Page 34 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

Bloody Mary On Trial

Fighting for her rights Catholicism, but her defiance caused a permanent
MATCH- Henry VIII died on 28 January 1547 and was rift in her relationship with her half-brother. When
MAKING AND succeeded by his nine-year-old son, Edward VI. the 15-year-old Edward died childless in July 1553,
Despitehisearliertreatmentofhisdaughter,inthe
itwasdiscoveredthatratherthanhonouringthe
MATRIMONY latter years of Henry’s reign, life had become more termssetoutinhisfather’swill,hehad namedhis
Protestantcousin,LadyJaneGrey,ashisheirto
settled for Mary. She had a privileged lifestyle, and
How Philip and Mary heraccountsrevealthatsheappreciatedfinefood, the throne. Once again an attempt had been made
made it to the altar was fond of clothes and jewels, and loved music. todepriveMaryofherrights.
Shealsolikedtorideandhunt,andgambled On10July,LadyJaneGreywaspublicly
Mary’s mother, Katherine of Aragon, had
alwayshopedthatherdaughterwould atcards.Shehadenjoyedgoodrelationships proclaimed queen. Mary, meanwhile, had learned
makeaSpanishmatch.Itwasawishthat with most of her stepmothers, particularly her of her half-brother’s death and the attempts to
Mary also cherished, but she had never father’s last wife, Katherine Parr. Furthermore, oust her from her place in the succession, but
metherfuturebridegroom,Philip,andin though both she and Elizabeth remained legally rather than bowing down, she was determined
a similar manner to other foreign royal
marriages,therewasaprotocoltobe
adhered to.
“Maryhad compromisedher faithonce
EXCHANGE
PORTRAITS during the reign of her father, and was
Inthecaseofforeign determinednottodosoagain”
marriageswhenitwasnot
always possible to see your
future spouse in person, it
was common for portraits to
be sent to your intended. In illegitimate, her father had restored them both tofight.ShefledintoEastAngliawhereshewas
someinstancesthisdidnot to their place in the succession should their half- amajorlandowner,andincrediblypopular;this
workoutwell,themostfamousexample brother, Edward, die childless. Despite the fact proved to be a wise move. Making her way to her
beingthatofMary’sfatherandAnneof theyhadbothbeenraisedasProtestants,shewas stronghold of Framlingham Castle, Mary was able
Cleves–hefellinlovewithherportraitbut fond of her younger siblings, and often lavished torallyhersupporters,whoflockedtoherbanner
wasrepulsedbyherinperson.Maryhad
no such worries, and was besotted with them with gifts. in the coming days. Though Lady Jane Grey’s
Philip’sportraitbyTitian. But life would become increasingly difficult for father-in-law, the Duke of Northumberland, set
Mary under Edward’s rule. He was as fervently out to apprehend her, his mission proved to be
CONCLUDE Protestant as Mary was Catholic, and was fruitless. Rather than gaining support as he had
NEGOTIATIONS determined to ensure that his realm became a hoped, Northumberland’s forces began to desert
wholly Protestant nation. Mary had compromised
himinfavourofMary.AssoonasheleftLondon,
In January 1554,
representativesofPhilip’s her faith once during the reign of her father, and sensing the mood of the people and hearing of
father, the Emperor was determined not to do so again. She steadfastly the increased support for Mary, the Privy Council
CharlesV,arrivedin refused to conform to any other religion than finally decided to abandon Jane.
London in order to
finalise the negotiations
forPhilipandMary’smarriage.Atthis
time it was agreed that Philip would not be
givenanyauthorityabovethequeen,and
wouldmerelyassistherinherdutiesas
her consort.
WRITE LETTERS
AND SEND GIFTS
Once the negotiations
hadbeenconcluded,
it was common to
writelettersandsend
lavishgiftstoyour
intended. Philip and
Maryexchangedgiftsofdiamonds,and
Philip also presented Mary with the world-
famous La Peregrina pearl.
THE WEDDING
On 25 July 1554, Philip
andMaryweremarried
inasplendidceremonyat
Winchester Cathedral. It
wasconductedinLatin,
andaftertheweddingthecouplespentten
days honeymooning in the city, residing at
Wolvesey Palace. EdwardVIwascommittedtocontinuinghisfather’swork,
seenhererenewingagiftedhospitaltotheCityofLondon

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