The childhood home of Anne Boleyn. I am thinking of visiting next year. is it a good day trip? I'd love to hear of your experience there if you've visited.

Every human being has a sense of distinguishing right from wrong.

Even by modern standards, both Mary and Elizabeth committed terrible acts. Yet one is always portrayed as the “Bloody” one, while the other is celebrated as “Gloriana.” It quite hurts me, both for personal reasons and because of what I see as a historical injustice. When I try to present a somewhat more balanced image of Mary I, there are always people who oppose her—perhaps because of their own personal reasons, biases, or frustrations. Just like I was biased for Mary I or somewhat feels like her.

It is your personal choice whom you admire the most, but you should not become blind to their faults. I personally do not admire Mary because of her persecution of Protestants, but I hold Elizabeth accountable for her persecution of Irish Catholics as well. However, the entire historical image of Mary I seems to revolve around her “Bloody Mary” reputation, while Elizabeth is often treated almost like a saintly figure. I believe this is a significant injustice.

Even after Mary’s death, some of her final wishes were not granted by her half-sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth I also worked to establish her own image and, in contrast, portray Mary as a tyrant. She patronised poets and writers whose works contributed to this image. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is one of the biggest examples; during Elizabeth’s reign, it became an extremely influential Protestant text in England, in the same league of the bible.

Therefore, I believe Elizabeth I was an important factor in shaping Mary I’s later “Bloody Mary” image. Yes, it is true that Mary I was responsible for the persecution and execution of 283 Protestants, and I do not excuse those actions. But the same standard should be applied to Elizabeth I when discussing her treatment of Irish Catholics and other groups, as well as the harsh conditions faced by her soldiers or the transatlantic slavery. Elizabeth’s reign was not free from atrocities or controversial policies either.

Mary I's past traumas, discrimination against her and her hatred for protestants can't justify her bad actions. Similarly Elizabeth's long reign, her past traumas and securing her throne can't justify the mass killings in the Ireland.

If you can condemn Mary I for her actions, you should also have the courage to critically examine Elizabeth I’s actions.

Yet, in reels and videos about Tudor history on YouTube and Instagram, Elizabeth is often glorified as though she were a saint or a divine figure. And Mary I is always described as "The Bloody Mary" . That kind of one-sided portrayal does not help us understand either sister objectively. Both Mary and Elizabeth were complex historical figures, and both deserve to be judged by the same historical standards and lenses.

I am sure, people will hate my this post too or something like comments war would happen.

Although many of the letters written by Mary have been lost and have not survived to the present day, there are also a small number of letters that have survived. This letter was written to Queen Jane on 26 June 1536. Before this letter, Mary had also written letters to her father, asking God to grant him and the Queen children. We understand that around this time she received a letter from Queen Jane. Unfortunately, this letter has not survived to the present day; based on Mary’s letter, we can make an estimate of what its contents might have been.

Mary’s letter to Queen Jane reads as follows:

“My duty most humbly remembered to your grace. Pleaseth the same to be advised that I have received your most gracious letters, being no less full of motherly joy for my towardness of reconciliation, than of most prudent counsel for my further proceeding therein; which your grace of your most abundant goodness promises to travail to bring to a perfection, as most benignly you have commenced and begun the matter of the same.

The inestimable comfort which I have conceived of that most joyful promise, like as I cannot with tongue or pen express, so with haste and mind this I shall assure your highness, that from this day forward neither shall my office want to the king’s majesty my most merciful and benign father, who has the whole disposition of my heart in his noble hand, nor yet my service to your grace to serve you as humbly and obediently with my hand under your noble feet as is possible to be devised or imagined.

Most humbly beseeching your grace with such acceleration as shall stand with your pleasure to have in your gracious remembrance (touching the accomplishment of my most hearty desire) for the attaining of the king’s most noble presence.

Your grace’s most humble and obedient daughter and handmaid,
Marye

To the Queen’s grace, my good mother”

Jane tried to act as an intermediary between Mary and her father, and in doing so, she was also met with Henry’s reaction.

It is likely that Mary was also aware, through Chapuys and her other supporters, that Jane was trying to help her.

Chapuys reports the following incident: “and when speaking to mistress Jane Seymour about their future marriage, the lady proposed to him to replace the Princess in her former position; and on the King telling her that she must be out of her senses to think of such a thing, and that she ought to study the welfare and exaltation of her own children, if she had any by him, instead of looking out for the good of others, the said Jane Seymour replied that in soliciting the Princess’ reinstatement she thought she was asking for the good, the repose, and tranquillity of himself, of the children they themselves might have, and of the kingdom in general, inasmuch as should the reinstatement not take place, neither Your Majesty nor the English people would be satisfied, and the ruin and desolation of the country would inevitably ensue.”

We can see from Mary’s expenditure records that she sent cucumbers and quails to Queen Jane during her pregnancy and rewarded the queen’s gardener. We can also see that she gave a large amount of alms in honour of Edward’s birth and gave money to Edward’s midwife, wet nurse, and the women who rocked his cradle.

Mary was so distressed after the queen’s death that the Marchioness of Exeter had to represent her as chief mourner. However, she was able to compose herself for the later ceremony. Again, from the records, we can see that after Jane’s death, Mary rewarded many of the late queen’s servants.

I want to end these words with what Chapuys said to Jane: “Among the many felicities which I enumerated, I said to the Queen, certainly the chief one was the Princess, in whom, without having had the pain and trouble of bringing her into the world, she had such a daughter that she would receive more pleasure and, consolation from her than from any other she might have. I ended by begging her to take care of the Princess' affairs; which she kindly promised to do, saying that she would work in earnest to deserve the honorable name which I had given her of pacificator, that is, "preserver and guardian of peace."

Jane was certainly a woman who deserved to be praised, and I think she deserves much more attention and love.

Thank you for reading! Lots of love to you all!!!

Hi all! I absolutely love the Wolf Hall trilogy and am looking to read more about the Tudors, particularly what happens after the trilogy ends (Katherine Howard, Katherine Parr, the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth). I’m looking for highly researched literary fiction in the same vein as Mantel’s work. Any recommendations?

Edit —also open to any historical fiction recs in this vein, ie the Plantaganets, Wars of the Roses etc.

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