December 16: A Mary I document
Thank you to historian and Mary I expert Johanna Strong for joining us today to share her favourite Mary I document...
One of my favourite documents related to Mary I is a copy of her will, found in the British Library collection and copied before the original was lost. Seen here is the first page of this significant document. Mary originally wrote her will on 30 March 1558 because she thought she was pregnant. In the early modern period, childbirth was a dangerous prospect, so this was a natural moment for Mary to be preparing her will. It also gives an interesting perspective for understanding Mary’s funeral effigy at Westminster Abbey, which depicts her with an extended abdomen, reflecting how Mary, her physicians, and her courtiers could have believed she was pregnant. Later in the year, she amended her will in recognition of the fact that she wasn’t pregnant. While it’s quite a sombre document, it is still an intriguing and insightful look at what Mary was thinking in the last months of her life.
A transcribed copy of the document is available here: https://tudorhistory.org/primary/will.html
Johanna is part of the online event "Discovering Mary I" which starts next month. Register now at https://claireridgway.com/events/mary-2023/