On 08 February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle, after being found guilty of high treason.

On This Day (19 Jan) in 1601, Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, Elizabethan courtier, soldier, politician and patron of the arts, died.

On This Day (15 January) 1569, Catherine Carey, Lady Knollys, Elizabeth I's Chief Lady of the Bedchamber, died at Hampton Court Palace...

On This Day (14 Oct) in 1586, the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots began at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire.

On This Day (29 Sep) in 1564, Elizabeth I ennobled her 'favourite, Robert Dudley, granting him the Earldom of Leicester.

On This Day (20 Sep) in 1586, Anthony Babington and 6 of his co-conspirators were executed, following their convictions for high treason.

Elizabeth Hardwick (better known by history as 'Bess of Hardwick') was born in the 1520s (estimated dates range from 1520-21 to 1527).

Francis Knollys, the eldest son and heir of Sir Robert Knollys and his wife Lettice Penninston, was born c.1512, likely at Rookes Manor...

Sir Christopher Blount, born c.1555, was the second son of Thomas Blount of Kidderminster (c.1525-1568) and his wife Margery Poley.