Alliance Mary of Scots and the Protestant Church
Makes a personal gift of œ10,000 to the Protestant Church
Role range: 1542-1567
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Mary of Scots Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Mary of Scots through 165 dated historical records for Scotland.
Mary of Scots, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
165Distinct records
3 of 5Page
1566–1567Years on this page
1566
A Papal Nuncio is despatched with 150,000 crowns to help Mary combat
A Papal Nuncio is despatched with 150,000 crowns to help Mary combat heretics
Role range: 1542-1567
Mary refuses to receive the Papal Nuncio
Mary refuses to receive the Papal Nuncio because of unrest
Role range: 1542-1567
Papal Nuncio
A Papal Nuncio is despatched with 150,000 crowns to help Mary combat heretics
Role range: 1542-1567
Papal Nuncio
Mary refuses to receive the Papal Nuncio because of unrest
Role range: 1542-1567
Arrest of Mary of Scots
After Rizzios assassination Mary persuades Darnley to escape with her from Holyrood
Role range: 1542-1567
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Offers a reward of œ2,000 for information about the assassination of Darnley
Role range: 1542-1567
Casket Letters
If authentic throughout, they provide proof of Marys complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Role range: 1542-1567
Group of Eight
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Agrees to divorce Darnley subject to Parliamentary approval
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Makes it clear that she will not divorce Darnley because it makes James illegitimate
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Mary refuses the offer of marriage & joins her son, James, at Stirling Castle. 28 Lords & Prelates sign a document supporting Bothwells marriage to Mary
Role range: 1542-1567
Pardon
Pardons Morton & increases the number of Darnleys enemies within Scotland
Role range: 1542-1567
1567
Plot
Moves James from Stirling to Holyrood amid rumours Lennox plans to make Darnley Regent
Role range: 1542-1567
Plot
Moves Prince James from Glasgow to Stirling Castle
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Escorted by Bothwell to Dunbar Castle believing there may be a rebellion in Edinburgh
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Intercepted by Bothwell with 800 men on her return to Edinburgh
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Authorizes Bothwells divorce from Lady Jean Gordon & a week later marries him
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Marries the Earl of Bothwell at the Great Hall of Holyrood
Role range: 1542-1567
Arrest of Mary of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots arrives in England & spends the rest of her life under arrest
Role range: 1542-1567
Arrest of James Hepburn
The Lords of the Council try to arrest Bothwell but Mary surrenders & Bothwell escapes
Role range: 1542-1567
Result of Surrender of Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary is taken into the control of her opponents after Carberry Hill, weakening her position as queen.
Role range: 1542-1567
Surrender of Mary, Queen of Scots
Surrenders to the Earl of Moray at Carberry Hill
Role range: 1542-1567
Abdication
Marys supporters are defeated, she is imprisoned & forced to abdicate
Role range: 1542-1567
Battle of Carberry Hill
Taken back to Edinburgh by the Lords of Congregation. Marys supporters are defeated, she is imprisoned & forced to abdicate. Marys half brother, James, Earl of Moray, becomes Regent for her infant son, James VI. Defeated without a fight
Role range: 1542-1567
Arrest of Mary of Scots
Mary is sent into captivity in Loch Leven Castle, while her Protestant half-brother, James Stewart, Earl of Moray is appointed Regent on behalf of his nephew
Role range: 1542-1567
Coronation
Marys son James VI is crowned in Holyood, Stirling
Role range: 1542-1567
Abdication
Imprisoned in Edinburgh, sent to Loch Leven then forced to abdicate in July
Role range: 1542-1567
Abdication
Abdicates in favor of her infant son James
Role range: 1542-1567
Arrest of Mary of Scots
Imprisoned in Edinburgh, sent to Loch Leven then forced to abdicate in July
Role range: 1542-1567
Trial
Mary does not attend as she wishes to be heard directly by Elizabeth. Elizabeth summons 6 Earls to hear Murrays accusations against Queen Mary,
Role range: 1542-1567
Arrest of Mary of Scots
Mary escapes to Hamilton & rallies her supporters. A mob attacks Marr, the committee of public safety sends her to Loch Leven
Role range: 1542-1567
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Suspects include Mary & Bothwell. Darnley is found strangled, suspects include Mary & the Earl of Bothwell. Darnley is found strangled in suspicious circumstances
Role range: 1542-1567
Casket Letters
The majority of scholarly opinion is that the letters were forgeries concocted after the fact in order to lend some small justification for Marys imprisonment and trial, both of which were illegal under English Law
Role range: 1542-1567
Committee of Public Safety
A mob attacks Marr, the committee of public safety sends her to Loch Leven
Role range: 1542-1567
Marriage
Raped by Bothwell in Dunbar Castle so she is forced to marry him
Role range: 1542-1567
Plot
The "casket letters" are used against Mary but only their transcripts have been found
Role range: 1542-1567
Arrest of Mary of Scots
Mary is taken to Edinburgh from Carberry Hill, a mob demands that she is burnt
Role range: 1542-1567
Battle of Langside
Mary is defeated by the Earl of Moray. Mary cannot escape to France & is forced to seek refuge in England
Role range: 1542-1567
Demonstrations
Mary is taken to Edinburgh from Carberry Hill, a mob demands that she is burnt
Role range: 1542-1567
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.