The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots 1587

The execution of Mary Queen of Scots on 8 February 1587 was one of the most dramatic and consequential events of Elizabeth's reign. After 19 years of imprisonment, Mary was finally put to death for her involvement in the Babington Plot. The decision was agonising for Elizabeth and had profound political repercussions.

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The Babington Plot (1586)

The Babington Plot provided the evidence needed to bring Mary to trial.

How the Plot Was Uncovered

Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster, orchestrated an elaborate trap:

Step	Detail
1.	Walsingham allowed a secret channel of communication to be established between Mary and the outside world — letters were hidden inside beer barrels delivered to her prison at Chartley Hall
2.	Anthony Babington, a young Catholic gentleman, wrote to Mary outlining a plan to assassinate Elizabeth, free Mary, and launch a Catholic uprising supported by a Spanish invasion
3.	Mary replied, explicitly approving the assassination of Elizabeth — she wrote of the "dispatch" of "the usurper"
4.	Walsingham's code-breaker, Thomas Phelippes, intercepted and decoded all the letters
5.	Phelippes even added a forged postscript to Mary's reply, asking Babington to name his co-conspirators — providing additional evidence
6.	Babington and his conspirators were arrested, tortured, and executed (September 1586)

Exam Tip: Walsingham's role in the Babington Plot raises important questions. Did he simply uncover a genuine plot, or did he deliberately set a trap to ensure Mary's destruction? The evidence suggests elements of both. AQA may ask you to evaluate Walsingham's methods — consider whether the ends (removing the Catholic threat) justified the means (entrapment and forgery).

flowchart TD
  W["Walsingham<br/>spymaster"] --> CH["Channel set up via beer barrels<br/>at Chartley Hall, 1585-86"]
  CH --> B["Babington writes to Mary<br/>July 1586: assassination plan"]
  B --> MR["Mary replies 17 July 1586<br/>approves dispatch of usurper"]
  MR --> PH["Phelippes intercepts and decodes<br/>adds forged postscript"]
  PH --> AR["Babington and conspirators<br/>arrested, executed Sept 1586"]
  PH --> EV[Evidence used at trial]
  EV --> TR["Fotheringhay 14-15 Oct 1586<br/>commission of 36, guilty verdict"]
  TR --> WT["Death warrant signed<br/>1 February 1587"]
  WT --> EX["Executed at Fotheringhay<br/>8 February 1587, three blows"]
  EX --> DV["Davison blamed and imprisoned;<br/>Philip II launches Armada 1588"]

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Mary's Trial (October 1586)

Mary was put on trial at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire in October 1586.

The Trial

Aspect	Detail
Location	Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire
Date	14–15 October 1586
Judges	A commission of 36 nobles, privy councillors, and judges
Charges	Treason — conspiring to assassinate Elizabeth and overthrow the English government
Mary's defence	She denied writing the incriminating letters; argued that as a foreign queen she could not be subject to English law; had no legal counsel
Verdict	Guilty — found unanimously by the commissioners
Sentence	Death

Mary's Key Arguments

Argument	Counter-argument
She was a sovereign queen and could not be tried by English law	Parliament had passed the Act for the Queen's Safety (1585), which allowed for the trial of anyone involved in plots against Elizabeth
She had never sworn allegiance to Elizabeth	The Act applied to anyone on English soil, regardless of nationality
The letters were forged or tampered with	The code-breaker Phelippes and other witnesses testified to their authenticity
She had been entrapped by Walsingham	Even if entrapment occurred, she had still approved the assassination in writing

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Elizabeth's Dilemma

The guilty verdict placed Elizabeth in an agonising position. She was torn between political necessity and profound moral and political reservations.

Arguments FOR Execution

Argument	Detail
National security	As long as Mary lived, she would be a focus for Catholic plots
Parliamentary pressure	Both Houses of Parliament petitioned Elizabeth to execute Mary
The Privy Council	Cecil and Walsingham strongly urged execution
Justice	Mary had been found guilty of conspiracy to murder the queen — the penalty was death
Deterrence	Execution would warn other potential conspirators

Arguments AGAINST Execution

Argument	Detail
Killing an anointed queen	Elizabeth believed deeply in the divine right of monarchs — executing a queen set a dangerous precedent
International reaction	Mary's son James VI of Scotland might retaliate; France and Spain might use the execution as justification for war
Elizabeth's reputation	Elizabeth feared being seen as a tyrant who killed her own cousin and a fellow queen
Personal reluctance	Elizabeth genuinely agonised over the decision and delayed for months

Exam Tip: Elizabeth's hesitation is a key exam topic. It was not simply indecisiveness — it reflected genuine moral, political, and strategic concerns. The best answers will explain the specific reasons for her hesitation rather than simply saying she "couldn't make up her mind."

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The Execution — 8 February 1587

Elizabeth eventually signed the death warrant but later claimed she had not intended it to be carried out immediately. Her secretary, William Davison, sent the warrant to Fotheringhay, and the execution proceeded before Elizabeth could change her mind.

The Scene at Fotheringhay

Detail	Description
Date	8 February 1587
Location	The Great Hall of Fotheringhay Castle
Witnesses	Approximately 300 people, including nobles and officials
Mary's appearance	She wore a black gown, which she removed to reveal a red petticoat — the liturgical colour of martyrdom in the Catholic Church
Mary's words	She declared she died a Catholic and forgave her executioners
The execution	The executioner needed three blows to sever Mary's head. When he lifted the head, her auburn hair was revealed to be a wig — Mary's real hair was grey. Her small dog was reportedly found hiding beneath her skirts.

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Elizabeth's Reaction

Elizabeth was furious when she learned the execution had taken place — or at least claimed to be.

Action	Detail
Elizabeth blamed William Davison	Her secretary was arrested, fined, and imprisoned in the Tower of London
She claimed she had not authorised the execution	Historians debate whether this was genuine or a calculated performance to distance herself from responsibility
She wrote to James VI	Expressing her grief and claiming the execution was carried out against her wishes

Exam Tip: Was Elizabeth's anger genuine or calculated? Some historians argue she was genuinely shocked. Others suggest she deliberately signed the warrant and then used Davison as a scapegoat to avoid blame. The strongest answers will consider both interpretations and weigh the evidence.

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Consequences of the Execution