Mary’s execution, she retained her alliance with Scotland.

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Short-term consequences

Long-term consequences

Elizabeth felt guilty about the execution of an anointed monarch. Elizabeth imprisoned William Davidson for 18 months in the Tower of London. Davidson had passed Mary’s death warrant to Cecil

Mary had a strong claim to the English throne. She rallied many English Catholics to disobey Elizabeth. Her execution finally removed a significant threat to Elizabeth’s reign

Since 1585, Spain wanted to invade England. Mary bestowed her claim to the English throne onto Philip II upon her death. This gave more motivation for Spain to attack England

The threat of Catholic plots ended after the death of Mary. The Pope reinforced his papal bull against Elizabeth in 1588. Most English Catholics remained loyal to Elizabeth