The killing of a Queen.

Audio • Season 2 • Episode 1 • The killing of a Queen.



Artwork • The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587, drawn by Robert Beale (1541-1601), Clerk of the Privy Council to Queen Elizabeth I, who wrote the official record of the execution to which he was an eyewitness.

The evening before the execution he had read-out to Mary her death warrant and informed her that she was to be executed the following morning.

Key to numbers: George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Henry Grey, 6th Earl of Kent are seated to the left (1 & 2) and Sir Amias Paulet, one of Mary's guards, is seated behind the scaffold (3)

Music • Christum wir sollen loben schon, 1586 · Württemberg Chamber Choir

Lyricist: Martin Luther. Composer: Lukas Osiander.

Martin Luther initially adapted his melody from the Latin hymn melodies associated with 'A solis ortus cardine' by Caelius Sedulius to make it suitable for his German verse.

The chorale text and melody first appeared in print in Erfurt 'Enchiridion' in 1524.