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Tudor Minute March 15, 1551: Mary’s procession through London

Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for March 15.

Today in 1551 Lady Mary – the future Mary I – defied her brother Edward VI, and rode through London in procession carrying rosary beads, making an obvious show of her Catholic religion. Henry Machyn, who kept a diary, wrote: “The xv day the Lady Mary rode through London unto St. John’s, her place, with fifty knights and gentlemen in velvet coats and chains of gold afore her.” Mary would be a thorn in Edward’s side – it didn’t help that she was a mature woman while he was an almost-teenager, who was dedicated to ending Catholicism, while she was just as dedicated to maintaining it. They would have several arguments over religion, and Edward would accuse her of disobeying him. There’s no question that Mary enjoyed making these public statements of her beliefs.

That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com where there is an episode on Mary I.

Links:

Mary I episode

Henry Machyn diary at the Internet Archive