What threat did Mary, Queen of Scots pose to Elizabeth I?

Learning objective – to be able to assess the extent of the threats posed by Mary, Queen of Scots to Elizabeth I. I can describe the key threats posed by Mary, Queen of Scots. Grade 3 I can explain the key threats posed by Mary, Queen of Scots. Grade 6 I can explain and assess the threats posed by Mary, Queen of Scots. Grade 9

Starter Look at this family tree. What is the relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots?

Who was Mary, Queen of Scots? Mary, Queen of Scots was Elizabeth I second cousin – her closest living relative and heir to the English throne. Mary was Queen of Scotland since 1542 when her father died when she was six days old. Half-French and Catholic, Mary married the French Dauphin, Francis and lived in France for most of her teenage years.

How did the Protestants take control in Scotland? In 1559, Mary’s husband becomes Francis II of France. In her absence, Mary’s mother, Mary of Guise, rules Scotland in her place. The Scottish Protestant nobles hated the French and the Catholics and seized control of Scotland. They were aided by Elizabeth I secretly sending money and troops as she saw the influence of the French and Catholics as a threat. This was despite the fact that the rebels were fighting against a rightful ruler. The rebellion ends in 1560 with the Treaty of Edinburgh which gave control of Scotland to the Protestant lords and relinquished Mary’s claim to the English throne – although Mary never accepts this treaty. Mary returns to Scotland in 1561 as a Catholic monarch in a Protestant country …. but she has very little power.

What was the impact of Mary, Queen of Scots’ marriage to Lord Darnley in 1565? Mary married her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley in 1565. As a distant Tudor, marriage to Darnley strengthened Mary’s claim to the English throne. The marriage produced a son, James, giving Mary and heir to the Scottish throne. The marriage was a disaster, with Darnley being a bullying drunk. In 1567, Darnley was murdered and Mary then married the chief suspect – Earl of Bothwell.

What was the impact of Mary, Queen of Scots’ marriage to Earl of Bothwell in 1567? Mary’s marriage to the Earl of Bothwell was hugely unpopular with the Protestant nobility. The nobility overthrew Mary and replaced her with her one-year-old son, James, as the Scottish monarch. Mary was imprisoned but escaped in 1568 and tried to fight the new government to win back her throne. She was easily defeated. In desperation, Mary flees to the north of England hoping Elizabeth would help her.

What problems does the arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots’ to England in 1568 present to Elizabeth? Mary’s arrival in England could give English Catholics a figurehead for rebellion. Mary had a lot of support in Europe, especially France. Scotland needs to be on friendly terms to secure England’s northern border. Many of Elizabeth’s politicians wanted to get rid of Mary. The Scots were placing pressure on Elizabeth to send Mary back so they could put her on trial. Mary was Elizabeth’s closest relative and it was Elizabeth’s duty to help her as a fellow monarch.

Task Copy the graph from your worksheet on a single page of your exercise book and place the following events on it. Explain your top three threats to Elizabeth I. 1560 – The Treaty of Edinburgh.   1561 – Mary returns to Scotland. 1565 – Mary marries Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley 1566 – Mary gives birth to a son, James. 1567 – Darnley is murdered 1567 – Mary marries the Earl of Bothwell. 1567-8 – Mary is defeated by a Protestant rebellion and is overthrown. 1568 – Mary flees to England. 1569 – A Catholic plot to replace Elizabeth with Mary is defeated.

Bankrupt Elizabeth I Extension Task Complete this hexagon framework by adding words in the blank hexagons which can link with the words in the adjacent hexagons. Explain the links made between the hexagons. Earl of Bothwell Mary, Queen of Scots   Treaty of Edinburgh

Plenary – a touch of Scrabble The mystery word that relates to this lesson is worth ...... 12 points ..... Using the Scrabble score card, can you work out which word it is?