Chapter II: Mary Queen of Scotts
Eventually Mary and her supporters found a way of communicating by hiding messages in the bung of a beer barrel to escape detection by her guards. She used a simple letter substitution code as shown. Unbeknownst to her, Elizabeth was secretly intercepting and translating all her messages.
Such codes are not to hard to crack and before long hapless Mary sent a message authorizing her friends to assassinate Elizabeth. That was just what Elizabeth needed to try her for treason. Mary was found guilty and had her head chopped off -- while Elizabeth reigned for another 16 years. Alas poor Mary was in over her head! |
Mary's beheading
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