It is over four hundred years since the execution of Mary Queen of Scots at Fotheringhay, and over forty years since I personally visited Fotheringhay for the first time.

Foreword, Antonia Fraser.

Shortly after 9 a.m. on the morning of 8 February 1587, within the Great Hall of the Castle of Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, two strokes of an executioner's axe finally extinguished the life of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, Dowager Queen of France, and, to her supporters, rightful Queen of England.

Introduction, Andrew McLean, Bute Family Archivist.

It may please your good Lordship to be advertised, that according as your honour gave me command, I have here set down in writing the true narration and manner of the execution of Mary, the late Queen of Scotland, the eighth day of February last, in the Great Hall within the Castle of Fotheringhay, together with relation of all such speeches and actions spoken and done by the said Scottish Queen or any others and all circumstances and proceedings concerning the same from and after the delivery of the said Queen to Thomas Andrews, Esquire, High Sheriff for her Majesty's county of Norfolk, unto the end of the said execution as follows.

A True Narration of the Execution of Mary late Queen of Scotland within the Castle of Fotheringhay the eighth day of February Anno Domini one thousand five hundred [and] Eighty six.