The DEATH OF QUEEN MARY I occurred on 17 November 1558, but before she passed away, she signed off on what would be the final commands of a queen; her last will and testament. This document dealt with her bequests to individuals and charitable institutions, what she wanted done with her body and that of her long deceased mother, Catherine of Aragon and the succession to the English throne. This last will of a queen provides a fascinating glimpse into her mentality, her attitudes towards her family members (including her husband, King Philip II of Spain and her dead father and brother, Henry VIII and Edward VI) and her belief that she was expecting a child. If you’re wondering, was Mary I pregnant, the answer is no and in her final days, even she had to admit it. It’s interesting though to see how she referred to her sister and heir, the soon-to-be Elizabeth I, and what she did and didn’t say about her in this document.
This Tudors documentary video from History Calling will take you through the last orders of a Queen and one who (as a Tudor) was arguably one of the most famous queens in history, or at least in English history. As for what happened when Mary I died, some of her wishes were carried out and others very clearly weren’t and we’ll look at some examples from both categories. There will also be a brief discussion of the burial of Mary I in Westminster Abbey, which (if she could see it), would probably make her roll in her grave.
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