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.