The Cause of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.

During the whole process of her trial and execution, Mary acted with magnificent courage worthy of her noble character and queenly rank. There can be no question that she died with the charity and magnanimity of a martyr; as also that her execution was due, on the part of her enemies, to hatred of the Faith. Pope Benedict XIV gives it as his opinion that on these two heads no requisite seems wanting for a formal declaration of martyrdom, if only the charges connected with the names of Darnley and Bothwell could be entirely eliminated ("Opera omnia", Prato, 1840, III, c.xiii, s. 10).

We know from Agnes Strickland and French Biographers that Mary moved Darnley to Kirk o`Fields to nurse him from the Small Pox. She splent months at his side, nursing and caring for him. We know of the Ainsley Bodn in which even her half brother Moray was implicated to kill Darnley and let Bothwell rule. On Bothwell we have her letter to the Pope of the day asking him to intervene and dissolve this marriage which was against her will. Darnley and Bothwell can be completely eliiminated.