1. The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

2. Background
Mary, Queen of Scots, was born in 1542 and was executed on 1587.
It is generally believed that Mary's execution, which was ordered by Queen Elizabeth I, was the final reason Philip II needed to launch the Spanish Armada.

4. The Beginning Mary was Queen Elizabeth I's cousin.
She had been brought up as a strict Catholic which put her at odds with Queen Elizabeth because she was Protestant.
Mary's father, James V of Scotland, died when Mary was only one year old; making Mary the Queen of Scots.
At such a young age, the Scottish lords found it extremely difficult to respect her and  by 1548, Mary was sent to France for her own safety.

5. The Beginning Cont.
The 18-year-old Mary returned to Scotland in 1561 to reign as Queen of her subjects
In 1565 Mary married her first cousin Henry, Lord Darnley and gave birth to a son, James, the following year
In 1567, her husband was murdered and Mary quickly married the Scottish Earl of Bothwell, an action that outraged the Scottish nobility who promptly imprisoned Mary and forced her to abdicate her throne to her one- year-old son, James .

6. Cont. Mary escaped from her prison but was forced to flee.
Mary was immediately imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth and spent the next 19 years shuffling from castle to castle while her cousin deliberated what to do with her.
It was rumored that Mary had many death plots against Elizabeth.
Finally, in 1587, Elizabeth was persuaded to end the supposed threat to her throne once and for all, and ordered Mary's execution.

8. Her Death
It was a cold and bitter winter's day when Mary, with dignity intact as always, was led to the block. She wore her customary black cloak with a white veil over her head. When she reached the block, she dropped her cloak and revealed a crimson dress.
Her last words were, -Into thy hands, O, Lord, I commend my spirit.

9. Her Death Cont.
Her wishes were not granted. Instead of being buried in France as she wished she was buried in England.
Her death passed without incident from the Scottish people who were too busy with other troubles to give more than a passing thought to the Queen who had caused so much controversy in their country.