1. In fact, Elizabeth didn't know what to do with Mary.

in fact：实际上，其实

e.g. She pretends to various abilities she doesn't, in fact, possess.

她自称有种种她事实上并不具有的才能。

e.g. His so-called criticism is in fact just putting labels on people.

他的那种所谓批评，实际上就是给人扣帽子。

do with：对付

e.g. What are we going to do with these hooligans?

我们怎么处置这些小流氓呢？

e.g. I am utterly puzzled what to do with it.

我全然不知道该如何处置它。

2. If Mary would agree to keep her hands off the English throne, Elizabeth was solely tempted to help her regain the Scottish crown.

keep one’s hands off：不参与，不干涉，不介入

这件事更加说明了他头天晚上的叮嘱：我们不应当过问中东的事。

e.g. It's wise for the government to keep its hands off this affair.

政府对这件事最好不要加以干涉。

e.g. You are to keep your hands off their affairs .

他们的事你不许插手。

e.g. Keep your hands off their affairs; you will only make a bad matter worse if you interfere.

他们的事你不要管，你一插手只会把事情搞得更糟。

3. Why rock the boat?

rock the boat：捣乱，破坏良好的现状，使遇到危险

e.g. Things are progressing well don't do anything to rock the boat.

事情进行得很顺利，千万不要无风生浪。

e.g. They seldom rock the boat or annoy the mayor or board of aldermen with unusual budget requests.

他们很少捣乱或提出过分的预算要求来为难市长或市议会.

4. So if Mary imagined she could rely on the sisterhood of queens, she was deluded.

rely on：依靠，依赖

e.g. Don't always rely on others to understand and sympathize.

不要老是指望别人的理解和同情。

e.g. You can always rely on Jim, he won't fail you.

你可以永远信任吉姆, 他不会让你失望的。

5. The first thing Elizabeth did was order an inquiry into the murder of Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, which turned into a trial in all but name.

an inquiry into：调查.....，询问.....

e.g. They instituted an inquiry into the causes of the accident.

他们开始调查这一事故的原因。

e.g. He was prosecuting an inquiry into reasons for the company's failure.

他对该公司倒闭的原因进行调查。

turn into：把......变为......

e.g. He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.

他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。