This panel bears the monograms of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth (Bess) Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury. It is part of a collection of needlework known as the Oxburgh hangings. They were made between 1570 and about 1585, the work of Mary during her imprisonment in England and Bess, whose husband George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury was responsible for Mary while she stayed at one or other of the Shrewsbury estates. The partial inscription, RY CA.VEN, is probably a short form for Henry Cavendish, who was Bess's second husband.

This work panel of canvas work (stitching over the threads of a coarsely woven linen) is embroidered in coloured silks, silver and silver-gilt thread, mounted on green velvet. Not all the panels were embroidered by Mary and Bess, as household accounts show that both had professional embroiderers on staff. The existing ‘hangings’ consist of a of wall hanging, two bed curtains and valance, on permanent long-term loan at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk. However these were probably not the original arrangement of the embroidery, but sewn together in the late 17th century. This group of 33 embroideries are the remains of another hanging, now unpicked.