DESCRIBE the events that led to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. What is this source telling us? Test yourself then click your mouse on the text to reveal the answer. Source A was written by a modern historian in a book about the Catholic plots against Elizabeth's life. Mary had been a threat to Elizabeth since her birth. She remained a threat, even as a prisoner, because English Catholics organised a number of plots against Elizabeth. The English Parliament then decided that plotters, and anyone who might benefit from a plot, should be punished by the death penalty. In 1586, the last plot, the Babington Plot, was discovered, and it was found that Mary had been in contact with the plotters. For this, she was condemned to death.