Page 32 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

Bloody Mary On Trial

after, having endured seven years of frustration elated, but her triumph was short-lived. On the
during which time the pope refused to annul day of Katherine’s funeral, Anne miscarried a
his first marriage, Henry’s authority as supreme child that had the appearance of being male.
head of the Church of England was formalised LikeKatherinebeforeher,Annehadfailedto
in parliament. In May, the king’s archbishop of produce a living son, and the king’s patience
Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, officially declared was exhausted. In May, Anne was executed
his marriage to Katherine to have been null on trumped-up charges of adultery and
and void: Mary was now formally disinherited. incest, and, like her sister before her,
Neither Mary nor her mother accepted this Elizabeth was declared illegitimate.
pronouncement, but there was little that either of At the end of the month, the king married
them could do. for a third time, taking as his wife one of Anne’s
On 7 September, much to the king’s ladies,JaneSeymour.UnlikeAnne,QueenJane
disappointment, Anne Boleyn gave birth to a was sympathetic to Mary, and through her efforts,
daughter. Named Elizabeth, her birth had profound father and daughter were reconciled. But it came
consequences for the 17-year-old Mary, and the atacost:HenrydemandedthatMaryacknowledge
seeds of the half-sister’s turbulent relationship himassupremeheadoftheChurchofEngland,
were sown here. Shortly after Elizabeth’s birth, and admit that her mother’s marriage had been,
Mary’s household was broken up and she was “by God’s law and man’s incestuous and unlawful,”
sent to join the household of her infant sister at making herself illegitimate.

“ There is no doubt that Mary’s
tumultuous childhood had caused

deep and permanent scars”

Hatfield, where Anne Boleyn’s aunt, Lady Shelton, OntheadviceoftheSpanishambassador,
supervised her. To make matters worse, on 23 Maryfinallyagreedtodoso.Sheneverforgave
March 1534, the Act of Succession was passed herselfforwhatsheperceivedtobethebetrayal
through parliament, legally disinheriting Mary and of her mother, but her circumstances immediately
depriving her of the title princess. From now on improved. She was welcomed back to court and
she was to be referred to as the Lady Mary. into her father’s favour, and she soon became
Throughout this time, Mary clung to her close to her stepmother. Furthermore, she
Catholic faith, which gave her strength and was chosen as godmother to the longed-
brought her comfort. She was frequently plagued forson,Edward,thatQueenJanegave
by ill health, yet she still refused to acknowledge birthtoinOctober1537.Herrestoration
Anne Boleyn as the queen of England. This caused to favour, however, was only successful
Anne great frustration, and she ordered her aunt in personal terms, and Mary remained
to “box her ears as a cursed bastard” if Mary legally disinherited by her father. There
continued to refer to herself as princess, but it did is no doubt that Mary’s tumultuous
not come to that. childhood had caused deep and permanent
Worse was to come for Mary, when, on 7 scars–herfatherwouldlateracquirea
January 1536, her mother died. She was distraught, reputationasatyrant,anditisfairtosaythat
Maryusesher‘royaltouch’tocurea
and fell ill shortly afterwards. Anne Boleyn was Mary was one of his victims. subject’sscrofula.Englishmonarchswere
thoughttopossesshealingpowers

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

Get to know the other Marys in the House of Tudor

MARY MARY OF MARY, MARY GREY
TUDOR GUISE QUEEN C.1545-78
STATUS:THEQUEEN’SSECONDCOUSIN
1496-1533 1515-60 OF SCOTS Mary Grey was the youngest
STATUS: HENRY VIII’S SISTER STATUS:CONSORTOFJAMESVOF 1542-87 sisteroftheexecutedLady
The first Mary Tudor was SCOTLANDANDREGENT STATUS:QUEENOFSCOTSAND JaneGrey,andmayhavebeen
Henry VIII’s younger sister, The French-born second wife MARY’SSECONDCOUSIN namedinhonourofhersecond
of whom he was extremely fond. It of James V of Scotland was mother to Mary, Queen of Scots, is arguably one of cousin.MaryItreatedherandherelder
is often claimed that Henry’s famous Mary, Queen of Scots. Following the theworstmonarchsevertohaveruled. sister,Katherine,withkindness,but
ship, Mary Rose, was named in her death of her husband six days after her ShewasthegranddaughterofHenry both sisters would later experience
honour, but there is no evidence for daughter’s birth, Mary acted as regent VIII’s elder sister, Margaret Tudor, and Queen Elizabeth I’s wrath when they
this. Mary was the namesake of Mary I. of Scotland on her daughter’s behalf. herhusbandJamesIVofScotland. each married without royal consent.

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