|
|
Mary
was Elizabeth's cousin and a monarch appointed by God. By executing
her, Elizabeth would set a dangerous example. |
|
The
most serious argument against executing Mary was that it could
trigger a foreign invasion or a Catholic rebellion at home. In
1572, England was ill-prepared to meet either threat. |
|
The
Rising of the Northern Earls was the first serious Catholic attempt
to overthrow Elizabeth. By keeping Mary alive, Elizabeth was putting
her own life in danger. |
|
The
Ridolfi Plot involved the Duke of Norfolk, Philip of Spain and
the Pope. By keeping Mary alive, Elizabeth ran the risk of foreign
invasion. |
|
Although
both the Northern Rising and the Ridolfi Plot were aimed at placing
Mary on the English throne, there was no evidence that Mary herself
was directly involved in either plot. |
|
Elizabeth's
excommunication made her a target for Catholic plotters. By keeping
Mary alive, Elizabeth was providing them with a champion. |
elow
- stacked on top of each other - are several options open to Elizabeth
I on how to deal with Mary Queen of Scots in May 1572. The options can
be moved around the page by placing your cursor on the option, holding
down the left mouse button and then moving the mouse. Drag and drop each
option into its relevant box in the table below.
