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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

As you know, Mary, Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth I's cousin. Comment on their relationship, as well as the significance of Mary's execution. Compare/contrast what you know about Elizabeth's decision to execute her cousin with your observations of Elizabeth's speech to her troops (previous doc).

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 19

posted by RJS at 11:05 AM

7 Comments:

  • This was a very tricky political situation for Elizabeth, as she risked sending all the wrong messages with this execution, such as disproving any form of divine right for monarchs, being seen as a merciless Catholic-killer, and possibly having a martyr's blood on her hands. If enough people got behind the idea of Mary the martyr, a revolution could still depose her despite the execution. This execution can make her continuity with the other document somewhat questionable, as she denounces authoritarians and other monarchs she considers generally evil where as here she is executing a family member because of her religion, "an enemy of her God". Mary seemed to be very calm according to this account, apparently thinking her cause would be better served if she were executed, or perhaps just confident enough in her spot in heaven. The relationship between Elizabeth and Mary was very impersonal, so likely little attachment would have prevented the execution. The theoretical relationship may have made a better example, however, as Elizabeth can now be said to execute any politically active Catholics, even her own family.

    By Blogger Unknown, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:35:00 PM  

  • Elizabeth and Mary were distant relatives through Henry VIII eventually coming down to the title of 'cousin'(still lost about the family life and drama of it all). Of course, the two queens, even though related, had never met each other in person, but because of (I assume) values of the age, family was important to nobility and royalty. Elizabeth didn't truly desire to execute Mary of Scotts but she felt the absolute need to because Mary was in obvious plot to have Elizabeth assassinated. Mary was family to Elizabeth as well as a fellow Queen(meaning her execution would cause queens in general to appear weak), both of which are personal reasons why Elizabeth wasn't fond of executing her. The political problem was that Elizabeth had to in order for her to keep control, otherwise she would look weak, and mostlikely die from another assassination plot. Mary was also a catholic, and if she was executed by an excommunicated Queen of a protestant-led country, the Catholic Church wouldn't be thrilled. Elizabeth believed, as her speechwould lead one to believe, that leaders had to have strength and duty in order to be great; Therefore in order to keep her appeal of strength and duty, she had to do what was best from a political stand point and 'keep to the code'.

    By Blogger TeganLove, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:55:00 PM  

  • I write this assuming that the reading was accurate. Not having any knowledge of who recorded it, I cannot offer any real insight into a point of view. Mary for one seemed rather too happy to die for a cousin whom she was perfecting willing to see die in the Babington plot. Perhaps this was written to boost Elizabeth's status as ruler- especially with the bits about "so may all the queen's enemies perish." Assuming the document was accurate, Mary may have decided that going out gracefully would help her posthumous reputation. Or perhaps the nineteen years of exile in England actually wrought so much depression that death was welcome (though the Babington plot still weighs rather heavily on my mind.)
    So far as Elizabeth's decision to execute Mary, her speech can offer a quite linear train of thought. Elizabeth emphasises national unitiy, regal responsibility, and patriotic duty. If any threat to England exists, Elizabeth made it quite clear that her job was to eradicate it. In Mary's case, that led to execution.
    I gained an insight into the personality (or at least portrayed personality) of Mary. Would her rule of England been marked with the brutality of an assasination attempt or the mercy of her execution. (That sounds wierd, but it's true.)

    By Blogger ThomasBatson, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:03:00 PM  

  • Mary Queen of Scots was something of Elizabeth's long lost cousin. They had hever met and didn't speak to one another. Once her involvment in an assassination plt was revealed, Elizabeth had a very important decision to make. She could either appear soft and allow Mary to live since she was a monarch as well as a relative, or be seen as a tyrant but remain in control of her country and execute Mary. In the end Elizabeth decided to have Mary killed much to the anger of the Church since Mary was Catholic.
    Her descision to have Mary killed reflects her loyalty to England just as the speech to her troops does. Both show that she would risk quite a lot to keep her people united. She had to have Mary killed because Mary had been part of an assassination attempt and Elizabeth had to be sure people knew who was in charge, In her speech she also makes sure that all of her subject know exactly who is controlling them. As Queen it would obviously be important to have one's subject know that one is in charge and not have people who don't follow your rule. The speech also talks bout Elizabeth's duty's, to let her subjects know that (in relation to the execution of Mary) they should look at it from her perspective and see that this needed to be done even though it had negative effects for Elizabeth.

    By Blogger manxomefoe, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:28:00 PM  

  • The relationship between Elizabeth and her cousin Mary was an impersonal one, as they did not ever meet face to face. But they were family, and that is where the the conflict arose. Elizabeth was a stong willed leader, and in that sense she could not sway her position on threats to her country. Mary had plotted to take the throne, which was an offense to be punished by death. As a politique, the Catholic and the Spanish reaction to the execution were surely evident to Elizabeth, but did not outweigh the position of the state in the equation. I think it was apparent to her that either way she would lose some credibility amongst her subjects, either showing weakness by letting Mary go free, or being labeled anti-Catholic by the many members of the church for executing her. She chose showing strength in her policy.

    By Blogger Victoria, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:34:00 PM  

  • Though Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots, had never met face to face, I believe there was something of a recognition of the importance of each between them. One of the reasons why Elizabeth had so heavily grappled with the decision to behead Mary was she recognized Mary as a monarch and as an important figure in the European Catholic community. Like Elizabeth's speech to her troops, her decision to behead Mary shows an unerring and uncompromising will to come out the victor. To allow Mary to live would make ELizabeth seem far weaker. However, in contrast to Elizabeth's speech where she makes a plee for the loyalty of her troops as a kind of salute to how important they are, Elizabeth asks nothing of Mary. Nor does she offer a final gesture of respect.

    By Blogger laura, at Wednesday, September 20, 2006 11:27:00 AM  

  • This document details the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. Obviously the record comes from a man who witnessed the execution, but without any knowledge of him, I cannot say what role he played in the event.
    Elizabeth had to make an extremely difficult decision, between family or safety. Although she and Mary had never met face to face, Mary was still family. If Elizabeth did not execute her, she would be putting her life in danger because Mary was recently proved to be involved in the Babington Plot. Elizabeth would also seem weak if Mary lived. If she did execute her, she would not only kill her cousin but also she would be putting England in danger of invasion. Catholics would retaliate if one of their leaders was to be killed.
    Elizabeth is seen as a strong ruler because of both documents. She had the strength to execute a family member in order to protect her country, and had the strength to lead England to victory over the supposedly undefeatable Spanish Armada.
    Mary's death showed the people of England that they had a strong ruler who would not tolerate treason in any way or form.

    By Blogger taylor, at Thursday, September 21, 2006 8:46:00 PM  

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