How terrifying for her. It seems that at this time in history, a female monarch was best served by putting her crown first. Elizabeth was wise not to marry, and to stay very focused on her realm.

One book I read suggested that one motive to force Mary's abdication was that on her 25th birthday, the lairds would be obliged to turn over properties and incomes to her that they'd been administrating for her-- and profiting from-- during her "minority". By forcing her to abdicate at 24, the lairds got to maintain control over these goods until baby James came of age. This was an obvious benefit to them. Even given that enticement, I doubt the lairds would have deposed her if she hadn't married Darnley, and then Bothwell. They wanted her as a figurehead, to give their effective rule of Scotland legitimacy. But after she'd delivered "an heir male", she was no longer needed, because they could reign in her infant son's name instead. They also needed a scapegoat for the murder of Lord Darnley. I find myself wondering what would have happened if Mary had refused to sign the abdication. Would they really have murdered her? After all, the "theatre of the world" was surely watching Scotland in 1567, just as they would later be watching England in 1587. The fact that they pushed so hard to get the signatures implies that Mary still had some power in the situation, or they wouldn't be so anxious to neutralize her. I can imagine Elizabeth Tudor watching events unfold from England, screaming internally at Mary. "WHY are you doing this?!? This is idiocy! You're going to get deposed if you don't watch out! I told you not to marry Darnley in the first place, but killing him in such a flamboyant and ridiculous manner is beyond stupid! I told you to distance yourself from Bothwell, and what must you do but marry him? And now you're in MY country, begging me to start a war I can't afford against a fellow Protestant nation to restore a Catholic monarch! Are you insane? Why didn't you just go to France instead when you had the chance? Now I have my spymaster urging me to have you executed. I never wanted to be put in this position!"

"My client says these papers are invalid as they were signed under duress." "Nonsense! Here's her signature on this blood-stained document."

I do feel for Mary Stuart. It seemed she had a difficult life, didn’t make the best choices and had a sad end too. Thanks again for another great video! Can’t wait to find out what happened on the day in Tudor history tomorrow.

When I went to Stirling Castle they had a display of the kings of Scotland, the last six being 'James'. It seems to me that all came to the throne as young and needing regents. So. Scotland was very much used to rule by regents so maybe the Lords wanted that as some may have had more power and profit that way. I think she was foolhardy, didn't listen to advice, and didn't have a good hold on power. She wasn't trained in France to be a ruler but neither was she able to enjoy life without being a Queen.

I feel for her. She was set up to fail after her first husband died. What a scary world for a woman back then! Can anyone suggest resources to read more about her?

Her story is so sad. I think she is a fascinating character. I do feel so sorry for her from the books I have read about her. Thank you for posting this video!

🇬🇧if Mary queen of Scots hadn’t had so much bad luck she’d had no luck at all!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Poor Mary was used and abused. She made so many mistakes. Why leave France, Mary? Thank you, Claire!

I wonder why Ruthven and Lindsay didn't kill her as soon as she'd abdicated. Shutting her up in the tower was perhaps the precursor to her murder by poison, or illness, or puerpral fever brought on by poor conditions. But It just wasn't safe to keep her alive too long in case she escaped somehow and told of her Ill treatment and the brutal threats to force her abdication. I'd like to have seen their faces when they discovered she'd fled AND dropped the keys to the castle on the loch.(They were recently fished out again). Poor Mary - she had to flee Holyrood when heavily pregnant and flee Loch Leven when ill from the miscarriage. She certainly had plenty of spirit!

I appreciate you so much, every day!

As always I enjoyed your video. I must admit I had Mary clean of Scots or Mary Stewart and Mary Tudor confused. A friend from England resides in the United States set me straight. Your videos are always very informative and very entertaining thank you so much for publishing them

🇭🇲🦘 Fascinating and quite amazing (to me) are the events that led to Mary, Queen of Scots being forced to abdicate her throne. Confusing, but well explained. "Thank you" Claire 💓👑👍

Love to the Kitty!

Sad story. Thank you!

Thank you ❣️

Regardless of your opinion of Mary Stuart it's hard not to feel sympathy for her tragic life even if she did contribute to it.

Ruthven and Lindsay were very hard men; cruel and mean spirited. While Mary was not a person to inspire trust, there were better ways to achieve their ends. Scottish Lords and her half brother, Lord Moray mistreated her. She had a tragic life, made so by her bad choices, for the most part. Thank you for this look into today 400+ years ago.

If there was a chance for things to go wrong, Mary would find it. She was snake-bit.

I relate to Mary Queen of Scotts a woman used by men, abused and raped, a woman who was not in control of her own life. No matter what. As a Scottish Catholic woman, Nancy Beveridge (Scottish Catholic name and history) I so engage with her history. My family name Beveridge is both very Scottish and Catholic... as well as horrifically descriminated against by the English royalty.

Few people could have handled the Scottish lord's and such a political scene. Poor Mary wasn't savvy enough and made every mistake that she possibly could marrying the wrong men as well.

Mary is a tragic figure. One bad decision after another.

Mary was the Queen that drew me to my love of history. Her life was sort of like a Greek tragedy. She lost everything and yet still held her head high. Her greatest revenge was that it was her decendends that got the English crown.

This is a little off topic, but I wonder if QEI after signing the death warrant really did say to not go through with the execution of Mary until they had her strict instructions or if it was something that was told so that the Queen would look blameless in the execution of an anointed sovereign?

It seems every major decision made by Mary Stuart was a wrong one.

This is something I don't understand. Why Should Mary abdicate. Poor Woman not having a good advisor or two. I am pleased Mary threw the keys in the loch!

Had she never went to France I doubt that this would have happened.

I wonder often what Mary of Scots could have done to keep her throne even if she had changed her religion. She came to a land from France that was nominally hers but was already ruled by an unofficial king; her half-brother, Moray. I do not think she would, or could, as a woman, have done anything that would have been acceptable. I think they just didn't want her. I think it unlikely that she was ever guilty as charged but in supporting Bothwell and marrying him, she may have looked like it; or maybe the excuse was enough. I honestly think they would have murdered her. If she had not escaped then she would have been dead.

What a tragic life!

Poor woman. Should have taken a lesson from Henry VIII to get rid of her husband.😉

I love how the cat squeaks. My 20 year old cat squeaks too. As for mary an innocent person had a challenging life. She lacked good people around her and she made some bad decisions. k. Her life is interesting to outsider.

She married the wrong men for sure.

Ugghh, I have so many feels for Mary :( She had such a miserable life and end! Might be something in the name, Mary Tudor didn't have a very happy life either but at least she wasn't imprissoned repeadedly and ultimately decapitated :(

It makes me so angry!

What a cut-throat society! Thank you.

Is it true that Mary refused to speak anything other than French in Scotland!? I heard somewhere in a documentary they didn't like her for this reason too, but that also because she was such a dainty little lady who allowed her husband's to run a muck and do whatever they wanted, and that she let them make decisions on her behalf!? I can't remember which doc it was from, but I've always wondered if it was the truth or not? Does anyone know? I'd love to know if anyone had any info. Thanks!