February 8: On This Day in World History … briefly
When the news of the execution reached Elizabeth, she became indignant and asserted that Davison had disobeyed her instructions not to part with the warrant and that the Privy Council had acted without her authority.
1587: Mary Queen of Scots beheaded
Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded on February 8, 1587, on the orders of her cousin, England’s Queen Elizabeth I. She had been found guilty of plotting to assassinate the queen and restore England to Catholicism, believing that Henry VIII’s marriage to Elizabeth’s mother Anne Boleyn was illegal.
Mary inherited the throne of Scotland at the age of six. In her teens she married the French Dauphin and was Queen of France for a year until he died. Later she married Lord Darnley and after Darnley’s murder – in which Mary may have been implicated – the Earl of Bothwell became her third husband.
In 1568, defeating in battle in Scotland, Mary fled to England, but the jealous Elizabeth had her jailed for nearly 19 years. Witnesses at her execution told of Mary’s fortitude in the face of death. It took the axeman two blows and Mary’s lips continued to move for 15 minutes afterwards. Her pet dog was found hiding under her skirts.
Most notable historic snippets or facts extracted from the book ‘On This Day’ first published in 1992 by Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London, as well as additional supplementary information extracted from Wikipedia.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
To receive our FREE email newsletter, click HERE
