It is well-known that the relationship between Mary and her fourth stepmother, Catherine Howard, was tense. Their relationship was the opposite of the warm affection …
Mary I
A POEM ON MARY I’S LADIES
There is a curious poem, written at some point between 1553 and 1555, about eight ladies who served Mary I. The poem is signed R.E., …
NAMING PRINCESS ELIZABETH: THE NAME HENRY VIII AND ANNE BOLEYN ALMOST CHOSE
On the 10th September, 1533, Chapuys wrote to Charles V about the birth of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII’s daughter. Amongst other details of the …
TUDOR OATHS AND ACTS OF SUPREMACY AND SUCCESSION
Henry VIII created a situation whereby religion and succession became closely entwined. In order to ensure his marriage and heirs by Anne Boleyn were recognised …
PRINCESS MARY’S WELSH CHRISTMAS
ABOVE: Portrait miniature of Mary by Lucas Horenbout, c.1525 In 1525, when Princess Mary was 9 years old, she was sent to preside over the …
MARY’S BALLAD ON ELIZABETH
ABOVE: Details of Mary (left) and Elizabeth (right) from ‘The Family of Henry VIII’ by an unknown artist, c.1545 I have spoken on this page …
ANNE BOLEYN’S JEWELLERY
Henry VIII had lavished Anne Boleyn with jewels, gifting her many exquisite pieces during their courtship and marriage. In addition, Anne had demanded, and received, the jewels of Katherine of Aragon. We only know what happened to a portion of Anne’s jewellery collection; what happened to the rest remains a mystery.
A letter from one of Henry’s European ambassadors indicates that Mary received a large portion of Anne Boleyn’s jewellery; an entry in ‘Letters and Papers’ summarises a letter sent from Mr Pate, ambassador, to Henry VIII on the 1st July, 1536; the entry states:
PHILIP OF SPAIN ON THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, QUEEN MARY I OF ENGLAND
When Mary I died on the 17th November, 1558, she was genuinely mourned by many of her closest ladies and courtiers. The response from her own husband, however, was rather tepid. Philip of Spain and Mary had been somewhat estranged for around a year when she passed away; though Mary was devoted to her husband, he viewed Mary and England as a means to defeat France. Still, it was a very cool response to the death of a woman he had been married to for almost 4 years, and had known, through letters and diplomacy, for most of his life.
MARY I AS SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
One issue which became emblematic of the religious tensions was the matter of the title of ‘Supreme Head of the Church of England,’ created by Henry VIII to represent his headship of the English Church rather than the Pope, and it was held as well by Edward VI. Would Mary become Supreme Head of the Church of England?
