Mary, Queen of Scots - Trial and Execution

Francis Walsingham, a key advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, created a trap for Mary, Queen of Scots.  It ultimately led to her arrest and trial for treason. 

In those days, even a royal defendant was not allowed to have a lawyer, so Mary had to defend herself.  She never really had a chance to win.

Urged to sign Mary's death warrant, Elizabeth I finally did so on the 1st of February, 1587.  The former Queen of Scotland was beheaded a week later (on the 8th) at the since-destroyed Fotheringhay Castle.

See, also:

Mary, Queen of Scots - Bad Decisions and a Lost Throne

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Credits

Clip from "A History of Britain," a 15-episode BBC documentary series written and presented by Columbia University's Professor Simon Schama. 

The clip about Mary, Queen of Scots is from episode 7, entitled "The Body of the Queen."  It was originally broadcast on November 8, 2000.  It is online, courtesy the BBC.