teatimeatwinterpalace:Bear with her or smite herStrike, lest thou be strickenFebruary 1, 1587 – Quee
teatimeatwinterpalace:Bear with her or smite herStrike, lest thou be strickenFebruary 1, 1587 – Queen Elizabeth I of England signs Mary, Queen of Scots’ death warrant After the Babington Plot was revealed, Mary Queen of Scots was taken to Fotheringhay Castle to stand trial. She was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.It is often said that Queen Elizabeth agonised over signing the death warrant of Mary Queen of Scots. Elizabeth told the French Ambassador that she had been in tears over the ‘unfortunate affair’. She was worried that if a rightful monarch condemned another rightful monarch to death it would set a terrible precedent. She was worried that Mary’s son King James VI of Scotland or the Catholic Spanish would seek revenge. She was worried about her reputation. Elizabeth was not concerned about having Mary killed - she just didn’t want to sign the order herself. When the sentence was published on 2 December 1586 the people of London celebrated with bonfires and psalms as church bells rang. William Cecil drew up a death warrant for Elizabeth to sign.Mary wrote a letter to Elizabeth, signing it, ‘Your sister and cousin wrongfully a prisoner.’ She asked Elizabeth to send her body to France and sent the English queen a warningAccuse me not of presumption if, leaving this world and preparing myself for a better, I remind you will one day to give account of your charge in like manner as those who preceded you in it… my blood and the misery of my country will be remembered…Eventually, on 1 February 1587, Elizabeth signed the death warrant. -- source link
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