After 19
years, Mary, Queen of Scots’ captivity came to an end. Unfortunately it wasn’t
under happy circumstances. The former Scottish monarch (she’d been forced to
abdicate in favor of her infant son, James) was executed in private under the
orders of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Well, technically under
Elizabeth’s orders.
Since Mary
had been found guilty of treason due to the Babington Plot in October 1586,
Elizabeth had refused to sign Mary’s death warrant. As Mary was an anointed queen,
Elizabeth believed that only God could take her life. Elizabeth also feared the
precedent something like this would set, along with retaliation from the now
adult son, James VI of Scotland. The last thing Elizabeth wanted was for James
to form an alliance with the English Catholics and invade England to release
his mother.
On February
1, 1587, under pressure from her council, Elizabeth signed Mary’s death
warrant. Ten members from the privy council opted to carry out that sentence as
soon as possible, although it was without Elizabeth’s knowledge.
Mary
learned of her execution date the night before. She spent that night writing a
letter to the King of France, creating her will and prayed to God.
The
execution was carried out in private at Fotheringhay’s Great Hall. The earls of
Kent and Shrewsbury witnessed the execution, and her servants Elizabeth Curle
and Jane Kennedy helped to remove her outer garments. Underneath, she worse
crimson brown sleeves to note her martyrdom. Before she laid her head on the
block, she was blindfolded.
In manus tuas, Comine, commedo spiritum meum were her final words; Latin for into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Even the
execution couldn’t go to plan. The first strike hit her head and the second
left a small bit of sinew on her neck, which was cut through by the
executioner. When the executioner lifted her head, with the world “God save the
Queen,” her head fell away from her hair. She had been wearing a wig, hiding
her short, grey hair.
Supposedly
everything Mary had at the time of her execution were burnt in the hall to
prevent relic hunters disturbing her body and causing problems. Her Skye Terrier
had been hiding under her skirts nd was forcibly removed from her body after
the event.
It was a
sad end to a difficult, public life for Mary, Queen of Scots.
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