Mary, Queen of Scots, spent her childhood in France and was meant to become the Queen of France. However, her ailing husband died, and the young widow returned alone to Scotland, a country devastated by war. Elizabeth had just become Queen of England, and Mary felt like a twin sister to whom she could open her heart.
Mary married again and gave birth to an heir to the throne. Her second husband, Lord Darnley, proved to be a weakling. When Mary found the love of her life, the Earl of Bothwell, she had Darnley murdered and married Bothwell. Horrified by this deed and the blind passion that motivated it, both the nobles and the people of Scotland spurned her. To avert a bloody battle, Mary was compelled to give up her beloved Bothwell. In desperate straits, she turned to Elizabeth for help.
In response, the Queen of England imprisosed Mary. After 19 years spent in a golden cage, Mary found release at last: Elizabeth sent her to the block.
