Mary Queen of Scots

• The Ridolfi Plot (1571): Involved an Italian banker, the Pope, and King Philip II of Spain. The goal was to assassinate Elizabeth, launch a Spanish invasion, and put Mary on the throne married to the Duke of Norfolk.

• The Throckmorton Plot (1583): A plan for a French invasion financed by Spain to overthrow Elizabeth. Its failure led to increased surveillance of Mary and the signing of the Bond of Association by English nobles.

• Common Motives: Each plot shared the core objectives of restoring Catholicism to England and placing Mary on the throne as a legitimate, Catholic monarch.

• The Conspiracy: Anthony Babington plotted to murder Elizabeth and rescue Mary. To secure Mary's cooperation, he communicated with her via coded letters hidden in beer barrels.

• Walsingham's Espionage: Elizabeth's spymaster, Francis Walsingham, intercepted these letters. He used a double agent and a cryptanalyst to decipher the messages.

• The Evidence: Walsingham waited until Mary wrote the "Gallows Letter," which explicitly approved of the plan to assassinate Elizabeth. This provided the absolute proof needed for a trial.

• The Trial: Mary was tried for treason at Fotheringhay Castle. She argued that as a foreign queen, she was not subject to English law, but she was found guilty.

• The Death Warrant: Elizabeth hesitated for months to sign the warrant, fearing that killing a divinely appointed queen would encourage others to attack her own life. She finally signed it in February 1587.

• Final Moments: Mary was executed on February 8, 1587. She dressed in red (the Catholic color of martyrdom) to send a final message to her supporters.

• Removal of the Figurehead: The execution removed the primary focus for Catholic rebellion within England, stabilizing Elizabeth's domestic rule.

• International Escalation: The death of a Catholic queen outraged King Philip II of Spain, serving as a primary justification for the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

• Religious Martyrdom: Mary became a martyr for the Catholic cause, but her death ensured that her son, James VI of Scotland (a Protestant), remained the primary heir to the English throne.

Strategic Check

• Always connect lineage to threat: When discussing why Mary was a threat, do not just mention her religion; emphasize that her bloodline made her a 'legitimate' alternative in the eyes of contemporaries.
• Distinguish the Plots: Be able to identify the specific foreign power involved in each plot (e.g., Ridolfi = Spain/Italy, Throckmorton = France/Spain, Babington = internal/France).

Key takeaway: Mary's threat was multidimensional: religious (Catholic), political (lineage), and international (Spain/France).

Common Mistakes

• Confusion of Maries: Never confuse Mary Queen of Scots with Mary I ('Bloody Mary'). Mary I was Elizabeth's half-sister and died in 1558; Mary Queen of Scots was her cousin.
• Overstating Mary's Power: Mary herself had very little physical power during her time in England; her power was symbolic and rested entirely on what others were willing to do in her name.