CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: C - The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots at the hands of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England, exacerbated a longstanding conflict between Elizabeth and Spain’s King Phillip II. From 1554 to 1558, Phillip was married to Elizabeth’s half-sister, Queen Mary I. When Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth succeeded her to the throne. Phillip asked her to marry him the following year, but she refused. He subsequently changed course, decried her as a heretic and illegitimate queen because of her Protestantism (he was Catholic), and he corroborated in plans to overthrow her. Elizabeth also suspected Mary, Queen of Scots (her presumed successor since Elizabeth was childless) was engaging in plots against her. She had Mary imprisoned in 1568. The plots continued and she had Mary executed in 1587, which was the last straw for Phillip.