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Auction News HISTORIC DOCUMENT OF ‘BLOODY MARY’ UP FOR SALE An excessively rare document of Queen Mary Tudor, the notorious ‘Bloody Mary’ goes under the hammer later this month at Mullock’s Auctioneers’ next specialist sale of historical documents. The manuscript, written on a large leaf of vellum features an original portrait of the enthroned Queen – one of the rarest images of a British Queen. It comes up for sale at Ludlow Racecourse on Thursday August 23rd. ‘The document itself is historically very important as it mentions a considerable number of people who had leading roles in ensuring Mary’s succession to the throne on the death of her brother, Edward VI,’ commented the auctioneer’s Historical Documents Expert Richard Westwood-Brookes. ‘Mary, Henry VIII’s first child, was staunchly Roman Catholic, and on the death of her brother there was a conspiracy to place the protestant Lady Jane Grey on the throne and thus preserve the protestant succession. ‘The conspiracy failed however, largely because of the actions of the people mentioned in the present document. These included Gerald Fitzgerald, the fabled Irish ‘Wizard Earl’ and Earl of Kildare who in the year of this document suppressed the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt and who furthered Mary’s plans for Irish colonisation. ‘But other names mentioned as having the Queen’s favour illustrate the incredible political manoeuvring which was a hallmark of the times – when yesterday’s sworn enemy could today become your trusted ally. ‘Most notable was Thomas Radclyffe, Earl of Sussex, who bizarrely had been a signatory to the Letters Patent which appointed Lady Jane Grey to the Thone in 1553, but who became a favourite of Mary Tudor and who in the year of this document arranged her marriage to Philip II of Spain. ‘Another notable name is, Henry Earl of Pembroke, who later in the century had a theatre company called ‘Pembroke’s Men’ and as such was a patron of Shakespeare, giving the world premier of Henry VI Part One in 1590.’ Mary’s reign was short but was characterised by brutal suppression of protestants and a considerable number of executions – earning Mary the nickname of ‘Bloody Mary’ ever since. The document carries an estimate of £2,000-3,000. Further information from Richard Westwood-Brookes on 01568 770803. |