Today in History

February 8, 1587

Mary Queen of Scots is beheaded

For 19 years Mary Stuart lived in gentle confinement, the "guest" of Queen Elizabeth I. Mary Queen of Scots' impetuous nature and boldness kept her in trouble with her royal relations. She had conspired in the death of her husband with her lover, the act for which she was driven from Scotland. Under the laws of succession, she had a claim to the throne of England greater than that of Elizabeth I. Her Catholic leanings, however, were out of touch with the spirit of the times, and Henry VIII forbid the house of Stuart from the throne. Even in confinement, Mary was involved in a continuous series of plots to seize the throne. Elizabeth I imprisoned her, not wishing for a trial and execution of a royal. Finally, however, Elizabeth relented. Mary Stuart dressed in red for her execution, and legend has that it took three strokes of the axe to behead her.

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