An old engraving of the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots at the old York castle at Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, England, UK in 1586. It is from a Victorian history book of Mary was found guilty of being ‘not only accessory and privy to the conspiracy, but also an imaginer and compass of her majesty's destruction’. On 1 October Sir Amyas Paulet suggested that she should confess her crimes, before being condemned by law. Mary informed him that, although she was aware of being a sinner, she was a sovereign queen, and answerable to no-one.


An old engraving of the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots at the old York castle at Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, England, UK in 1586. It is from a Victorian history book of Mary was found guilty of being ‘not only accessory and privy to the conspiracy, but also an imaginer and compass of her majesty's destruction’. On 1 October Sir Amyas Paulet suggested that she should confess her crimes, before being condemned by law. Mary informed him that, although she was aware of being a sinner, she was a sovereign queen, and answerable to no-one. Twenty-four commissioners were summoned to try Mary under the Act of Association. Mary unable to consult counsel, she was also deprived of any assistance in preparing her defence. The trial itself had no basis in law – Mary was not a subject of the English queen, and therefore not subject to English law. The commission did not pronounce sentence immediately. It was left to Parliament to pronounce that, the case having been proved against Mary, she must be sentenced to death. Queen Elizabeth prevaricated. It was not until February 1587 that the warrant was signed. On the evening of 7 February 1587, Mary was informed that she would die the following morning.


Size: 3780px × 2921px
Location: Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, England, UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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