Burghley sketched the great chamber and specified how the trial would look as well as how it would function. A cloth of state and an empty throne represented Elizabeth, while a waist-high rail separated commissioners and counsel from other observers. Mary's high-backed chair was placed beside rather than directly opposite the throne, and tables and benches organized lawyers, papers, and commissioners. Velvet drapery added majesty to a proceeding whose appearance of legality mattered politically. Thomas Randolph requested permission to attend because he knew Mary's earlier dealings, bringing an experienced official into the carefully managed case.
Chapter · 9:57-11:08
Staging Mary's trial to project legality
The planned chamber uses a throne, rails, seating, and velvet to present Mary's treason commission as both royal and lawful.