Mary Queen of Scots was regarded by many English Catholics as the true queen of England, so when she arrived in England seeking assistance from her cousin Elizabeth I she was quickly imprisoned. Elizabeth knew that the Queen of Scots had a good claim to the English throne she had made it known in the past so it was no wonder that a nervous protestant court was suspicious.

After a long 18 years of captivity she was eventually accused of treason and executed at Fotheringhay Castle, Elizabeth was under constant pressure from protestant supporters and when a plot against the throne of England was discovered she gave the order for the execution.