Burial of Queen Mary I

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

14 December 1558: Burial of Queen Mary I of England at Westminster Abbey in London. What would also become the glorious tomb of the queen's successor and half-sister, Elizabeth.

DECEMBER 14TH, 1558 - Burial of Mary I of England, England’s first regnant Queen. Among the many attendants, was Margaret Douglas, Mary and Elizabeth’s cousin - and granddaughter of Henry VII and daughter of Margaret, Queen Dowager of Scotland and her second husband, Archibald Douglas - who was her chief mourner. Margaret and Mary enjoyed a great friendship. 

When Elizabeth became Queen, Margaret would still be a prominent figure and no less cunning than her Tudor cousin. It would be her descendants through her son Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots’ son who would succeed the Tudors. Mary’s wishes to be buried next to her mother were never carried out. She wanted her mother’s burial moved to Westminster and be given the honors due of a Queen. While her procession was a sight to see and carried out with great dignity as her sister and the Marquis of Winchester intended, many things were changed. Most notably was the ‘Epitaph Upon The Death Of Our Late Virtuous Quene Marie Deceased’ which called Mary the ‘Queen of virtues pure!’ and praised her for having a ‘princely liberal heart which gave both friend and foe’. These lines were omitted as many others and the poem was rewritten to make mention of her sister who was now Queen and who intended her sister’s burial symbolize a smooth Passover of power. Thus, the poem read: ‘Marie now dead, Elizabeth lives, our just and lawful Queen In whom her sister’s virtues rare, abundantly are seen. Obey our Quene as we are bound, -pray God her to preserve And send her grace life-long and fruit, and subjects truth to serve.’ 

The requiem mass was heard for the late Queen, presided by Abbot Feckenham and his monks, following the ancient Catholic rites. The Queen’s regalia, the symbols of her earthly and divine power were offered back to god and her body was buried in a vault in the north aisle of the chapel of Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch and Mary’s paternal grandfather. Her tomb in spite of the grand ceremonies was not a grand sight. In spite of being buried in the chapel her grandfather built, her grave was marked with only stones. 

It would not be until her sister’s death that she would get a magnificent tomb, however this would be overshadowed by her sister who was placed on top of her and whose effigy is the only one visible. A plaque on this marble tomb reads: ‘Partners both in throne and grave, here rest we two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, in the hope of one resurrection.’ The image shown is the current vault where Mary and Elizabeth currently rest. Only her younger sister’s effigy is visible. Sources: The Myth of Bloody Mary by Linda Porter, On This Day in Tudor England by Claire Ridgway, and Mary Tudor by Anna Whitelock.