Trials to Become a Queen

Matthew S. J. Troxler

HIST 3333

Prof. Crow

26 April 2011
 Troxler 1

Matthew S. J. Troxler

HIST 3333

Prof. Crow

26 April 2011

Trials To Become a Queen

Queen Mary I is generally considered one of England’s most degraded monarchs. Many

give her the title “Bloody Mary” and think of her as the most ruthless queen to rule England as if

she was making the nation suffer for the pains caused to her. However, Mary went through many

trials and obstacles to be able to rule England. Queen Mary I of England’s trials in her faith, her

status as the heir to the throne, and her relationship with her family affected her reign as Queen

of England.

Mary was born on February 1, 1516, the daughter of King Henry VIII of England and

Queen Katherine of Aragon. She was the only child of Henry and Katherine that survived

infancy.

Since Mary’s birth Katherine was unable to produce a surviving male heir and Henry

began to look for another wife. However, Katherine had been previously married to Henry’s

older brother, Arthur. The two had gotten a dispensation from the pope for their marriage, for

according to Church law they were unable to marry. Henry wanted an annulment from his

marriage with Katherine. Unable to go back on his predecessor’s own judgment, and pressure

from the Holy Roman Emperor the pope stalled. A commission in England was opened and

Thomas Cramner, Archbishop of Canterbury, granted the annulment, without Rome’s approval.

In 1534, Parliament passed a series of acts that cut off all ecclesiastical ties with Rome and

proclaimed Henry as head of the Church in England. All clergy had to take the oath of
 Troxler 2

supremacy and swear allegiance to the king. Katherine, who maintained her strong Catholic

faith, was put away and Henry married Anne Boleyn. A short time later, a daughter, Elizabeth,

was born. Mary was sent to live with the infant Elizabeth in Hatfield as a lady in waiting to her

half sister. Eventually Henry became fed up that Anne had not produced for him a male heir. He

had her convicted of adultery and Anne was beheaded. His third wife, Jane Seymour, bore him a

son in 1537, which Henry named Edward. However Jane died of complications a few days later.

Henry married three other women, none of whom bore him children. Shortly before his death,

Henry added his two daughters to the line of succession after Edward. Mary was first in line

behind Edward, since she was the oldest. Henry died and Edward was proclaimed king. This

young monarch only reigned for six years. During his reign, Thomas Cramner introduced a new

Church of England. Shortly before his death, Edward modified the line of succession and named

Lady Jane Grey his heir. Her reign only lasted nine days. Mary became queen.

Mary had trials maintaining her faith. When she was young her parents, especially her

mother were good and devout Catholics. When Henry broke away from the Catholic Church and

proclaimed himself head of the Church in England, Mary had trials in keeping her allegiance to

the pope. For Mary her allegiance was to the Bishop of Rome and not to the sovereign of

England.

Mary’s trials in keeping her faith began in 1534 when her father, King Henry VIII and

Parliament began to sever their ties to Rome so that Henry could have his marriage to Katherine

of Aragon annulled and so he could marry Anne Boleyn. In 1534, Parliament passed the Act of

Supremacy making the Monarch head of the Church in England. All relations with Rome were

cut off and Henry was able to have his marriage to Catherine annulled. Mary however, remained

loyal to the Faith. He mother reminded her in a letter, “If any pangs come to you, shrive yourself;
 Troxler 3

first make you clean; take heed of His commandments and keep them as near as he will give you

grace to do for then you are sure armed.”1 These were strong words and it seems that Mary took

them to heart. She seemed ready to die for the cause of her Faith. “It appears that she (Katherine

of Aragon) and the princess (Mary) will be sentenced to Martyrdom, which she was ready to

receive in testimony of the Holy Faith, as the cardinal of Rochester (St. John Fisher) and other

holy martyrs had done. She only grieves that her life has not been holy as theses and she is n

great sorrow for the multitude of souls who are daily condemned,” writes Katherine’s physician

Dr. Ortiz to Empress Isabella of the Holy Roman Empire2. During her years in Hatfield, Mary

would not submit to her father’s Act of Supremacy because signing the act would also

acknowledge that she was illegitimate. Eventually, Mary, under the advice of Ambassador

Eustace Chapuys, wrote to her father, acknowledging him as the head of the Church in England

on June 22, 1536 in order to return to Henry’s grace. “I do recognize, accept, take, repute and

acknowledge the king’s highness to be supreme head on earth, under Christ, of the church of

England; and do utterly refuse the bishop of Rome’s pretended authority, power and jurisdiction

within this realm, formerly usurped, according to the laws and statutes made on that behalf

according to my bounded duty with all the power, force and qualities with which god has endued

me, during my life.”3 Mary played along with the game, yet she still held on to her beliefs and

still heard Mass. But trouble lay ahead for Mary when her brother, Edward VI, began to assert

“his” church on his half-sister.

1
Katharine of Aragon, April 1534 < http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter3.html> date accessed
26 April 2011.
2
Oritz, Eustace Henry VIII: 1534, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol. 9: 1532 (1883),
pp 288-310 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=75679. Date accessed: 19 February 2011.

3
The Princess Mary,22 June 1536. < http://englishhistory.net/tudor/primary1.html> Date Accessed: 26 April 2011.
 Troxler 4

Mary’s real trials in her faith escalated with her brother, King Edward VI. Edward and

his Parliament began to create a new Church of England. This church was a radical departure

from the Catholic Church and the church of Henry VIII. Mary continued to hold firm to her faith

while others followed the new church. She had Mass said for her each day, which she attended.

In a letter to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Mary wrote that “in life and death I will not

forsake the Catholic religion of the church our mother.”4 Mary must have reflected on the advice

given to her by her mother to remain firm in her faith. This devotion would be tested beginning

in the summer of 1549 when the Privy Council recalled Mary’s chaplain to London for

instruction in the new church. Mary claimed that she was following her father’s orders in

maintaining her father’s church and had the blessing of the Holy Roman Emperor to do this.

Edward would not have this and invited his sister to court at Christmas of 1549. “They wished

me be at court so that I could not get the Mass celebrated for me and the king might take me with

him to hear their sermons. I would not find myself in such a place for anything in the World,”5

Mary wrote in a letter to Holy Roman Empire’s Ambassador François van der Delft. She wrote

to her brother excusing herself from court on the account that she was ill. It was good that she

remained away, for on December 25, 1549 the new Church of England took effect. Mary wrote

to Ambassador Van der Delft, "When they send me orders forbidding me the Mass, I shall expect

to suffer as I suffered during my father’s lifetime.”6 Mary expected to be fully exiled, removed

from the line of succession, and to suffer all the persecution she suffered during Henry’s schism

with Rome. Mary considered escaping to the Low Countries and plans were made for her to do

this. However Mary changed her mind, deciding she needed to remain in England in case

4
Calendar of State Papers, Spanish, Vol. 10, 360-361

5
ibid., 5-6

6
ibid. 127-128
 Troxler 5

something happened to Edward. The decision to remain in England pushed Mary in to further

conflict with Edward. He had her chaplains arrested for saying Mass. He ordered Mary to

London for instruction in his church. At court, it just seemed to be an arguing match between

Edward and Mary. Mary claimed that Edward was “too young to be meddling in religion.”7 The

whole argument that day ended in a stalemate as it was reported that both Edward and Mary

were both crying.8 Edward kept up his attacks on Mary’s faith, telling her to conform to the new

Church of England. Nevertheless, Mary held firm. The entire affair was at a standstill until

Edward’s death in 1553.

Because of Queen Mary’s trials in her faith, it was very important for her to restore the

Catholic Church to England. This began by Parliament abolishing the Edwardian Church and

restoring the practices of the Henrican Church.9 Yet England would not be in full communion

with Rome until 1555, when Reginald Cardinal Pole was named papal legate. He arrived in

England and in late November, Parliament repented of their sins.10 On November 30, Pole

absolved Parliament “from all heresy and schism, from all and every judgment, censures and

pains, for that cause incurred.”11 However many enemies of the Catholic Church claim that Mary

had many heretics and protestant followers killed. These were recorded in Foxe’s Book of

Martyrs. However, this seems to be exaggerated. Anne Carroll notes that out of the 273 that were

martyred, only 104 were actually killed for religious reasons.12 Caroll notes that these 104 were

7
Whitelock, 163

8
ibid., 158

9
ibid., 212

10
ibid., 269

11
Foxe, Actes and Monumentes Book 10 pp. 1476-1477

12
Carroll, 235
 Troxler 6

less than her Father had killed in the Pilgrimage of Grace in 15 or those that Elizabeth had killed

during her reign.13. Mary’s trials in Faith came in her defense of the pope in the life of her Father.

It escalated when her brother pressed her church on his sister. Mary fought these persecutions

and maintained her faith. As a result, she was able to restore the Catholic Church to a sin filled

England. Mary’s trials were far from over. She had to suffer much in becoming Queen of

England.

Queen Mary I’s suffering in terms of her status as the heir to the throne affected her

reign. In 1534 Parliament passed the Act of Succession, declaring Mary illegitimate and unable

to succeed to the throne of England. From 1534 to 1536 she lived as a lady in waiting to her half-

sister Elizabeth. In these years, Mary maintained that she was the heir to the throne. After

Edward’s death, Mary had to deal with a new succession problem, Lady Jane Grey.

Following his annulment with Catherine of Aragon, Henry had Katherine declared

Dowager Princess of Wales, and Mary was declared a bastard. In 1534, Parliament passed the

Act of Succession. It sated “that the said Lady Katherine shall be from henceforth called and

reputed only Dowager to Prince Arthur, and not queen of this realm.”14 Katherine was no longer

Queen and according to the law Anne Boleyn was the rightful Queen. The statement also

declared Mary illegitimate. The act also stated “that all the issue had and procreated, or hereafter

to be had and procreated, between your highness and your said most dear and entirely beloved

wife Queen Anne, shall be your lawful children, and be inheritable, and inherit, according to the

course of inheritance and laws of this realm, the imperial crown of the same, with all dignities,

honors, preeminences, prerogatives, authorities, and jurisdictions to the same annexed or

13
ibid.

14
First Act of Succession, 1534 <http://www.luminarium.org/enclyclopedia/first act of sucession.htm> date
accessed: 8 April 2011
 Troxler 7

belonging, in as large and ample manner as your highness at this present time has the same as

king of this realm.”15 This too further declared Mary illegitimate. Only Anne’s children were

considered legitimate now. Mary felt that she if she was the biological child of the King, she was

entitled to be princess or at least be on the line of succession. Her half-brother, Henry FitzRoy,

the son of a woman with whom Henry an affair, had been created the Duke of Richmond and

Somerset in 1525. However Mary was unable to receive a title because she was a woman. When

Elizabeth was born, Mary was sent away to live with Elizabeth in Hatfield, spilt up from her

mother and made to serve Elizabeth as a lady in waiting to her.

In her exile, Mary still regarded herself as Princess even through by succession, Elizabeth

was considered the Princess. In a letter by Ambassador Chapuys, to Emperor Charles V he notes

that “Since my last the king has sent some his council to the princess to forbear using the title

which belongs to the one who was latest born and not to her…. Hereupon the princess without

taking the advice of anybody, as no communication would have permitted her, replied to the

commissioners, and likewise wrote to the king that she would be would be as obedient to his

command as any slave, but she had no right to renounce or derogate from the titles and

prerogatives that God, nature and her parents had given her; that, being daughter of the king and

Queen, she had the right to be styled princess; that her father might do with her as she pleased,

she would do nothing expressively or tacitly in prejudice of her legitimacy, nor the cause of her

mother, by whose example she was resolved to commend everything to God and take

patience.”16 Mary believed that if she was the biological child of the King and the Queen, then

she was the princess, whether her father called her one or not. Still people told her that she was

15
ibid

16
Chapuys To Charles V Henry VIII: 1534, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol. 6: 1533
(1882), pp 497-514 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=77571. Date accessed: 19 February
2011.
 Troxler 8

no longer the princess. “A Gentleman told me that Anne had sent to her father’s sister who has

charge of the princess17 telling her not to use that title and if she did, she must box her hears as a

cursed bastard,”18 writes Chapuys. Even while living with Elizabeth, Mary encountered the

problems calling herself the princess. “The duke of Norfolk went to the Princess to tell her that

her father desired her to go to the Court and service of the said bastard, whom he named

Princess. The Princess answered that the title belonged to herself, and to no other; making many

very wise remonstrances, that what had been proposed to her was strange and dishonorable. To

which the duke would not reply. 19” It seemed that Mary would not stop using her title and some

thought that if Mary served Elizabeth, it would put some sense in her and stop the “I’m princess

and no else” business. To Henry it seemed that no one tried hard enough to break Mary. When

the Duke of Norfolk visited Elizabeth, he tried to persuade Mary to pay her respects to the

Princess (Elizabeth). Mary informed Norfolk that she was the true princess. Upon returning to

court, Norfolk told Henry what had transpired. “Though the said Duke treated her very roughly,

the King reproached him for not having accomplished his charge; that he went about it too softly;

and he was resolved to take steps to abate the stubbornness and pride of the Princess, 20”

17
Through his letters back home, Chapuys refers to Mary as “the princess,” Elizabeth as “the bastard

daughter,” Catherine of Aragon as “the Queen” and Anne Boleyn as “The king’s concubine” or “His

“Amye.” So it seems that Mary had foreign support for her Status
18
Chapuys To Charles V. Henry VIII: 1534, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol. 6: 1534
(1883), pp 68-85 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=79296. Date accessed: 19 February
2011.

19
Chapuys To Charles V .Henry VIII: December 1533, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII,
Vol. 6: 1533 (1883), pp 613-26 310 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=77580. Date
accessed: 19 February 2011.

20
Chapuys To Charles V. Henry VIII: December 1534, 21-25, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII,
Vol. 6: 1532 (1882), pp 626-631 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=77581. Date accessed:
19 February 2011.
 Troxler 9

Chapuys recounts. Either Mary would have to learn her new position or continue to suffer

torments by others. In an attempt to try to get herself in her father’s grace, Mary wrote to her

father acknowledging her mother’s annulment and in essence her status. “I do freely, frankly and

for the discharge of my duty towards God, the king’s highness and his laws, without other

respect, recognize and acknowledge that the marriage between his majesty, the late Princess

Dowager, was by God’s law and man’s law incestuous and unlawful.”21 In this Mary claimed

that she was no longer princess. Mary’s sufferings ended when she was brought back to court in

1535 at the request of Jane Seymour.

Mary’s status was challenged when Edward declared Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England

when he died. Prior to this arrangement, Mary would have assumed the throne. But due to Mary

and Edward’s religious differences, Edward chose Lady Jane Grey, an Anglican, as his

successor. Upon Jane’s ascension, Mary began to protest vocally about Jane’s ascension. She

wrote to Jane’s Council, “You know, the realm and the whole world knoweth; the rolls and

records appear by the authority of the King our said father, and the king our said brother, and the

subjects of this realm; so that we verily trust that there is no good true subject, that is, can, or

would, pretend to be ignorant thereof.”22 Mary reminded them that Henry had set the line of

succession, not Edward. However the Privy Council responded promptly. They reminded her

that she was illegitimate and that she should submit and if she would “For respect be quiet and

obedient as you ought, you shall fine us all and several ready to do any service that we, with

duty, may be glad with you to preserve the common state of this realm.”23 Mary did not back

21
The Lady Mary to Henry VIII 22 June 1536 < http://englishhistory.net/tudor/primary1.html> date accesed April
26, 2011.

22
Suffolk Record office, eye bourgh records, Ipswich ms ee 2/e/3, fol. 26v; Foxe Actes and Monuments, book 10, p
1406

23
ibid. 1406-1407
 Troxler 10

down and began to draw support to defeat Jane and her military commander, the Duke of

Northumberland. Within a few days Northumberland was forced to accept defeat and Jane

abdicated. On August 3, 1553 Mary was proclaimed Queen of England.

Mary’s issues with her status affected the way she achieved the throne of England. Being

able to claim the throne was a daunting task. She had been declared illegitimate by Parliament

yet she resisted accepting her situation. Her stubborn way of claiming that she was the princess

angered many. Only after submitting was Mary able to begin to plan her way to the throne. But

one person stood in her way from achieving her goal: Lady Jane Grey. Mary was able to make

her move and become Queen of England. Once Mary became Queen, Wyatt’s uprising and many

similar uprisings began to worry her. She felt insecure and increased the number of men

protecting her.24

Queen Mary’s relationships with her family were on rocky ground. The strongest

relationship she had was with her mother. She always was trying to please her father, and was

often in fear of Anne Boleyn who tried to divide Henry and Mary so that Mary was out of the

way. These relationships affected Mary’s relationship with Elizabeth when Mary ascended the

throne.

Mary was close to her Mother. This relationship was strengthened further when Mary

was sent away. Even in her exile, Katherine wrote to Mary and reminded her to have courage to

undergo this exile. In 1535, Mary became ill. “Having been obliged to remove and follow the

Bastard when a little indisposed, it increased her illness, but she is better. It has been a great

comfort to her that the King her father sent her his physician, and permitted the Queen also to

visit her, and the apothecary from whom she has received all her medicines for four years. The

King had ordered that the said physicians and apothecary of the Queen should be induced to pay
24
Loades, David Michael. The Regin of Mary Tudor. New York: St. Martins Press, 1979. 94
 Troxler 11

their respects to the Bastard before the Princess, but the messenger arrived too late. The King

commanded the said physicians and apothecary not to speak to the Princess except in the

presence of people, and not in any other language than English. Since the King began to doubt

whether his lady was eccentric or not, he has renewed and increased the love he formerly had for

a very beautiful damsel of the Court; and because the said lady (demoiselle, qu. dame) wished to

drive her away, the King has been very angry, telling his said lady (dame) that she had good

reason to be content with what he had done for her, which he would not do now if the thing were

to begin, and that she should consider from what she had come, and several other things. To

which it is not well to attach too much importance, considering the changeable character of the

said King and the craft of the said lady, who knows well how to manage him,” 25 Chapuys writes.

The king was worried that Mary would communicate a plot to her mother’s physician and carry

it to her mother. In Letter to Chapuys, Katherine recalls, “My physician has informed me partly

of my daughter's illness, giving me hope of her improved health; but as I know her infirmity lasts

so long, and I see he is slow to visit her (although for some days he could not, as I was so ill

myself), I have great suspicion as to the cause. So because it appears to me that what I ask is just

and for the service of God, I beg you will speak to his Highness, and desire him on my behalf to

do such a charity as to send his daughter and mine where I am; because treating her with my own

hands, and by the advice both of other physicians and of my own, if God please to take her from

this world my heart will rest satisfied; otherwise in great pain. You shall say also to his Highness

that there is no need of any other person but myself to nurse her; that I will put her in my own

bed where I sleep, and will watch her when needful. I have recourse to you, knowing that there is

no one in this kingdom who dare say to the King my lord that which I desire you to say; and I
25
Chapuys to Charles V Henry VIII: 1534, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol. 7: 1532
(1883), pp 462-475 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=79296. Date accessed: 19 February
2011.
 Troxler 12

pray God reward you for the diligence that you will make. Kimbolton, the first Friday of Lent.”
26
Katherine was totally concerned for her daughter and her health. Henry could have cared less.

He virtually left Mary penniless, with no clothes at all. Chapuys described her as “destitute.”

Even though Mary and Katherine were separated, Katherine still encouraged her and told her not

to lose hope.

Mary was always trying to return to her father’s graces, as he was the one who could

accept her back. This was her main priority. If she could turn his mind away from shunning her

and her mother, then she could gain favor. This would not be easy since she would have to stop

pretending she was the princess and that her mother was queen. Because Mary continued to defy

her father over her status and this caused their relationship to remain separated. “The King lately

went to see his bastard daughter (Elizabeth), who is 20 miles away, and the Princess (Mary) with

her. Though one of the principal causes of his going was to persuade or force the Princess to

renounce her title, when the Lady considered the King's easiness or lightness (if anyone dared to

call it so), and that the beauty, virtue and prudence of the Princess might assuage his wrath and

cause him to treat her better and leave her title, she sent Cromwell, and then other messengers,

after the King, to prevent him from seeing or speaking with her. Accordingly, before arriving at

the house he sent orders that she should not come to him. While in the house, and in the bastard's

room, he sent Cromwell, the treasurer and the captain of the guard, to urge the Princess to

renounce her title. She replied that she had already given a decided answer, it was labor wasted

to press her, and they were deceived if they thought that bad treatment or rudeness, or even the

chance of death, would make her change her determination.

26
Katherine of Aragon To Chapuys Henry VIII: 1534, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII,
Vol. 8: 1532 (1883), pp 75-98 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=75525. Date accessed: 19
February 2011.
 Troxler 13

“While the King was with his new daughter the Princess sent to ask leave to come and

kiss his hand, but her request was not granted.

“When the King was going to mount his horse she went on to a terrace at the top of the

house to see him. The King, either being told of it: or by chance, turned round, and seeing her on

her knees with her hands it joined, bowed to her and put his hand to his hat. Then all those

present, who had not dared to raise their heads to look at her, rejoiced at what the King had done,

and saluted her reverently with signs of good will and compassion,”27 Chapuys wrote. This little

gesture shows that Henry had some love for Mary in his corrupted heart. To get back into his

grace, Mary would publicly have to submit to him. Following the death of he mother in 1536,

Mary, decided to write her father in which she acknowledged her situation and her status. She

hoped that this would get her in the right with her father. “'Most humbly prostrate before the feet

of your most excellent majesty, your most humble, so faithful and obedient subject, who has so

extremely offended your most gracious highness that my heavy and fearful heart dare not

presume to call you father, deserving of nothing from your majesty, save that the kindness of

your most blessed nature does surmount all evils, offences and trespasses, and is ever merciful

and ready to accept the penitent calling for grace, at any fitting time. Having received this

Thursday, at night, certain letters from Mr. Secretary to whom I had lately written advising me to

make my humble submission immediately to your self, which I dared not, without your gracious

license, presume to do before, and signifying that your most merciful heart and fatherly pity had

granted me your blessing, with the condition that I should persevere in which I had commenced

and begun; and that I should not again offend your majesty by the denial or refusal of any such

27
Chapuys to Charles V, Henry VIII: January 1534, 16-20’, Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII,
Volume 7: 1534, pp. 30-36. U
 Troxler 14

articles and commandments as it may please your highness to address to me, for the perfect trial

of my heart and inward affection, for the perfect declaration of the depths of my heart.

First, I acknowledge myself to have most unkindly and unnaturally offended your most

excellent highness, in that I have not submitted myself to your most just and virtuous laws; and

for my offence therein, which I must confess was in me a thousand fold more grievous than it

could be in any other living creature, I put myself wholly and entirely at your gracious mercy; at

whose hands I cannot receive that punishment for the same which I have deserved.

Secondly, to open my heart to your grace, in these things which I have before refused to

condescend to, and have now written with my own hand, sending them to your highness

herewith, I shall never beseech your grace to have pity and compassion on me if ever you shall

perceive that I shall, secretly or openly, vary or alter from one piece of that which I have written

and subscribed, or refuse to confirm, ratify or declare the same, wherever your majesty shall

appoint me.

Thirdly, as I have and will, knowing your excellent learning, virtue, wisdom and

knowledge, put my soul under your direction, and by the same have and will in all things

henceforth direct my conscience, so I wholly commit my body to your mercy and fatherly pity;

desiring no state, no condition, nor no manner or degree of living but such as your grace shall

appoint unto me; knowing and confessing that my state cannot be so vile as either the extremity

of justice would appoint to me, or as my offences have required and deserved. And whatsoever

your grace shall command me to do, touching any of these points, either for things past, present

or to come, I shall gladly do the same as your majesty can command me. Your Grace's most

humble and obedient daughter and handmaid, Mary.”28 Her Confession accompanied the letter.

28
The Lady Marry to Henry VIII 22 June1536 http://englishhistory.net/tudor/primary1.html
 Troxler 15

“The confession of me, Lady Mary, made upon certain points and articles written below;

in which I do now plainly and with all my heart confess and declare my inward sentence, belief

and judgment, with due conformity of obedience to the laws of the realm; so, minding for ever to

persist and continue in this determination without change, alteration or variance, I do most

humbly beseech the king's highness, my father, whom I have obstinately and disobediently

offended in the denial of the same up to now, to forgive my offences therein, and to take me to

his most gracious mercy.

First I confess and acknowledge the king's majesty to be my sovereign lord and king, in

the imperial crown of this realm of England; and do submit myself to his highness and to each

and every law and statute of this realm, as it becomes a true and faithful subject to do; which I

shall also obey, keep, observe, advance and maintain according to my bounden duty with all the

power, force and qualities with which God had endued me, during my life.

I do recognize, accept, take, repute and acknowledge the king's highness to be supreme

head on earth, under Christ, of the church of England; and do utterly refuse the bishop of Rome's

pretended authority, power and jurisdiction within this realm, formerly usurped, according to the

laws and statutes made on that behalf, and by all the king's true subjects humbly received,

admitted, obeyed, kept and observed.

And I do also utterly renounce and forsake all manner of remedy, interest and advantage

which I may by any means claim by the bishop of Rome's laws, processes, jurisdiction or

sentence, at this time or in any way hereafter, by any manner of title, colour, means or cause that

is, shall or can be devised for that purpose.

I do freely, frankly and for the discharge of my duty towards God, the king's highness

and his laws, without other respect, recognize and acknowledge that the marriage formerly had
 Troxler 16

between his majesty and my mother, the late princess dowager, was by God's law and man's law

incestuous and unlawful.”29 Mary seemed to play along with what needed to be done to get back

in the favor with Henry. This needed to be done in order to publicly be reconciled.

Mary was in constant fear of her first stepmother, Anne Boleyn. Even though Henry went

through great pains to distance himself from Mary, he still seemed to love her. “Anne is aware of

the king’s affection for the princess, and does not cease to plot against her,”30 Chapuys remarks.

Anne would not want Mary to influence her father further and so was eager to split up their

relationship. “But Anne might be encouraged to execute her wicked will from fear of a

reconciliation between the Princess and her father, and would be able to do it with less suspicion

under color of friendship now that her hatred and enmity is open.”31 Yet Mary believed that Anne

was nothing more than a concubine; she still believed that her mother, Katherine of Aragon, was

the rightful queen. This noted by Chapuys, “When the king’s ‘amye’ went lately to visit her

daughter, she urgently solicited the princess to visit her and honor as queen, saying it would be a

means of reconciliation with the king, and she herself would intercede with him for her and she

should be treated well or better than ever. The princess replied that she knew no queen in

England except her mother, and if the said “Amye” would do that favor with her father she

would be much obliged. The Lady repeated her remonstrances and offers and in the end

29
ibid
30
Chapuys, Eustace Henry VIII: 1534, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry
VIII, Vol. 7: 1532 (1883), pp 68-85 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?
compid=79296. Date accessed: 19 February 2011.
31
Ibid.
 Troxler 17

threatened her, but she could not move the princess.”32 This seems to be connected to Mary’s

status. Anne was the driving stake between Henry and Mary’s relationship.

The trials of Mary in her relationships were difficult. She was bonded strongly with her

mother, Queen Katherine of Aragon. She was always trying to please her father, King Henry

VIII and return to his grace. She feared Anne Boleyn, since she made attempts to kill her. These

experiences helped her when Mary dealt with Elizabeth when she was Queen.

Mary’s relationships with her parents, and Anne Boleyn affect her relationship with her

half-sister Elizabeth during her reign. Mary was always wary that the Protestants would stage a

revolt and put Elizabeth on the throne. Mary became insecure. This came to a head when

Thomas Wyatt staged an uprising to overthrow Mary and put Elizabeth on the throne. The

uprising was unsuccessful and put down. On the day of the rebellion, Mary wrote Elizabeth to

come to court in order to protect her.33 Elizabeth excused herself on the grounds of ill health.

Mary sent men to Elizabeth’s residence to come get her. The trip took eleven days and when

Elizabeth arrived in London, Mary would not see her. A month later, Elizabeth was formerly

convicted of being a conspirator in the rebellion and sent to the Tower. Elizabeth wrote Mary, "If

any ever did try this old saying, 'that a king's word was more than another man's oath,’ I most

humbly beseech your Majesty to verify it to me, and to remember your last promise and my last

demand, that I be not condemned without answer and due proof, which it seen that I now am; for

without cause proved, I am by your council from you commanded to go to the Tower, a place

more wanted for a false traitor than a true subject, which though I know I desire it not, yet in the

face of all this realm it appears proved. I pray to God I may die the shamefullest death that any
32
Chapuys To Charles VII Henry VIII: 1534, 11-20, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic,
Henry VIII, Vol. 7: 1532 (1883), pp 116-135 URL Http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/report.aspx?
compid=79300. Date accessed: 19 February 2011.
33
Whitelock, 248
 Troxler 18

ever died, if I may mean any such thing; and to this present hour I protest before God (Who shall

judge my truth, whatsoever malice shall devise), that I never practiced, counseled, nor consented

to anything that might be prejudicial to your person anyway, or dangerous to the state by any

means, And therefore I humbly beseech your Majesty to let me answer afore yourself, and not

suffer me to trust to your Councillors, yea, and that afore I go to the Tower, if it be possible; if

not, before I be further condemned, Howbeit, I trust assuredly your Highness will give me leave

to do it before I go, that thus shamefully I may not be cried out on, as I now shall be; yea, and

that without cause, Let conscience move your Highness to pardon this my boldness, which

innocency procures me to do, together with hope of your natural kindness, which I trust will not

see me cast away without desert, which what it is I would desire no more of God but that you

truly knew, but which thing I think and believe you shall never by report know, unless by

yourself you hear, I have heard of many in my time cast away for want of coming to the presence

of their prince and in late days I heard my Lord of Somerset say that if his brother had been

suffered to speak with him he had never suffered; but persuasions were made to him so great that

he was brought in belief that he could not live safely if the Admiral lived, and that made him

give consent to his death. Though these persons are not to be compared to your Majesty, yet I

pray to God the like evil persuasions persuade not one sister against the other, and all for that

they have heard false report, and the truth not known, Therefore, once again kneeling with

humbleness of heart, because I am not suffered to bow the knees of my body, I humbly crave to

speak with your Highness, which I would not be so bold as to desire if I knew not myself most

clear, as I know myself most true. And as for the traitor Wyatt, he might peradventure written me

a letter, but on my faith I never received any from him, And as for the copy of the letter sent to

the French King, I pray God confound me eternally if ever I sent him word, message, token, or
 Troxler 19

letter, by ally means, and to this truth I will stand in till my death. Your Highness's most faithful

subject, that hah been from the beginning and will be to my end.” 34 Mary later had Elizabeth

moved to Woodstock for the time being. Even after Wyatt’s uprising, several other uprisings

were aimed to take Mary out and place Elizabeth on the throne. These uprisings were put down

and Elizabeth remained at Woodstock until Mary’s death. Following her father’s succession

plan, Elizabeth was named the successor by Mary.

Mary definitely had trials in her life. Her trials were in her keeping her Catholic faith, her

status as the heir, and her relationships. Each of these trials affected her reign as Queen of

England.

Mary’s trials to maintain her Catholic faith was a driving force to restore Catholicism.

She worked to reunite England with Rome. She had the support of many of the people to achieve

this goal. Mary restored Catholicism to England for the duration of her reign.

Mary’s ascent to the throne was influence by many obstacles concerning her status. She

spent years and suffered many persecutions in order to establish herself in the line of succession.

She used force to get her desire and once on the throne she felt insecure.

Mary’s familial relationships affected her reign. She had a fear of losing all that she

worked for. She worried about Elizabeth constantly since relationships at home were not to be

trusted. Her relationship with Anne taught her to be careful with whom she formed her alliances.

Mary worried about Elizabeth since she was the person next in line for the crown and others

wanted to put Elizabeth on the throne once they got rid of Mary. Mary did what she had to in

order to protect herself and her half-sister.

34
The Princess Elizabeth to Mary I < http://www.elizabethfiles.com/resources/letters-of-
elizabeth-i/letter-from-princess-elizabeth-to-mary-I>
 Troxler 20

These trials of her faith, her status and her familial relationships strengthened and guided

Mary in her reign as Queen of England. She is a Queen who suffered much to earn her crown.

Like her ancestors who fought on the battlefield for the right to be the sovereign of England,

Mary did so in her own way.

 Troxler 21

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Foxe, John. Actes and Monumentes, London, 1583

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Gairdner, James, Ed. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Vol. 7. London:

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