Expert: Mark Smith - 11/17/2003

Question
Why was Mary Queen of Scots executed? Is there any other reason other than having plots to overthrow Elizabeth?

Thanks for helping :)

Answer
Hello Alice. The official reason for Mary, Queen of Scots' execution was her involvement in a plot (the Babington Plot of 1586) to overthrow Elizabeth, her guilt cannot be denied. But an additional reason may be the fact that Mary was Elizabeth's heir, and a Catholic, which meant that many people in England desired Mary's death. She was, after all, 9 years younger than Elizabeth and there was every chance that Elizabeth would die first and the Papist Mary would be Queen of England. The Babington Plot was uncovered by the authorities before Mary became involved, but they let her incriminate herself knowing it would lead her to the executioner's block. Personally I think that Elizabeth secretly wished that Mary would die in prison or even be murdered so that the problem of what to do with her would no longer arise.
Mark