Monstrous Regiments: Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots (ep 74)

SHOW NOTES

Forced to abdicate in favor of her baby son, Mary Queen of Scots fled to England in 1568. For 19 years, she and Queen Elizabeth I became increasingly at odds as Mary was the focus of and then willing participant in plots to assassinate Elizabeth and put Mary on the English throne. We know that story. I think it's also important to realize that, although there were forces working against both women that they could not control, both women took control of their narratives and established lasting legends that helped shape history.

Credits:

Host: Carol Ann Lloyd
Creative Director: Lindsey Lindstrom
Music: Historical Documentary licensed through Audio Jungle/Envato Markets

www.carolannlloyd.com

Episode Summary:

John Knox may have been intended his work to challenge the rule of Catholic Mary Tudor, but it was Protestant Elizabeth I who came to the throne the year the First Blast was published. Marie of Guise died two years later. That left two women who were poised to rule England and Scotland for years to come: Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I.

Mary Queen of Scots spent her youth in France and married Francois, heir to the French throne. They married and became King and Queen of France in 1559. They claimed to be King and Queen of England as well. After Francois's early death, Mary returned home to Scotland to begin her active rule.

So in 1561, there were two women ruling side by side in England and Scotland.

Elizabeth I had been on the English throne for three years. She had established a middle way in a hope of calming the chaos and turmoil that had accompanied the religious extremism of Mary I and Edward VI. Her pragmatic approach meant she kept Catholics on her privy council and focused on the behavior rather than the beliefs of her subjects. As Francis Bacon is reported to have said of her, she didn’t want to make windows into men’s souls. 

Mary also initially took a pragmatic approach to religion. Catholics in Scotland were hoping that her return would represent a major change in the government and a surge in Catholicism across the country. They were to be disappointed. Mary kept all the Protestant lords in power and sought to work closely with the Earl of Moray, her half-brother (he was the illegitimate son of James V). When Catholic powerhouse Lord Huntly led a rebellion against her, Mary joined with Moray. She was committed to policies that strengthened ties to England rather than those promoting Catholicism in Scotland. This indicates to historians like Jenny Wormald that Mary was already starting to focus on the English throne. 

Forced to abdicate in favor of her baby son, Mary fled to England. For 19 years, the two women became increasingly at odds as Mary was the focus of and then willing participant in plots to assassinate Elizabeth and put Mary on the English throne. We know that story. I think it's also important to realize that, although there were forces working against both women that they could not control, both women took control of their narratives and established lasting legends that helped shape history.

History shows us what's possible.