6 of 11

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 5

Edward were born into it, Mary was much older and was still very much a devout Catholic. In an effort to continue with the Protestant reform Edward named his cousin Lady Jane Grey the next in line for the throne and proclaimed both Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate. Even though Edward and Elizabeth were close and she was a Protestant he knew it would be difficult to say that Elizabeth was legitimate while Mary was not.

This lasted a grand total of nine days. During this time Elizabeth stayed quiet, as not to align herself with either Jane or her sister Mary, who was gathering her forces to take what was rightfully hers. She felt it best to just keep her head down and stay out of it. When Mary rode into London Elizabeth was right by her side as a show of solidarity. This wouldn't last long.

Mary's reign was difficult, for her and anyone in England. She was given the name 'Bloody Mary' in response to the burning of hundreds of people she deemed a heretic. Mary, as a devout Catholic, wanted to bring Catholicism back to England and thus ordered everyone to attend Mass, including Elizabeth. On the outside, to please her sister and her Queen, Elizabeth appeared to conform on the outside. When Mary announced her plans to marry the Philip, Prince of Spain England was outraged. Suddenly those who were accepting of the Protestant reform started looking to Elizabeth for support.

In January and February 1554 Thomas Wyatt led a series of religious uprisings that would go down in history as Wyatt's rebellion. Because Elizabeth was the focus of a potential upheaval of the throne she was taken to court and questioned. Though Elizabeth had nothing to do with it she was arrested and held imprisoned in the Tower. Mary was advised that as long as Elizabeth remained alive she would be a threat, and as such she must be tried and put to death. Elizabeth, however, had many supporters in government and they convinced Mary to seek out other options. Two months after her imprisonment she spent a year under house arrest in Woodstock rather than remain in the Tower.

In 1555 Elizabeth was ordered back to court. Mary was due to deliver a baby any day and because childbirth was so dangerous and the infant mortality rate was astronomical it was possible that both Mary and her baby may die. As time went on, however, it appeared that Mary's swollen belly was not the result of a pregnancy. It is suspected by many historians that instead Mary had a stomach tumor. By 1556 Mary's husband Philip had become

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Biography: Elizabeth I of England?
We want to hear your view. Write now!