The Monarchical Republic and Magic: William Cecil and The Exclusion of Mary Queen of Scots

Patrick Collinson’s seminal arguments about the “Monarchical Republic” of Elizabethan England and “The Elizabethan Exclusion Crisis” continue to stimulate productive historical debate. This article approaches these issues from a new direction, discussing William Cecil’s attempts during the 1560s to use accusations of maleficent witchcraft against Mary Stuart to blacken her reputation, deter her supporters in England, and push Elizabeth away from her preferred policy of personal negotiation with Mary over the succession. These smear tactics formed part of Cecil’s parliamentary campaign against Mary in 1572 and explain the celebration of the Accession Day Tilts from 17 November 1570, as a Protestant celebration of Elizabeth’s longevity that underlined the futility of Catholic magical predictions of her imminent death and maleficent magic against her.