Mary, Queen of Scots

The purpose of the prosecution was to achieve a preordained result: execute Elizabeth's legitimate heir. As a result, legal safeguards and protections were of no consequence.

The trial began on the 12th of October, 1586, with a letter from Elizabeth to Mary. Here is the translation, from the French original:

You have in various ways and manners attempted to take my life and to bring my kingdom to destruction by bloodshed. I have never proceeded so harshly against you, but have, on the contrary, protected and maintained you like myself. These treasons will be proved to you and all made manifest. Yet it is my will, that you answer the nobles and peers of the kingdom as if I were myself present. I therefore require, charge, and command that you make answer for I have been well informed of your arrogance.

Act plainly without reserve, and you will sooner be able to obtain favour of me.

Elizabeth

It is fair to conclude Elizabeth was disinegenuous to claim she had "protected and maintained" Mary "like myself." But in the 16th century, when this case was tried, one did not accuse the monarch of making disingenuous statements.

On the other hand, had a lawyer been allowed to speak for Mary, he would have stressed her extraordinary circumstances. Although a Queen herself, and the rightful heir to the throne of England, she had been under house arrest (as Elizabeth's captive) for nineteen years! Why, he would have argued, would she not enlist the help of those who could engineer her escape?

Speaking on her own behalf, Mary expressed her disgust with the proceedings in general and with the conduct of the trial in particular.

I do not recognize the laws of England nor do I understand them, as I have often asserted. I am alone without counsel or anyone to speak on my behalf. My papers and notes have been taken from me, so that I am destitute of all aid, taken at a disadvantage.

The trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, took only ten days. By October 25th, the foregone conclusion was known to all. Mary was guilty of treason. Whether she continued to believe the trial was illegal was of little consequence now. All that remained was for Elizabeth to pass sentence.

It was one thing to charge Mary with high treason. Other people did that. It was something else to sentence Mary - a queen - to death. Elizabeth had to do that herself. She delayed for months. Under pressure from her secretary, Walsingham, and others, Elizabeth finally signed her cousin's death warrant on February 1, 1587.