Mary I of Scotland: Encyclopedia II - Mary I of Scotland - Execution

Mary I of Scotland - Execution

Mary eventually became a liability that Elizabeth could no longer tolerate. She was involved in several plots to assassinate Elizabeth, raise the Catholic North of England, and put herself on the throne, possibly with French or Spanish help. Some of Mary's supporters believe that these plots were fabricated.

Mary was found guilty of treason by a court of about 40 noblemen, including Catholics, after being involved in the so-called Babington plot, and after giving the go-ahead to assassinate Elizabeth. She was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle on February 8, 1587. She chose to wear red, thereby declaring herself a Catholic martyr.

The execution was badly carried out. It is said to have taken two (or, according to some accounts, three) blows to hack off her head. Various improbable stories about the execution were later circulated. One which is thought to be true is that, when the executioner picked up the severed head to show it to those present, it was discovered that Mary was wearing a wig. The headsman was left holding the wig, while the late queen's head rolled on the floor.

Mary was initially buried at Peterborough Cathedral, but her body was exhumed in 1612 when her son, King James I of England, ordered she be reinterred in Westminster Abbey. It remains there, only thirty feet (9 metres) from the grave of her cousin Elizabeth.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Execution", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki