Catholics believed her to be the rightful heir ---> wanted to replace Elizabeth with her (plots)
Elizabeth had no heir
Catholics wanted Elizabeth to name Mary as her heir, she refused so Catholics grew angry
Support
Mary had support from France, Spain and the Pope, which made MAry more likely to challenge and made Elizabeths fight much harder
France
Married to King Francis (II).
Her mother was French.
So France would give lots of support
Return to Scotland
King Francis died in 1560 ---> so she returned. People believed she was plotting to challenge Elizabeth and some believed she was more dangerous
Relationships
Mary remarried Lord Darnley (1565) and people believed she was involved in his death. Protestants eventually forced her to step down and abdicate and put her in the prison.
She escaped the prison in 1568
Elizabeths reaction to Mary's abdication
1560 treaty of Edinburgh, meant Mary would give up her claim to the throne.
Elizabeth was put under house arrest in (1568), where she was constantly guarded
