The Problem of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1568-1569 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Mary had strong support from the English Puritans.

Mary was willing to use force to enforce her weak claim to the English throne.

Mary had an alliance with the Netherlands that would give her the troops she needed to invade England.

Mary held a legitimate claim to the throne and was popular among English Catholics.

Mary was a direct descendant of Henry VIII, giving her a strong bloodline.

Mary’s parents, James V and Mary of Guise, were married before and after Mary’s birth.

Mary was Elizabeth’s sister so she had an equal claim to the throne.

Mary was a Protestant so she followed the religion that most people in England believed in.

Mary attempted to make religious changes in Scotland which angered the Scottish nobles, who wanted Scotland to remain strongly Catholic.

Mary was accused of murdering her husband, Lord Darnley. She married the Earl of Bothwell quickly after Darnley’s death which convinced the Scottish nobles of her guilt.

Mary tried to divorce the Earl of Bothwell to marry Lord Darnley, an English nobleman, against the wishes of the Scottish nobles.

Mary could not produce an heir to the throne. She had a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1566.

Elizabeth had to decide what to do about Mary which avoided outcomes such as executing an anointed monarch and potential attempts to overthrow Elizabeth.

Elizabeth now had a fellow female ruler in England to help her govern England, strengthening her position.

Elizabeth sent Mary back to Scotland. Elizabeth openly supported the Scottish nobles and believed that Mary should face trial in Scotland.

Elizabeth’s government welcomed Mary to England. Her presence in England would weaken the Catholic threat to Elizabeth’s throne.

Elizabeth helped Mary regain her Scottish throne by giving her an army.

Elizabeth made Mary stand on trial in England for her crimes in Scotland.

Elizabeth gave Mary safe passage to travel abroad to safety.

Elizabeth kept Mary in England under arrest.

The Treaty of Edinburgh was significant because it stated that Mary, Queen of Scots had to give up her claim to the English throne. This secured Elizabeth’s position.

The Treaty of Edinburgh was significant because it ended the rebellion of the Scottish lords.

The Treaty of Edinburgh was insignificant because Mary never personally agreed to its terms.

The Treaty of Edinburgh was insignificant because Mary did not care about her reputation. The Divine Right of Kings meant that she could claim the English throne whenever she wanted to.

There was no impact on Mary’s position in Scotland. As a divinely appointed ruler, she could murder her husband.

There was some impact on Mary’s position in Scotland. Whilst many nobles did not like that she killed her husband, they recognised that Darnley was an abusive man.

There was some impact on Mary’s position in Scotland. Without a husband, Mary’s position was weakened as many nobles felt women should not rule alone.

There was a significant impact on Mary’s position in Scotland. The Scottish nobles declared a civil war on Mary and demanded that she abdicate.

The Earl of Bothwell’s actions were not important. It was Mary, not Bothwell, who was the divinely appointed monarch in Scotland.

The Earl of Bothwell’s actions were important. As he was a Protestant, his marriage to Mary made her more likeable to the Scottish nobles.

The Earl of Bothwell’s actions were important. The nobles saw Bothwell’s marriage to Mary as evidence that he was violent and power-hungry.

The Earl of Bothwell’s actions were very important. His actions were responsible for the Scottish nobles turning against their queen.

Fear of a foreign power. Elizabeth knew that killing a Catholic monarch could cause a war with Spain.

Mary’s son. It would be wrong of Elizabeth to kill a mother.

Distrust. Elizabeth did not know if she could trust Mary’s version of events in Scotland.

The reaction of the Scottish nobles. Elizabeth worried about what her subjects would think about her decision.