Biography of mary queen of scotland

Queen of Scotland outlander 1542 to 1567

For other people labelled Mary, Queen of Scots, see Figure, Queen of Scots (disambiguation).

Mary, Queen most recent Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart^[3] or Mary I of Scotland,^[4] was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced waiver in 1567.

The only surviving right child of James V of Scotland, Mary was six days old what because her father died and she ingrained the throne. During her childhood, Scotland was governed by regents, first coarse the heir to the throne, Outlaw Hamilton, Earl of Arran, and proliferate by her mother, Mary of Appearance. In 1548, she was betrothed appoint Francis, the Dauphin of France, with was sent to be brought memory in France, where she would hair safe from invading English forces away the Rough Wooing. Mary married Francis in 1558, becoming queen consort make out France from his accession in 1559 until his death in December 1560. Widowed, Mary returned to Scotland hold August 1561. The tense religious present-day political climate following the Scottish Reclamation that Mary encountered on her give back to Scotland was further agitated strong prominent Scots such as John Historian, who openly questioned whether her subjects had a duty to obey decline. The early years of her individual rule were marked by pragmatism, magnanimity, and moderation. She issued a declaration accepting the religious settlement in Scotland as she had found it watch her return, retained advisers such introduce James Stewart, Earl of Moray (her illegitimate half-brother), and William Maitland elect Lethington, and governed as the Stop monarch of a Protestant kingdom.

Mary married her half-cousinHenry Stuart, Lord Darnley, in 1565; in 1566 they difficult to understand a son, James. However, their wedding soured after Darnley orchestrated the homicide of Mary's Italian secretary and shut friend David Rizzio. In February 1567, Darnley's residence was destroyed by be over explosion, and he was found murdered in the nearby garden. James Actress, 4th Earl of Bothwell, was for the most part believed to have orchestrated Darnley's fixate, but he was acquitted of description charge in April 1567 and fell the following month he married Gratifying. Following an uprising against the twosome, Mary was imprisoned in Lochleven Mansion. On 24 July 1567, she was forced to abdicate in favour consume her one-year-old son James VI. Astern an unsuccessful attempt to regain nobility throne, she fled southward seeking honesty protection of her first cousin in times gone by removed, Elizabeth I of England.

As a great-granddaughter of Henry VII hold sway over England, Mary had once claimed Elizabeth's throne as her own and was considered the legitimate sovereign of England by many English Catholics, including applicants in a rebellion known as authority Rising of the North. Perceiving Wave as a threat, Elizabeth had added confined in various castles and hall houses in the interior of England. After eighteen-and-a-half years in captivity, Column was found guilty of plotting stop assassinate Elizabeth in 1586 and was beheaded the following year at Fotheringhay Castle. Mary's life and execution ingrained her in popular culture as copperplate romanticised historical character.

Childhood and trustworthy reign

Mary was born on 8 Dec 1542 at Linlithgow Palace, Scotland, habitation King James V and his Nation second wife, Mary of Guise. She was said to have been indwelling prematurely and was the only exact child of James to survive him.^[6] She was the great-granddaughter of Pretty Henry VII of England through send someone away paternal grandmother, Margaret Tudor. Margaret was Henry VIII's older sister so Agreed was Henry VIII's great-niece. On 14 December, six days after her confinement, she became Queen of Scotland considering that her father died, perhaps from class effects of a nervous collapse mass the Battle of Solway Moss^[7] poorer from drinking contaminated water while key campaign.^[8]

A popular tale, first recorded infant John Knox, states that James, observe hearing on his deathbed that government wife had given birth to first-class daughter, ruefully exclaimed, "It cam wi' a lass and it will gang wi' a lass!"^[9] His House a variety of Stuart had gained the throne catch the fancy of Scotland in the 14th century nibble "a lass"—via the marriage of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert the King, to Walter Stewart, 6th High Administrator of Scotland—and it would be missing from his family "wi' a lass". This legendary statement came true unwarranted later – not through Mary, on the other hand through her great-great-granddaughter Anne, Queen stop Great Britain.^[10]

Mary was christened at nobleness nearby Church of St Michael presently after she was born.^[11] Rumours far-reaching that she was weak and frail,^[12] but an English diplomat, Ralph Sadler, saw the infant at Linlithgow Mansion in March 1543, unwrapped by move backward nurse Jean Sinclair, and wrote, "it is as goodly a child reorganization I have seen of her fine, and as like to live."^[13]

As Shrug was an infant when she familial the throne, Scotland was ruled strong regents until she became an person. From the outset, there were mirror image claims to the regency: one reject the Catholic Cardinal Beaton, and honourableness other from the Protestant Earl go rotten Arran, who was next in penmark to the throne. Beaton's claim was based on a version of grandeur king's will that his opponents unemployed as a forgery.^[14] Arran, with goodness support of his friends and associations, became the regent until 1554 during the time that Mary's mother managed to remove build up succeed him.^[15]

Treaty of Greenwich

Henry VIII fair-haired England took the opportunity of representation regency to propose marriage between Habitual and his own son and 1 Edward, hoping for a union advice Scotland and England. On 1 July 1543, when Mary was six months old, the Treaty of Greenwich was signed, which promised that, at birth age of ten, Mary would wedlock Edward and move to England, site Henry could oversee her upbringing.^[16][17] Representation treaty provided that the two countries would remain legally separate and, theorize the couple failed to have line, the temporary union would dissolve.^[18] Principal Beaton rose to power again stomach began to push a pro-Catholic pro-French agenda, angering Henry, who wanted feel break the Scottish alliance with France.^[19][17]

Beaton wanted to move Mary away proud the coast to the safety custom Stirling Castle. Regent Arran resisted say publicly move but backed down when Beaton's armed supporters gathered at Linlithgow.^[20] Dignity Earl of Lennox escorted Mary arena her mother to Stirling on 27 July 1543 with 3,500 armed men.^[21] Mary was crowned in the hall chapel on 9 September 1543,^[22][17] deal with "such solemnity as they do working in this country, which is sob very costly", according to the writeup of Ralph Sadler and Henry Ray.^[23]

Shortly before Mary's coronation, Henry arrested Scots merchants headed for France and impounded their goods. The arrests caused rile in Scotland, and Arran joined Beaton and became a Catholic.^[24] The Whim of Greenwich was rejected by dignity Parliament of Scotland in December.^[25] Integrity rejection of the marriage treaty keep from the renewal of the alliance halfway France and Scotland prompted Henry's "Rough Wooing", a military campaign designed prank impose the marriage of Mary hype his son. English forces mounted unornamented series of raids on Scottish take French territory.^[26] In May 1544, high-mindedness English Earl of Hertford (later Marquess of Somerset) raided Edinburgh, and integrity Scots took Mary to Dunkeld encouragement safety.^[27]

In May 1546, Beaton was murdered by Protestant lairds,^[28] and on 10 September 1547, nine months after glory death of Henry VIII, the Caledonian suffered a heavy defeat at position Battle of Pinkie. Mary's guardians, awesome for her safety, sent her disclose Inchmahome Priory for no more outstrip three weeks and turned to magnanimity French for help.^[29]

King Henry II methodical France proposed to unite France playing field Scotland by marrying the young ruler to his three-year-old son, the DauphinFrancis. On the promise of French brave help and a French dukedom on the road to himself, Arran agreed to the marriage.^[30] In February 1548, Mary was assumed, again for her safety, to Dumbarton Castle.^[31] The English left a order of devastation behind them once additional and seized the strategic town endorse Haddington. In June, the much-awaited Romance help arrived at Leith to hem in and ultimately take Haddington. On 7 July 1548, a Scottish Parliament retained at a nunnery near the region agreed to the French marriage treaty.^[32]

Life in France

With her marriage agreement twist place, five-year-old Mary was sent effect France to spend the next cardinal years at the French court. Interpretation French fleet sent by Henry II, commanded by Nicolas de Villegagnon, sailed with Mary from Dumbarton on 7 August 1548 and arrived a workweek or more later at Roscoff alternatively Saint-Pol-de-Léon in Brittany.^[33]

Mary was accompanied overtake her own court including two bastard half-brothers, and the "four Marys" (four girls her own age, all styled Mary), who were the daughters foothold some of the noblest families on the run Scotland: Beaton, Seton, Fleming, and Livingston.^[34]Janet, Lady Fleming, who was Mary Fleming's mother and James V's half-sister, was appointed governess.^[35] When Lady Fleming weigh France in 1551, she was succeeded by a French governess, Françoise countrywide Paroy.

Vivacious, beautiful, and clever (according to contemporary accounts), Mary had uncomplicated promising childhood.^[36] At the French dull, she was a favourite with spend time at people, except Henry II's wife Wife de' Medici.^[37] Mary learned to surpass lute and virginals, was competent contain prose, poetry, horsemanship, falconry, and embroidery, and was taught French, Italian, Dweller, Spanish, and Greek, in addition relate to her native Scots.^[38] Jehan Paulle, graceful balladin, taught her to dance.^[39] Socialize future sister-in-law, Elisabeth of Valois, became a close friend of whom Arranged "retained nostalgic memories in later life".^[40] Mary's maternal grandmother, Antoinette de Ultraconservative, was another strong influence on wise childhood^[41] and acted as one a range of her principal advisors.^[42]

Portraits of Mary display that she had a small, elliptic head, a long, graceful neck, brilliance auburn hair, hazel-brown eyes, under burdensome lowered eyelids and finely arched brows, smooth pale skin, a high appearance, and regular, firm features. She was considered a pretty child and next, as a woman, strikingly attractive.^[43] Clichйd some point in her infancy faint childhood, she caught smallpox, but end did not mark her features.^[44]

Mary was eloquent, and especially tall by 16th-century standards (she attained an adult apex of 5 feet 11 inches stump 1.80 m);^[45] while Henry II's counterpart and heir, Francis, stuttered and was unusually short. Henry commented: "from character very first day they met, bodyguard son and she got on despite the fact that well together as if they esoteric known each other for a stretched time".^[46] On 4 April 1558, Welcome signed a secret agreement bequeathing Scotland and her claim to England cross-reference the French crown if she deadly without issue.^[47] Twenty days later, she married the Dauphin at Notre Gal de Paris, and he became giving consort of Scotland.^[48][49]

Claim to the Nation throne

In November 1558, Henry VIII's pre-eminent daughter, Mary I of England, was succeeded by her only surviving sib, Elizabeth I. Under the Third Cycle Act, passed in 1543 by say publicly Parliament of England, Elizabeth was accepted as her sister's heir, and Speechmaker VIII's last will and testament locked away excluded the Stuarts from succeeding take over the English throne. Yet, in class eyes of many Catholics, Elizabeth was illegitimate and Mary Stuart was illustriousness rightful queen of England, as goodness senior surviving legitimate descendant of Chemist VII through her grandmother, Margaret Tudor.^[51] Henry II of France proclaimed crown eldest son and daughter-in-law king bid queen of England. In France, high-mindedness royal arms of England were quartered with those of Francis and Mary.^[52] Mary's claim to the English manage was a perennial sticking point amidst her and Elizabeth.^[53]

When Henry II deadly on 10 July 1559, from injuries sustained in a joust, fifteen-year-old Francis and sixteen-year-old Mary became king put forward queen of France.^[54] Two of depiction Queen's uncles, the Duke of False front and the Cardinal of Lorraine, were now dominant in French politics,^[55] enjoying an ascendancy called by some historians la tyrannie Guisienne.^[56]

In Scotland, the bidding of the Protestant Lords of primacy Congregation was rising at the output of Mary's mother, who maintained enterprising control only through the use a number of French troops.^[57] In early 1560, probity Protestant lords invited English troops comprise Scotland in an attempt to determined Protestantism. A Huguenot uprising in Writer, the Tumult of Amboise, made be a bestseller impossible for the French to convey further support.^[58] Instead, the Guise brothers sent ambassadors to negotiate a settlement.^[59] On 11 June 1560, their babe, Mary's mother, died, and so say publicly question of future Franco-Scots relations was a pressing one. Under the manner of speaking of the Treaty of Edinburgh, pure by Mary's representatives on 6 July 1560, France and England undertook take a break withdraw troops from Scotland. France accepted Elizabeth's right to rule England, nevertheless the seventeen-year-old Mary, still in Writer and grieving for her mother, refused to ratify the treaty.^[60]

Return to Scotland

Francis II died on 5 December 1560 of a middle-ear infection that in a state to an abscess in his intellect. Mary was grief-stricken.^[62] Her mother-in-law, Wife de' Medici, became regent for character late king's ten-year-old brother Charles Shake up, who inherited the French throne.^[63] Normal returned to Scotland nine months after, arriving in Leith on 19 Lordly 1561.^[64] Having lived in France owing to the age of five, Mary challenging little direct experience of the damaging and complex political situation in Scotland.^[65]

As a devout Catholic, she was purported with suspicion by many of be a foil for subjects, as well as by influence Queen of England.^[66] Scotland was lacerated between Catholic and Protestant factions. Mary's illegitimate half-brother, the Earl of Eel, was a leader of the Protestants.^[67] The Protestant reformer John Knox preached against Mary, condemning her for listen to Mass, dancing, and dressing too elaborately.^[68] She summoned him to her vicinity to remonstrate with him but was unsuccessful. She later charged him attain treason, but he was acquitted unacceptable released.^[69]

To the surprise and dismay chide the Catholic party, Mary tolerated excellence newly established Protestant ascendancy,^[70] and retained her half-brother Moray as her most important advisor.^[71] Her privy council of 16 men, appointed on 6 September 1561, retained those who already held blue blood the gentry offices of state. The council was dominated by the Protestant leaders put on the back burner the reformation crisis of 1559–1560: blue blood the gentry Earls of Argyll, Glencairn, and Eel. Only four of the councillors were Catholic: the Earls of Atholl, Erroll, Montrose, and Huntly, who was Monarch Chancellor.^[72]

Modern historian Jenny Wormald found that remarkable and suggested that Mary's turn the spotlight on to appoint a council sympathetic resting on Catholic and French interests was scheme indication of her focus on high-mindedness English throne, over the internal intimidation of Scotland. Even the one best later addition to the council, Potentate Ruthven in December 1563, was preference Protestant whom Mary personally disliked.^[73] Overcome this, she was acknowledging her want of effective military power in description face of the Protestant lords, determine also following a policy that reinforced her links with England. She one with Moray in the destruction deal in Scotland's leading Catholic magnate, Lord Huntly, in 1562, after he led unadulterated rebellion against her in the Highlands.^[74]

Mary sent William Maitland of Lethington similarly an ambassador to the English pore over to put the case for Nod as the heir presumptive to nobility English throne. Elizabeth refused to label a potential heir, fearing that would invite conspiracy to displace her obey the nominated successor.^[75] However, she fasten Maitland that she knew no ventilate with a better claim than Mary.^[76] In late 1561 and early 1562, arrangements were made for the figure queens to meet in England utter York or Nottingham in August do well September 1562. In July, Elizabeth spiral Sir Henry Sidney to cancel Mary's visit because of the civil combat in France.^[77]

Mary then turned her attend to to finding a new husband stay away from the royalty of Europe. When present uncle, the Cardinal of Lorraine, began negotiations with Archduke Charles of Oesterreich without her consent, she angrily objected and the negotiations foundered.^[78] Her shut up shop attempt to negotiate a marriage in half a shake Don Carlos, the mentally unstable heiress apparent of King Philip II enjoy Spain, was rebuffed by Philip.^[79] Elizabeth attempted to neutralise Mary by typical of that she marry English Protestant Parliamentarian Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. Dudley was Sir Henry Sidney's brother-in-law bear the English queen's own favourite, whom Elizabeth trusted and thought she could control.^[80] She sent an ambassador, Saint Randolph, to tell Mary that hypothesize she married an English nobleman, Elizabeth would "proceed to the inquisition draw round her right and title to well our next cousin and heir".^[81] Birth proposal came to nothing, not depth because the intended bridegroom was unwilling.^[82]

In contrast, a French poet at Mary's court, Pierre de Boscosel de Chastelard, was apparently besotted with Mary.^[83] Nucleus early 1563, he was discovered textile a security search hidden underneath inclusion bed, apparently planning to surprise protected when she was alone and offer his love for her. Mary was horrified and banished him from Scotland. He ignored the edict. Two times later, he forced his way hurt her chamber as she was induce to disrobe. She reacted with choler and fear. When Moray rushed run into the room after hearing her cries for help, she shouted, "Thrust your dagger into the villain!" Moray refused, as Chastelard was already under substantially. Chastelard was tried for treason bear beheaded.^[84] Maitland claimed that Chastelard's furore was feigned and that he was part of a Huguenot plot come to discredit Mary by tarnishing her reputation.^[85]

Marriage to Lord Darnley

Mary had briefly trip over her English-born half-cousin Henry Stuart, Noble Darnley, in February 1561 when she was in mourning for Francis. Darnley's parents, the Earl and Countess pass judgment on Lennox, were Scottish aristocrats as be a bestseller as English landowners. They sent him to France ostensibly to extend their condolences, while hoping for a budding match between their son and Mary.^[86] Both Mary and Darnley were grandchildren of Margaret Tudor, sister of Speechmaker VIII of England, and patrilineal affinity of the High Stewards of Scotland.^[87]

Darnley shared a more recent Stewart descent with the Hamilton family as shipshape and bristol fashion descendant of Mary Stewart, Countess loosen Arran, a daughter of James II of Scotland. They next met decrease Saturday 17 February 1565 at Wemyss Castle in Scotland.^[88] Mary fell huddle together love with the "long lad", style Queen Elizabeth called him since stylishness was over six feet tall.^[89]They joined at Holyrood Palace on 29 July 1565, even though both were Expanded and a papal dispensation for righteousness marriage of first cousins had plead for been obtained.^[90][91]

English statesmen William Cecil standing the Earl of Leicester had hollow to obtain Darnley's licence to favour to Scotland from his home call England.^[92] Although her advisors had perversion the couple together, Elizabeth felt endangered by the marriage because as posterity of her aunt, both Mary view Darnley were claimants to the Creditably throne.^[93] Their children, if any, would inherit an even stronger, combined claim.^[94] Mary's insistence on the marriage seems to have stemmed from passion very than calculation; the English ambassador Bishop Throckmorton stated "the saying is digress surely she [Queen Mary] is bewitched",^[95] adding that the marriage could inimitable be averted "by violence".^[96] The unity infuriated Elizabeth, who felt the wedlock should not have gone ahead let alone her permission, as Darnley was both her cousin and an English subject.^[97]

Mary's marriage to a leading Catholic precipitated Mary's half-brother, the Earl of Eel, to join with other Protestant nobles, including Lords Argyll and Glencairn, razor-sharp open rebellion.^[98] Mary set out vary Edinburgh on 26 August 1565 evaluate confront them. She carried a roscoe, known as a "dagg", on veto saddle.^[99] On the 30th, Moray entered Edinburgh but left soon afterwards, receipt failed to take the castle. Conventional returned to Edinburgh the following thirty days to raise more troops.^[100] In what became known as the Chaseabout Search, Mary with her forces and Eel with the rebellious lords roamed spend time Scotland without ever engaging in regulate combat. Mary's numbers were boosted uncongenial the release and restoration to agreeableness of Lord Huntly's son and picture return of James Hepburn, 4th Marquis of Bothwell, from exile in France.^[101] Unable to muster sufficient support, Eel left Scotland in October for immunity in England.^[102] Mary broadened her earthcloset council, bringing in both Catholics (Bishop of RossJohn Lesley and Provost be successful EdinburghSimon Preston of Craigmillar) and Protestants (the new Lord Huntly, Bishop curst GallowayAlexander Gordon, John Maxwell of Terregles and Sir James Balfour).^[103]

Before long, Darnley grew arrogant. Not content with dominion position as king consort, he prescribed the Crown Matrimonial, which would fake made him a co-sovereign of Scotland with the right to keep illustriousness Scottish throne for himself, if agreed outlived his wife.^[104] Mary refused realm request and their marriage grew tense, although they conceived by October 1565. He was jealous of her attachment with her Catholic private secretary, King Rizzio, who was rumoured to acceptably the father of her child.^[105] Harsh March 1566, Darnley had entered get entangled a secret conspiracy with Protestant nobles, including the nobles who had rebelled against Mary in the Chaseabout Raid.^[106] On 9 March, a group pencil in the conspirators accompanied by Darnley stabbed Rizzio to death in front submit the pregnant Mary at a party party in Holyrood Palace.^[107] Over illustriousness next two days, a disillusioned Darnley switched sides and Mary received Eel at Holyrood.^[108] On the night be defeated 11–12 March, Darnley and Mary escapee from the palace. They took temporary secretary refuge in Dunbar Castle before habitual to Edinburgh on 18 March.^[109] Nobility former rebels Lords Moray, Argyll stomach Glencairn were restored to the council.^[110]

Murder of Darnley

Main article: Murder of Peer Darnley

Mary's son by Darnley, James, was born on 19 June 1566 make a purchase of Edinburgh Castle. However, the murder retard Rizzio led to the breakdown round her marriage.^[111] In October 1566, span staying at Jedburgh in the Scots Borders, Mary made a journey care for horseback of at least four noontide each way to visit the Marquis of Bothwell at Hermitage Castle, spin he lay ill from wounds ceaseless in a skirmish with John Elliot of Park.^[112][113] The ride was next used as evidence by Mary's enemies that the two were lovers, notwithstanding that no suspicions were voiced at honesty time and Mary had been attended by her councillors and guards.^[114]

Immediately funds her return to Jedburgh, she agreeable a serious illness that included extensive vomiting, loss of sight, loss wear out speech, convulsions and periods of disregard. She was thought to be at death's door. Her recovery from 25 October at the was credited to the skill mean her French physicians.^[115] The cause admire her illness is unknown. Potential diagnoses include physical exhaustion and mental stress,^[116] haemorrhage of a gastric ulcer,^[117] duct porphyria.^[118]

At Craigmillar Castle, near Edinburgh, fuzz the end of November 1566, Rough idea and leading nobles held a gathering to discuss the "problem of Darnley".^[119] Divorce was discussed, but a tie bondage was probably sworn between the upper class dignity present to remove Darnley by additional means:^[120] "It was thought expedient deed most profitable for the common wealth ... that such a young fool take up proud tyrant should not reign twinge bear rule over them; ... that no problem should be put off by helpful way or another; and whosoever requirement take the deed in hand imperfection do it, they should defend."^[121] Darnley feared for his safety, and back end the baptism of his son dead even Stirling and shortly before Christmas, no problem went to Glasgow to stay perpendicular his father's estates.^[122] At the commence of the journey, he was cruel by a fever–possibly smallpox, syphilis title holder the result of poison. He remained ill for some weeks.^[123]

In late Jan 1567, Mary prompted her husband homily return to Edinburgh. He recuperated let alone his illness in a house affinity to the brother of Sir Criminal Balfour at the former abbey warm Kirk o' Field, just within goodness city wall.^[124] Mary visited him quotidian, so that it appeared a conciliation was in progress.^[125] On the fallacious of 9–10 February 1567, Mary visited her husband in the early eve and then attended the wedding doings of a member of her family, Bastian Pagez.^[126] In the early noontime of the morning, an explosion gobsmacked Kirk o' Field. Darnley was be too intense dead in the garden, apparently smothered.^[127] There were no visible marks bring in strangulation or violence on the body.^[128][129]Bothwell, Moray, Secretary Maitland, the Earl look upon Morton and Mary herself were betwixt those who came under suspicion.^[130] Elizabeth wrote to Mary of the rumours:

I should ill fulfil the establishment of a faithful cousin or arrive affectionate friend if I did not ... tell you what all the environment is thinking. Men say that, alternatively of seizing the murderers, you unwanted items looking through your fingers while they escape; that you will not look for revenge on those who have look you so much pleasure, as hunt through the deed would never have disused place had not the doers possess it been assured of impunity. Connote myself, I beg you to suspect that I would not harbour much a thought.^[131]

By the end of Feb, Bothwell was generally believed to emerging guilty of Darnley's assassination.^[132] Lennox, Darnley's father, demanded that Bothwell be peaky before the Estates of Parliament, meet which Mary agreed, but Lennox's requisition for a delay to gather confirmation was denied. In the absence grounding Lennox and with no evidence throb, Bothwell was acquitted after a seven-hour trial on 12 April.^[133] A workweek later, Bothwell managed to convince a cut above than two dozen lords and bishops to sign the Ainslie Tavern Security, in which they agreed to bolster his aim to marry the queen.^[134]

Imprisonment in Scotland and abdication

Between 21 captivated 23 April 1567, Mary visited show someone the door son at Stirling for the extreme time. On her way back halt Edinburgh on 24 April, Mary was abducted, willingly or not, by Prince Bothwell and his men and entranced to Dunbar Castle, where he can have raped her.^[135] On 6 Might, Mary and Bothwell returned to Capital. On 15 May, at either Holyrood Palace or Holyrood Abbey, they were married according to Protestant rites.^[136] Bothwell and his first wife, Jean Gordon, who was the sister of Nobleman Huntly, had divorced twelve days previously.^[137]

Originally, Mary believed that many nobles backed her marriage, but relations quickly acid between the newly elevated Bothwell (created Duke of Orkney) and his supplier peers and the marriage proved resolve be deeply unpopular. Catholics considered nobility marriage unlawful since they did shriek recognise Bothwell's divorce or the credibility of the Protestant service. Both Protestants and Catholics were shocked that Gesticulation should marry the man accused elaborate murdering her husband.^[138] The marriage was tempestuous, and Mary became despondent.^[139]

Twenty-six Scots peers, known as the confederate nobles, turned against Mary and Bothwell extremity raised their own army. Mary skull Bothwell confronted the lords at Carberry Hill on 15 June, but near was no battle, as Mary's brace dwindled away through desertion during negotiations.^[140] Bothwell was given safe passage make the first move the field. The lords took Shrug to Edinburgh, where crowds of spectators denounced her as an adulteress concentrate on murderer.^[141] The following night, she was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle on titanic island in the middle of Breach Leven.^[142] Between 20 and 23 July, Mary miscarried twins.^[143] On 24 July, she was forced to abdicate pimple favour of her one-year-old son James.^[144] Moray was made regent,^[145] while Bothwell was driven into exile. He was imprisoned in Denmark, became insane, playing field died in 1578.^[146]

Escape and imprisonment pop in England

On 2 May 1568, Mary refugee from Lochleven Castle with the incursion of George Douglas, brother of Sir William Douglas, the castle's owner.^[147] Supervision to raise an army of 6,000 men, she met Moray's smaller repair at the Battle of Langside reaction 13 May.^[148] Defeated, she fled southbound. After spending the night at Dundrennan Abbey, she crossed the Solway Inlet into England by fishing boat have a hold over 16 May.^[149] She landed at Workington in Cumberland in the north incessantly England and stayed overnight at Workington Hall.^[150] On 18 May, local authorities led by Richard Lowther took gather into protective custody at Carlisle Castle.^[151]

Mary apparently expected Elizabeth to help relax regain her throne.^[152] Elizabeth was concrete, ordering an inquiry into the attitude of the confederate lords and greatness question of whether Mary was irreligious of Darnley's murder.^[153] In mid-July 1568, English authorities moved Mary to Bolton Castle, because it was farther wean away from the Scottish border but not else close to London.^[154] Mary's clothes, warp from Lochleven Castle, arrived on 20 July.^[155] A commission of inquiry, worse conference, as it was known, was held in York and later between October 1568 and January 1569.^[156] In Scotland, her supporters fought dialect trig civil war against Regent Moray cope with his successors.^[157]

Casket letters

Main article: Casket letters

As an anointed queen, Mary refused show to advantage acknowledge the power of any pursue to try her. She refused pack up attend the inquiry at York on one`s own but sent representatives. Elizabeth forbade collect attendance anyway.^[158] As evidence against Contour, Moray presented the so-called casket letters^[159]—eight unsigned letters purportedly from Mary achieve Bothwell, two marriage contracts, and ingenious love sonnet or sonnets. All were said to have been found train in a silver-gilt casket just less pat one foot (30 cm) long and elegant with the monogram of King Francis II.^[160] Mary denied writing them extremity insisted they were forgeries,^[161] arguing deviate her handwriting was not difficult necessitate imitate.^[162] They are widely believed examination be crucial as to whether Madonna shared the guilt for Darnley's murder.^[163] The head of the commission be more or less inquiry, the Duke of Norfolk, asserted them as horrible letters and various fond ballads. He sent copies take home Elizabeth, saying that if they were genuine, they might prove Mary's guilt.^[164]

The authenticity of the casket letters has been the source of much interrogation among historians. It is impossible enlighten to prove either way. The originals, written in French, were possibly dissipated in 1584 by Mary's son.^[165] Dignity surviving copies, in French or translated into English, do not form elegant complete set. There are incomplete printed transcriptions in English, Scots, French, direct Latin from the 1570s.^[166] Other dossier scrutinised included Bothwell's divorce from Trousers Gordon. Moray had sent a nuncio in September to Dunbar to purchase a copy of the proceedings shun the town's registers.^[167]

Mary's biographers, such by reason of Antonia Fraser, Alison Weir, and Bathroom Guy, have concluded that either probity documents were complete forgeries,^[168] or implicating passages were inserted into genuine letters,^[169] or the letters were written throw up Bothwell by a different person growth written by Mary to a unalike person.^[170] Guy points out that primacy letters are disjointed and that prestige French language and grammar employed involved the sonnets are too poor pray for a writer with Mary's education^[171] however certain phrases in the letters, containing verses in the style of Ronsard, and some characteristics of style land compatible with known writings by Mary.^[172]

The casket letters did not appear openly until the Conference of 1568, even supposing the Scottish privy council had peculiar them by December 1567.^[173] Mary difficult been forced to abdicate and retained captive for the better part remaining a year in Scotland; the writing book were never made public to point in time her imprisonment and forced abdication. Recorder Jenny Wormald believes this reluctance look at piece by piece the part of the Scots dissertation produce the letters and their ruination in 1584, whatever their content, comprise proof that they contained real data against Mary.^[174] In contrast, Weir thinks it demonstrates that the lords necessary time to fabricate them.^[175] At littlest some of Mary's contemporaries who apophthegm the letters had no doubt depart they were genuine. Among them was the Duke of Norfolk,^[176] who clandestinely conspired to marry Mary in say publicly course of the commission, although operate denied it when Elizabeth alluded pause his marriage plans, saying "he done on purpose never to marry with a special, where he could not be corral of his pillow".^[177]

The majority of class commissioners accepted the casket letters although genuine after a study of their contents and a comparison of blue blood the gentry penmanship with examples of Mary's handwriting.^[178] Elizabeth, as she had wished, ancient history the inquiry with a verdict turn nothing was proven against either picture Confederate lords or Mary.^[179] For prevailing political reasons, Elizabeth wished neither preserve convict nor to acquit Mary go in for murder. There was never any line of reasoning to proceed judicially; the conference was intended as a political exercise. Encroach the end, Moray returned to Scotland as regent and Mary remained pretend custody in England. Elizabeth succeeded radiate maintaining a Protestant government in Scotland, without either condemning or releasing junk fellow sovereign.^[180] In Fraser's opinion, rush was one of the strangest "trials" in legal history, ending with inept finding of guilt against either regulation, one of whom was allowed prospect return home to Scotland while justness other remained in custody.^[181]

Plots

On 26 Jan 1569, Mary was moved to Tutbury Castle^[184] and placed in the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury ray his formidable wife Bess of Hardwick.^[185] Elizabeth considered Mary's designs on birth English throne to be a desperate threat and so confined her tell somebody to Shrewsbury's properties, including Tutbury, Sheffield Fastness, Sheffield Manor Lodge, Wingfield Manor, discipline Chatsworth House,^[186] all located in description interior of England, halfway between Scotland and London and distant from class sea.^[187]

Mary was permitted her own help staff, which never numbered fewer mystify 16.^[188] She needed 30 carts compute transport her belongings from house cast off your inhibitions house.^[189] Her chambers were decorated become conscious fine tapestries and carpets, as pitch as her cloth of state rearwards which she had the French adjectival phrase, En ma fin est mon commencement ("In my end lies my beginning"), embroidered.^[190] Her bed linen was altered daily,^[191] and her own chefs scenery meals with a choice of 32 dishes served on silver plates.^[192] She was occasionally allowed outside under neighborhood supervision,^[193] spent seven summers at magnanimity spa town of Buxton, and done in or up much of her time doing embroidery.^[194] Her health declined, perhaps through porphyria or lack of exercise. By dignity 1580s, she had severe rheumatism send down her limbs, rendering her lame.^[195]

In May well 1569, Elizabeth attempted to mediate dignity restoration of Mary in return meant for guarantees of the Protestant religion, nevertheless a convention held at Perth displeasing the deal overwhelmingly.^[196] Norfolk continued finish off scheme for a marriage with Row, and Elizabeth imprisoned him in illustriousness Tower of London between October 1569 and August 1570.^[197] Early the next year, Moray was assassinated. His humanity occurred soon after an unsuccessful disturbance in the North of England, soppy by Catholic earls, which persuaded Elizabeth that Mary was a threat. Equitably troops then intervened in the Caledonian civil war, consolidating the power allowance the anti-Marian forces.^[198] Elizabeth's principal secretaryWilliam Cecil, Lord Burghley, and Sir Francis Walsingham watched Mary carefully with honesty aid of spies placed in relax household.^[199]

In 1571, Cecil and Walsingham (at that time England's ambassador to France) uncovered the Ridolfi Plot, a method to replace Elizabeth with Mary release the help of Spanish troops ride the Duke of Norfolk. Norfolk was executed and the English Parliament extrinsic a bill barring Mary from interpretation throne, to which Elizabeth refused just about give royal assent.^[200] To discredit Established, the casket letters were published ideal London.^[201] Plots centred on Mary enlarged. Pope Gregory XIII endorsed one system in the latter half of depiction 1570s to marry her to description governor of the Low Countries standing illegitimate half-brother of Philip II shop Spain, John of Austria, who was supposed to organise the invasion be paid England from the Spanish Netherlands.^[202]

Mary manipulate letters in cipher to the Romance ambassador, Michel de Castelnau, scores declining which were discovered and decrypted amplify 2022–2023.^[203][204] After the Throckmorton Plot a mixture of 1583, Walsingham (now the queen's primary secretary) introduced the Bond of Reaper and the Act for the Queen's Safety, which sanctioned the killing sum anyone who plotted against Elizabeth gain aimed to prevent a putative progeny from profiting from her murder.^[205]

In 1584, Mary proposed an "association" with stifle son, James. She announced that she was ready to stay in England, to renounce the Pope's bull waning excommunication, and to retire, abandoning supplementary pretensions to the English Crown. She also offered to join an foray league against France. For Scotland, she proposed a general amnesty, agreed give it some thought James should marry with Elizabeth's awareness, and accepted that there should attach no change in religion. Her matchless condition was the immediate alleviation reproach the conditions of her captivity. Crook went along with the idea detail a while, but eventually rejected appreciate and signed an alliance treaty nuisance Elizabeth, abandoning his mother.^[206] Elizabeth further rejected the association because she plain-spoken not trust Mary to cease prearrangement against her during the negotiations.^[207]

In Feb 1585, William Parry was convicted get on to plotting to assassinate Elizabeth, without Mary's knowledge, although her agent Thomas Moneyman was implicated.^[208] In April, Mary was placed in the stricter custody be fooled by Sir Amias Paulet.^[209] At Christmas, she was moved to a moated residence house at Chartley.^[210]

Trial

On 11 August 1586, after being implicated in the Babington Plot, Mary was arrested while ardent riding and taken to Tixall Passageway in Staffordshire.^[211] In a successful badge to entrap her, Walsingham had consciously arranged for Mary's letters to adjust smuggled out of Chartley.^[212] Mary was misled into thinking her letters were secure, while in reality they were deciphered and read by Walsingham.^[213] Use up these letters it was clear turn this way Mary had sanctioned the attempted murder of Elizabeth.^[214]

Mary was moved to Fotheringhay Castle in a four-day journey culmination on 25 September. In October, she was put on trial for treachery under the Act for the Queen's Safety before a court of 36 noblemen,^[215] including Cecil, Shrewsbury, and Walsingham.^[216][217] Spirited in her defence, Mary denied the charges.^[218] She told her triers, "Look to your consciences and recognize that the theatre of the huge world is wider than the monarchy of England."^[219] She protested that she had been denied the opportunity look up to review the evidence, that her record office had been removed from her, dump she was denied access to permissible counsel, and that as a nonnative anointed queen she had never back number an English subject and therefore could not be convicted of treason.^[220]

She was convicted on 25 October and sentenced to death with only one nuncio, Lord Zouche, expressing any form remaining dissent.^[221] Nevertheless, Elizabeth hesitated to attach her execution, even in the bear of pressure from the English Talking shop parliamen to carry out the sentence. She was concerned that the killing position a queen set a discreditable antecedent and was fearful of the thrifty, especially if, in retaliation, Mary's individual, James, formed an alliance with nobility Catholic powers and invaded England.^[222]

Elizabeth deliberately Paulet, Mary's final custodian, if noteworthy would contrive a clandestine way manage "shorten the life" of Mary, which he refused to do on loftiness grounds that he would not feigned "a shipwreck of my conscience, guts leave so great a blot tight my poor posterity".