The Execution of Mary Queen of

ScotsBy, Jeena Bonutto

Background Mary, Queen of Scots, was born in 1542 and

was executed on 1587.

It is generally believed that Mary's execution, which was ordered by Queen Elizabeth I, was the final reason Philip II needed to launch the Spanish Armada.

The Beginning Mary was Queen Elizabeth I's cousin.

She had been brought up as a strict Catholic which put her at odds with Queen queen Elizabeth because she was Protestant.

Mary's father, James V of Scotland, died when Mary was only one year old; making Mary the Queen of Scots.

At such a young age, the Scottish lords found it extremely difficult to respect her and  by 1548, Mary was sent to France for her own safety.

The Beginning Cont.

The 18-year-old Mary returned to Scotland in 1561 to reign as Queen of her subjects

In 1565 Mary married her first cousin Henry, Lord Darnley and gave birth to a son, James, the following year

In 1567, her husband was murdered and Mary quickly married the Scottish Earl of Bothwell, an action that outraged the Scottish nobility who promptly imprisoned Mary and forced her to abdicate her throne to her one-year-old son, James .

Cont. Mary escaped from her prison but was forced

to flee.

Mary was immediately imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth and spent the next 19 years shuffling from castle to castle while her cousin deliberated what to do with her.

It was rumored that Mary had many death plots against Elizabeth.

Finally, in 1587, Elizabeth was persuaded to end the supposed threat to her throne once and for all, and ordered Mary's execution.

Her Death It was a cold and bitter winter's day when

Mary, with dignity intact as always, was led to the block. She wore her customary black cloak with a white veil over her head. When she reached the block, she dropped her cloak and revealed a crimson dress.

Her last words were, -Into thy hands, O, Lord, I commend my spirit.

All that Mary took with her to her execution, crucifix, writing book, then her bloodstained clothes and even the block were burned. There were to be no relics. When the executioner held up Mary's severed head the wig that she wore fell off and she was an old woman, white of hair and partially bald.

Her Death Cont.

Her wishes were not granted. Instead of being buried in France as she wished she was buried in England.

Her death passed without incident from the Scottish people who were too busy with other troubles to give more than a passing thought to the Queen who had caused so much controversy in their country.

Review (: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1rR7t-bu

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