Mary I’s Will

On 30th March 1558, Queen Mary I made her last will and testament, believing that she would soon give birth and knowing that childbirth was a risky process.

You can read a full transcript of Mary I's will at http://tudorhistory.org/ or in the appendix of J. M. Stone's 1901 book The History of Mary I, Queen of England. The original document, Harleian MS 6949, f. 29, no longer exists.

Here are the key points of Mary's will:

• That her mother Catherine of Aragon's remains be moved from Peterborough and buried with Mary and Mary's "Executors to cawse to be made honorable tombs or monuments for a decent memory of us."
• Provision for alms for the poor and needy and provision for the religious houses of Sheen and Sion which Mary re-established in her reign following their dissolution in her father's reign. She asks for those houses to pray for her soul and those of her husband, mother, father and "all other our Progenitours". Mary also leaves money to the Observant Friars of Greenwich, the Black Friars at St Bartholomews, and various other orders and establishments with requests for them to say "dayly Masses, Suffrages, and Prayers".
• Provision for the "pore Scolers" of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, particularly those intending to go into the Church.
• Provision for the Hospital of Savoy, which was established by her grandfather, Henry VII.
• A request that her executors "provide some convenient howse within or nye the Suburbs of the Citie of London" as a hospital for those injured in wars fighting for the kingdom and to provide relief for "pore, impotent and aged Soldiers".
• That her executors should pay off her debts and any still owed by her father, Henry VIII, and her brother, Edward VI.
• The restoration of lands formerly belonging to the Church and taken during the Dissolution.
• A request for Cardinal Reginald Pole to finish his "good work in this Realme" and for her executors, council and subjects to help him in this.
• Provision for her servants and special provisions for named servants, e.g. Dr Malet, her almoner and confessor, and provisions for named churchmen.
• That her crowns, titles, honours, lands, jewels, ships etc. go to her heir, the fruit of her body, and that her husband, Philip should act as regent during the minority of her heir.
• For her subjects to show her husband the same duty and love they showed her.
• A warning for her executors to follow the terms of her will because they would be answerable to God at Judgement Day.
• A request for "most dere beloved Lord and husband the King's Majesty" to "take upon hym the pryncipall and the chefest care of thexecutyon" of her will and to act as a patron to the other executors.
• A request for her husband "to kepe for a memory of me" the table diamond that his father, Charles V, had sent to her, along with another table diamond, a collar of gold set with nine diamonds and a ruby ring. Mary stated that Philip could do what he wanted with these pieces and could pass them on to their issue.
• A request for Cardinal Pole to be one of her executors with a provision of £1000 for him doing so.
• Provisions for the other executors, who included, the Archbishop of York, and various other churchmen and nobles. Some to be paid £500 and others 500 marks.
• Provision for named "righte well beloved Servants and Councellors" who would act as assistants to the executors.

This will was witnessed by Henry Bedingfield, Thomas Wharton, John Throckmorton and R. Wilbrahm, and signed and sealed by Mary.

Mary never did give birth, she wasn't actually pregnant, but she did die that year, on 17th November 1558, with Cardinal Pole dying on the same day. It was Mary's Protestant half-sister Elizabeth I who inherited the throne.