What should Elizabeth do with Mary?

• What were Elizabeth's choices with Mary?

  Getting Mary out of the country

  Imprisoning Mary

  Executing Mary
• Label this:

  A) Getting Mary out of the country

  B) Keeping Mary Imprisoned

  C) Executing Mary

  
• Why would sending Mary out of the country be a challenge for Elizabeth?

  sending Mary back to Scotland or France could backfire, allowing her to gather more support to challenge Elizabeth.
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of keeping Mary Imprisoned?

  Strength: this would reduce the risk of Mary gathering more support back in Scotland or France and allow Elizabeth to keep tight control.

  Weakness: unlawfully imprisoning Mary could provoke international outcry and attacks anyway.
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of executing Mary?

  Strength: this would remove the figurehead for Catholic challengers

  Weakness: it could also provoke international attacks and set a precedent for killing a queen.
• What did Elizabeth end up doing with Mary in the short-term?

  In the short term Elizabeth decided to keep Mary as a closely guarded royal ‘guest’, moving her from castle to castle so she would not be the focus of plots.
• What did MPs Advise?

  Execution
• What did MPs do?

  Alongside Mary’s challenge, Elizabeth faced many challenges and plots against her. Most of them were led by Catholics aiming to get Mary on the throne and return England to Catholic rule. By 1572 MPs were pressurising Elizabeth to have Mary executed in order to keep England secure.