Overview

Queen Elizabeth never granted interviews to journalists, and Mary Stuart did not write cautionary lessons for fellow queens as suggested by the features on this page. Elizabeth's comments, however, reflect her known beliefs or paraphrase statements she made during her lifetime. As for Mary, most historians believe that her sad end was due mainly to the many errors in judgment she made during her life. Mary, a second cousin to Elizabeth, was executed by Elizabeth's order on Feb. 8, 1587.