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1580-1599 Babington Plot and Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
1580-1599 Babington Plot and Execution of Mary Queen of Scots is in 16th Century Events.
Earldoms of Lennox and March Swapped
On 05 Mar 1580 Robert Stewart 1st Earl Lennox 1st Earl March (age 58) resigned Earl Lennox. On the same day he was created 1st Earl March. Elizabeth Stewart Countess Arran Countess Lennox and March (age 31) by marriage Countess March.
On the same day Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox (age 38) was created 1st Earl Lennox by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 13) for being his favourite. Catherine Balsac Duchess Lennox by marriage Lord Aubigny.
Battle of Glenmalure
On 25 Aug 1580 the Irish forces ambushed the forces of Arthur Grey 14th Baron Grey of Wilton (age 44) at the Battle of Glenmalure fought at Glenmalure, County Wicklow. Around 800 English soldiers, including, Peter Carew were killed.
Siege of Smerwick
In Nov 1580 Edward Denny (age 33) led a company at Smerwick, County Kerry during the Siege of Smerwick. Walter Raleigh (age 26) was present at Smerwick. Arthur Grey 14th Baron Grey of Wilton (age 44) laid siege to the Smerwick garrison at Smerwick, County Kerry during the Siege of Smerwick.
The Papal commander parleyed and was bribed, and the defenders surrendered within a few days. The officers were spared, but the other ranks were then summarily executed on the orders of the English commander, Arthur Grey 14th Baron Grey of Wilton (age 44).
Raid of Ruthven
22 Aug 1582. The Raid of Ruthven was a plot by several nobles led by William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie (age 39) to kidnap the fifteen years old King James VI of Scotland (age 16), son of Mary Queen of Scots (age 39), (before he became King of England) to reform the government of Scotland.
The nobles included John Erskine 19th Earl Mar (age 20), Thomas Lyon Master of Glamis, Robert Boyd 5th Lord Boyd (age 65), Patrick Lindsay 6th Lord Lindsay of the Byres (age 61), and David Erskine Commendator of Dryburgh.
They were opposed by Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox (age 40) and James Stewart 1st Earl Arran who controlled the government.
King James VI of Scotland (age 16) was captured whilst hunting near Ruthven Castle.
The rebels were joined by Francis Stewart 5th Earl Bothwell (age 19) and James Cunningham 7th Earl Glencairn (age 30).
Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox (age 40) was exiled; he died a year later in Paris. James Stewart 1st Earl Arran was imprisoned.
In Jul 1583 the King (age 17) gained his freedom after nearly a year of being imprisoned. Most of the rebels appear to have been pardoned except William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie (age 40) who continued to plot against the King.
Robert Douglas Master of Morton and his brother-in-law Laurence Oliphant Master of Oliphant were exiled.
On 03 May 1584 William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie (age 41) was beheaded at Stirling Castle [Map] for continuing to rebel against the King. His son James Ruthven 2nd Earl Gowrie (age 8) succeeded 2nd Earl Gowrie
In Mar 1585 Robert Douglas Master of Morton and Laurence Oliphant Master of Oliphant drowned. They had been exiled for his part in the Raid of Ruthven. The ship in which they were travelling was lost at sea.
1583 Somerville Plot
In Dec 1583 John Somerville (age 23) committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell in which he was imprisoned for plotting the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 50).
On 20 Dec 1583 Edward Arden (age 50) was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield [Map] for having plotted against Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 50) with his son-in-law John Somerville (deceased) who had implicated him during torture. He was tried by Christopher Wray (age 59).
After 20 Dec 1583 the heads of John Somerville (deceased) and Edward Arden (deceased) were set on London Bridge [Map] next to the head of the Gerald Fitzgerald 14th Earl Desmond (deceased).
1586 Exeter Black Assizes
In Mar 1586 a virulent outbreak of gaol fever occurred during the Assizes in Exeter, Devon [Map]. The cause according to modern medical opinion was typhus transmitted by the human body-louse. Among the dead victims were eight judges, eleven of the twelve jurors, several constables, and the surrounding population which was ravaged by the disease for several months.
Edward Flowerdew died of gaol fever.
On 28 Mar 1586 Thomas Carew of Haccombe (age 70) died of gaol fever.
On 31 Mar 1586 John Chichester died of gaol fever.
On 01 Apr 1586 Robert Carey (age 71) died of gaol fever.
On 02 Apr 1586 Arthur Bassett (age 45) died of gaol fever.
On 10 Apr 1586 Bernard Drake (age 58) died of gaol fever.
Babington Plot
On 06 Jul 1586 Anthony Babington (age 24) wrote to Mary Queen of Scots (age 43), telling her that he and a group of friends were planning to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 52).
On 04 Aug 1586 John Ballard was arrested and, under torture, he confessd and implicated Anthony Babington (age 24).
After 04 Aug 1586 Christopher Wray (age 62) passed sentence of death on those implicated.
On 20 Sep 1586 Anthony Babington (age 24), John Ballard, Henry Donn, Thomas Salusbury (age 22) and Chideock Tichbourne (age 24) were hanged at St Giles' Field Holborn for their involvement.
On 21 Sep 1586 Robert Gage was executed for his involvement in the Babington Plot.
Battle of Zutphen
On 22 Sep 1586 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 22) fought at the Battle of Zutphen. William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 26) distinguished himself being noted for maintaining an effective fighting force in difficult circumstances.
On 17 Oct 1586 Philip Sidney (age 31) died from wounds received at the Battle of Zutphen.
Trial of Mary Queen of Scots
Before 14 Oct 1586 Walter Mildmay (age 65) went to Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map] to inform Mary Queen of Scots (age 43) of her forthcoming trial in which he subsequently took part as one of the special commissioners.
On 14 Oct 1586 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton (age 42), Lewis Mordaunt 3rd Baron Mordaunt (age 48), Henry Wentworth 3rd Baron Wentworth (age 28), Christopher Wray (age 62), John Stourton 9th Baron Stourton (age 33) and Edward Zouche 11th Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 30) sat in judgement on Mary Queen of Scots (age 43) in the Presence Chamber of Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].
Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu (age 57), George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 28), Henry Clinton 2nd Earl Lincoln (age 45), Henry Grey 6th Earl Kent (age 45), Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 37), Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby (age 55), Ambrose Dudley 3rd Earl Warwick (age 56), George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 58), Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 36), William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 60), William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 66), Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 48) and Thomas Bromley (age 56) were present on the side of the Presence Chamber of Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].
John St John 2nd Baron St John (age 51) was present on the left side of the Presence Chamber of Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].
John Stourton 9th Baron Stourton (age 33) was a juror.
Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 37) was a commissioner.
On 25 Oct 1586 Mary Queen of Scots (age 43) was convicted and sentenced to death. Only Edward Zouche 11th Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 30) offered any dissent against the judgement.
In Nov 1586 Robert Beale (age 45) was sent with Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset (age 50) to Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map] to notify Mary Queen of Scots (age 43) that sentence of death had been passed upon her.
Singeing the King of Spain's Beard
On 12 Apr 1587 an English fleet commanded by Francis Drake (age 47) left Plymouth, Devon [Map].
