The Trial of Mary Queen of Scots: A Brief History with Documents

The treason trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1586 constitutes a crucial moment in the history of Tudor England. Focusing on the conflict between Mary and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I, this brief narrative with documents explores a variety of important themes in English history, including issues of religion, nationality, sovereignty, gender, and the legitimacy of female rule. An extensive introduction discusses the trial and the events that precipitated it and offers relevant background on the political and religious history of sixteenth-century England. Nine primary documents — including treatises on queenship, the trial record, Elizabeth’s speeches to Parliament, letters between Mary and Elizabeth, and accounts of the trial by contemporaries — immerse students in the debates and controversies surrounding the two rivals and the trial. Explanatory headnotes to the documents, images, a chronology, questions for consideration, a bibliography, and an index are also included.