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On This Day (08 Feb) in 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire.

There had been multiple plots involving the exiled-Scottish queen during her 19 years in English captivity (1569-1587), relating to plans to usurp the English throne from her Protestant kinswoman Elizabeth I, and replace her with the Catholic monarch.

Mary was arrested in Aug 1586, following discovery of the Catholic plot, 'The Babington Plot', with letters to Mary being intercepted whilst she was residing at Chartley Castle, Staffs. She was subsequently moved to Fotheringhay, where she underwent a trial in Oct 1586; following a review of the evidence collected, Mary was convicted of high treason and sentenced to death.

Elizabeth did not act immediately following this conviction, attempting to encourage a 'confession' from Mary, being aware of potential retaliatory action from Mary's Catholic allies abroad. However, after ongoing pressure from her privy councillors, the English monarch reluctantly signed Mary's execution warrant on 01 Feb 1587; arrangements were then made (without Elizabeth's knowledge) for the execution to proceed.

A scaffold was erected in the Great Hall of Fotheringhay Castle, which had been draped in black cloth. George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, was one of the English peers present at her execution; Mary had been under his custody for 15 years (1569-1585), and had participated in her trial. Being informed of her planned death the previous evening, Mary was subsequently executed on 08 Feb by beheading, multiple strokes being required by the axeman.

Following her death, Mary's body was disembowelled, with her entrails secretly buried within the castle grounds, her body then placed within a lead coffin. Contrary to her requests to be buried in France, Mary was interred at Peterborough Cathedral, following a Protestant ceremony held on 01 Aug 1587. However, on the accession of her son James I to the English throne, Mary was reinterred in the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey on 11 Oct 1612, where an elaborate tomb had been built in her memory.

"I asked her Grace, since the weather did cut off all exercises abroad, how she passed the time within. She said that all the day she wrought with her needle, and that the diversity of the colours made the work seem less tedious, and continued so long at it till very pain did make her to give over." -Nicholas White, an envoy of Elizabeth I, reporting a conversation with Mary.

FRANCIS, JOIN THE GAME.

MOVIES I WATCHED IN 2020 ⇢ MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (2018)