1. To Kill a Queen
In Schiller’s Mary Stuart, both Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth Queen of England
have claims to the English throne. The play mirrors true historical events. Elizabeth
fears Mary’s ability to start a rebellion where Catholics rise up against the Protestants.
Mary’s extended time in prison allows her to ponder one question—how to get out…
Craft a deadly plot: The year is 1586. Anthony Babington, a young Catholic zealot,
seeks to execute Queen Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, bringing Catholicism back
into power.
Find accomplices: John Ballard, a Jesuit Priest intent on freeing Mary, enlists young
Anthony Babington for help. Gilbert Gifford and Thomas Phelippes agree to act in the
plot but as double agents.
To Protect a Queen
Create a secret service: Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s secretary, disliked Mary
from the start. After arresting Gilbert Gifford for plots to save Mary, he sends Gifford to
spy on her. Walsingham places Thomas Phelipps to decode Mary’s messages, and the
plan to protect Elizabeth is on.
Lay a trap: Walsingham knows he needs proof to convince Elizabeth that Mary plots to
escape prison and steal the throne. He sets a trap in place to collect the evidence.
Under Walsingham’s direction, Gilbert Gifford convinces the brewer inside Chartley
Castle (where Mary is imprisoned) to use his barrels of ale as containers for Mary’s
letters. A waterproof tube inserted inside the barrels ensured the letters’ safe arrival.
After Mary’s first letter arrives from Babington, Thomas Phelippes decodes them and
gives Mary’s letters toWalsingham. Walsingham delivers the letters to Elizabeth, who
passes them on to their original destinations to avoid suspicion.
Follow through: By allowing communication to flow freely, Walsingham discovers the
plot to dethrone Elizabeth, the names of those involved, and Mary’s compliance with the
plot. Sensing their detection, Babington and his squad attempt toflee, but the English
discover them. Elizabeth gathers together the conspirators and hangs them in a public
trial to discourage future revolts. Mary’s execution follows shortly after the discovery of
the Babington plot.
Tothis day, historians argue about who is to blame for the creation of the Babington
plot. Some argue that Walsingham’s desire to convict Mary lead to English forces
forging her handwriting on many of the papers passed between Mary and Babington.
Others believe Mary’s association with Babington convicted her totally of all crimes.
One thing is for sure—while Mary and Elizabeth battled for the right to lead, many
flocked to help their respective causes.