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Beale's Drawing of the Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

©2023 Anniina Jokinen, this transcription is from the contemporary copy
of Wingfield's letter now at Surrey History Centre (LM/1921, section C1).
Another contemporary copy of the letter is in the Bodleian (Tanner MS 78, f.129).
The original letter is held in the archive of the Marquess of Bute, Mount Stuart,
Isle of Bute (HM/3/1).



Letter from Robert Wynkfeilde to William Cecil, Lord Burghley, on the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, 8th of February, 1587.

"It beinge certyfied the vith of February last to the queen of Skottes by the ryght honorable the Earle of Kent, the earle of Shrewsbury, and also by Sr Amyas Powlett and Sr Drue Drurye, her governors, that she was to prepare her self to dye the viijth of Februarie then next cominge, she seeminge not to be in any terror by ought that appeared by anie her outwarde gestures or behavior, other than marvaylynge that she should dye, but rather wth smylinge cheer and pleasaunt countenance digested and accepted the said admonicon of pg* paradise to her as she said an unexpected execucon sayinge that her death should be wellcome unto her, seeinge that her matie was so resolved, and that that soule were too, too far unworthie the fruicon of the joyes of heaven forever, whose bodie would not in this world be contented to endure the stroke of the execucon for a moment. And that spoken, she wept bitterlie and became silent.

The said viijth of February beinge come and the tyme and place appointed for the execucon, as aforesaid, the Q. of S., being of stature tall and bodie corpulent, round shouldered, her face fatt and broad, doble chinned, and hazell eyes, her borrowed haire auborne. Her attyre was this: on her head she had a dressinge of lawne edged wth bone lace, a pomandr chayne and an Agnus Dei about her necke, a Crucifix in her hand, a payre of beads at her girdle wth a goulden Crosse at the end of them, a vaile of lawne fastened to her caule bowed out wth wyer and edged round about wth bone lace, her gowne was of blacke satten printed wth a trayne and longe sleves to the ground, sett wth acorne buttons of iett trymed wth pearls and short sleves of blacke satten cutt wth a payre of sleves of purple velvett whole, under them her kertell whole of fine figured black satten, her peticote, upper bodies unlaced in the backe of crimson velvett, her shoes of Spanishe leather wth the roughe side outwarde, a payre of greene silke garters, her nether stocke of worsted coloured watchett clocked wth silver and edged on the topps wth silver, and next her leggs a paire of Jersey hose, white.

This Q thus apparelled in a kinde of Joye, wthout any desire of deferringe of matters or tyme, dep[ar]ted her chamber and verie willinglie bended her stepps towards the place of execucon, beinge gentlie caried out of her said chamber into an entrie next out the said great hall by twoo of Sr A: Powlett, his cheifest men gentlemen. Mr Andrewes, the highe Sheriffe goinge before her. In wch entry, the honorable the Earle of Kent and the earle of Shrewsb., Comissioners appointed by her Matie for the said execucon, together wth the twoo governors of her p[er]son, Sr A. Powlett & Sr Drew Drewry, and divers knights and gentlemen of good accompte did meet her, where one of the said Queenes servants, named Melvin, kneelinge on his knees to the said Queen his mess, wringinge his hands and shedinge of manie teares, used then and there theis words unto her, sayinge: "Madame, unhappie me, what man on earth was ever before the messenger of such important sorrowe and heavinesse as I shalbe when I shall reporte that my good and gracious Q. and mress is beheaded in England!" Theis said, teares prevented him of farther speakinge, whereupon the said Q., pouringe out of her dyeinge teares, thus answered him: "My good friend: Cease to lament, for thou hast cause rather to ioye then to mourne, for nowe shalt thou see Mary Stewarde troubles receive their longe-expected end and determynacon, for," said she, "good servant, all the world is but vanity & subiecte still to more sorrowe than a whole ocean of teares canne bewaile, but I pray thee," she said, "carry this message from me, that I dyed a true woman to my religion and like a true woman of Scottland and Fraunce; but God forgive them," said she, "that have longe desired my end and thirsted for my bloude as the Harte dothe the water brooke. O, God!" said she, "thou that art the author of truth, and truth itself, knowest the inward chamber of my thoughts and howe that I was ever willinge that England and Skotland should be unyted together. Well," said she then, "comende me to my sonne and tell him that I have not done any thinge preiudicall to the State & Kingdome of S." & Soe resolvinge herself againe into teares, said: "Good Melvyn, farewell!" and, wth weepinge eyes, her Cheeks all besprinkled wth teares as they were, kissed him, sayinge once agayne: "Good Melvyn, farewell and pray for thy mris and queen." And then she tourned herself to the Lords & tould them that she had certaine requests to make unto them. One was for a some of money, wch she said Sr A. P. knew of, to be paid to one Curle, her servant; next, that her poore servants might have and enioy that wth quietness wch she had given them by her will and testament, and that they might be favourablie entreated and to send them safelie into their Country. "And this to doe, my very good Lords, I doe comande yow." Answere was made by Sr A. P. to this effect: "I am not forgetfull of the mony yor grace doth speake of, and therefore," said he, "yor grace shall not need to rest in suspencon of the not performinge of yor request." And then she said there resteth yet another request wch she would make unto the Lords, and that was this: That yt would please them to permitt unto her poor, distressed servants to be present about her at her death, that their eyes might behould and their harts mighte be witnesses howe paciently their Q. and mris should endure her execucon, and that, therby, they mighte be able to make relacon, when they came into their countries, that she died a true Constant Catholicke to her Religion.

Then the Earle of K. did answere thus: "That, wch yow have desired, cannott conveniently be granted, for, yf yt should, it were to be feared least some of them wth speeches, or other behavior, would both be greivous to yor grace & troblesome and unpleasinge unto us and or Companie, whereof we have had some experience, for, yf such an access mighte be allowed, they would not stick to putt some superstitious trumpery in practice & yt were but in dippinge their handkerchiefs in yor graces bloud, whereof it were very unmeet for us to give allowance. "My Lo:" said the Q. of S. "I will give my life, althoughe it be but dead, that they shall not deserve blame in any the actions yow have named, but, alass, poore soules, yt would doe them good to bidd their Mris farewell, and I hope," said she further to the said E. of Kent, "yor mris," meaninge her Matie, "beinge a maiden queen, will vouchsafe to regard of womanhood that I shall have some of my owne people about me at my death. And I knowe," said she, "her matie hath not given such straight comission, but that yow might grant me a request of farre greater courtesie than this, and yf I were a woman of farr meaner callinge than the Q. of S." And then, perceavinge she coulde not obteyne her request, of meer greif burst into teares, sayinge: "I am Cozen to yor queen and descended from the bloud Royall of H. the 7th and a married Q. of Fraunce and annoynted Q. of S.," at wch tyme, upon great consultacon betwene the twoe Earles (and others in commission), yt was p[er]mitted that she should have some of her servants about her as she had instantly intreated, & wthall did desire her to make choice of half a dozen of her best beloved men and women. And of her men, she chose Melvin, her appothecarie, her Surgion, and one other ould man besides, & of her women, she chose those twoe that did lye in her Chamber. After this the said Q. beinge supported by Sr A. P., twoe gentlemen as aforesaid, Melvyn carryeinge upp her trayne, beinge accompanied by the Earle of K., gentlemen, and the Sheriffe goinge before her, as aforesaid, passed out of the entry into a hall within the said Castle of Fotheringhay before menconed, wth a countenance unapauled, then and there made for her death, stepped upp to the Scaffould in the said hall, beinge two foot highe and twelve feet broad wth rayles rounde about yt, hanged and covered wth blacke. Then, havinge the stoole brought her, she satt downe, and on the righte hand of her stode the Earle of K. and the Earle of S. on the lefte hand, Mr Andrewes the Sheriffe, and opposite against her stode the twoe executioners, and rounde about the rayles of the Scaffold stode Knights, gents, and others; then, silence beinge made, the Q. Matie Commission for her execucon was read openly in the hall by Mr Beale, Clearke of the Counsell, wch done, the people wth a loude voice said: "God save the Q." Duringe the readinge of wch said comission, the said Q. was very silent lysteninge unto wth soe carelesse a regarde as thoughe yt had not conserned her at all. Nay, rather wth so merry and cheerfull a countenance, as yf yt had bene a p[ar]don from her Matie for her life, and wthall used such strangenesse in her words & deeds as thoughe she had never knowne any of the Assembly, nor had bene anie thinge sene in the Englishe tounge. Then, Mr Doctor Fletcher, Deane of Peterburrowe, standinge directly before her wthout the rayles, bendinge his body wth great reverence, uttered this exhortacon following:—

"Madame, the Q. moste excellent matie, whome God preserve longe to reigne over us, havinge (notwthstandinge this preparacon for the execucon of iustice, iustly to be done upon yow for yor manie trespasses against her sacred person, state & government) a tender care upon yor soule wch, presentlie dep[ar]tinge out of yor bodie, must either be separated in the true faith of Christe dothe offer unto yow the comfortable promises of almightie god to all penitent, beleivinge Christians, wherein I beseech yor grace, even in the bowells of Christe Jesus, to consider theis three points breiflie:

First. Yor estate past & transitory glorie.

Secondlie. Yor condicon present of Death and mortality.

Thirdly. Yor estate to come either by everlastinge happynes or p[er]petuall torments.

For the first lett me speake to yor grace wth David the Kinge. Forgett (Madam) yor self, yor owne people, yor Father's house, forgett yor natural birth, honor regall and princely Dignity; soe shall the Kinge of Kings have pleasure in yor spirituall bewtye makinge all thinges as duste and dounge, that yow may be founde of God not havinge yor owne riteousnes, wch is defyled and uncleane, but the righteousnes of God by faith in Jesus Christ upon all and in all that beleive that yow may knowe him whome to knowe is life everlastinge and the vertue of his resurrection to wayft yow upp to high everlastinge and the fellowshipp of his passion, that yf yow suffer wth him, yow may be gloryfied wth him and the conformytye of his death, that by the p[ar]takinge and comunion whereof yow may dye to synne and live agayne to righteousnes. And that in yor former course (Madame) yow be not iudged of the Lord, repent yow truly of yor former sinnes and wickednes, iustifye by Justice now to be executed and iustifye her Maties faithfullnes and favor towards yow at all tymes, havinge a lively faith in Christe or Lo: and Savior soe shall yow be rightly p[re]pared unto death. Yf yor offences (Madame) were as manie as the sands on the sea shore and as redd and bloudye as the scarlett, yet the F[ellow]shipp of the Lo: and grace and mercy of God the father, throughe the death and passion of Jesus Christe, his sonne, by the sanctyficacon of God the Holy Ghost shall puryfy and make them as white as snowe and shall caste them into the bottome of the Sea and shall remember them noe more. The speciall meanes to attayne unto this forgivenesse of sinnes is neither in man, nor by man, but by faith only in Jesus Christe Crucifyed by faith, in whome we beinge iustifyed have peace wth God in all Spirituall securitye.

Secondly, consider, I beseech yor grace, yor present condicon of Death and mortalytie, yor goinge from hence to be noe more sene, yor departure into a land where all things are forgotten, yor entry into a howse of clay where wormes shalbe yor sisters and rottennesse and corrupcon yor father, as Jobe speaketh. Where the tree falleth, there yt must lye whether yt be towards the South of liefe and blessednes or towards the North of death and dolefullnes, nowe ys the tyme of yor rysinge to God or yor falle into utter darkenes where shalbe weepinge, waylinge, and gnashinge of teeth; hereafter ther is noe tyme of reconciliacon, noe place of satisfaccon; here liefe is gotten or here it is loste, and therfore this day (Madame), yea, this hower, yf yow will heare God's voice, harden not yor harte, for the stroake of death is over yor head, and the axe is putt to the root of the tree. The throne of the great Judge of Heaven is laid open & the booke of all yor life is spredd wide and the p[ar]ticular sentence and Judgment is at hande. But, yf yow flye to the Throne of grace wth bouldnes in Christ's only merotorious obedience and apply yt unto yor soule wth the hand of true faith, then Christ shalbe yor life, and yor death shalbe yor advantage, and nothinge else but an entry into everlastinge glory, and thro yor mortality shall, in a moment, put on imortality. Nowe (Madame), even now (Madame), doth God almighty open unto yow a doore into a heavenly kingdome, in comparison whereof all earthly principalityes are as darkenes and the shadowe of death. Shutt not up, therfore, this passage by the hardninge of yor harte and greive not the Spiritt of God wch may seale yor howre to the day of redempcon.

Thirdly, and lastly of all, I pray yor grace to way wth yorself the tyme and state to come, either to ryse in the day of the Lo: unto resurrection of lief & to have the ioyfull and blessed (Venite): Come yow, blessed of my father; or the resurrection of condempnacon repeated wth sorrowe and greif (Ite): Goe, yoyow accursed into everlastinge fyer! There to stand on God's right hande as a shepe of his pasture or on his left hand as a goate, p[re]pared unto vengance, either to be gathered as wheat into his barne or to be cast out as chaffe into a furnace of unquenchable fyer; blessed are the dead wch dye in the Lo. In the Lo. shall yow dye yf in true faith yow desire to be dissolved and to be wth Christe; wth Christ shall yow be yf yow make Christe yor only sacrifice for yor sinnes and ransome for yor redempcon. Agen, Madame, trust not to the desire wch God's worde doth not warrant, which is to lead and to guide or feet into the way of peace the true touchstone. Touchstone and the cleer lanterne to lead & to guide our feet into the way of peace, Jesus Christe, yesterday as to day & the same for ever. In him are all the promyses of God, to him give all the scriptures testimony that, through faith in his bloud, we, and all God's Church, shall receive remission of synnes. On him all the saints called in the day of ther trouble and have bene heard and delivered. In him have they all trusted and were not confounded. All the cisterns (Madame) cannot hould the water of everlastinge life. The name of the Lo. is a stronge tower whereunto the righteous fly for succor and be saved and therfore (Madame) that yow may be glorified in this yor last passage, that yow may be glorified of him for ever, I moste humbly beseech yor grace, in the tender mercyes of God, to ioyne wth us present in prayer to the throne of his grace that we may reioyce and yow may be converted and God may turne his blessed countenance towards yow and graunt yow his grace."

In utteringe of wch exhortacon the said Q. three or fower tymes said unto him: "Mr Deane: Troble not yorself nor me for knowe that I am setled in ancient Catholicke and Roman religion and in the defence thereof I meane, by God's helpe, to spende my bloude." Then said Mr Deane: "(Madame): Change yor opynion and repent yow of yor former wickednes and settle yorself upon this ground, that only in Christe Jesus yow hope to be saved." Then she answered againe and againe wth great earnestnes: "Good Mr Deane, troble not yorself any more about this matter, for I was borne in this religion and lived in this religion and am resolved to dye in this religion." Then said the twoe Earles, when they sawe howe farr unreasonable she was to the hearinge of Mr Deane's good exhortacon: "(Madame), we will pray for yor grace wth Mr Deane that, yf yt stand wth God's will, yow may have yor harte lightened wth the true knowledge of God and his words & so dye therein." Then answered the said Q: "My Lords, yf yow will pray wth me I will even from my harte thanke yow and thinke myself greatly favored by yow, but to ioyne wth yow in prayer, my Lo., after yor manner, whoe are not of one and the self same religion wth me, yt were a sinne, and I will not." Then the Lords called for Mr Deane againe and badd him say or speake what he would thought good; whereupon the said Mr Deane, kneelinge upon the scaffold stayers, beganne this prayer followinge:

"O most gracious God and moste mercifull father, whoe accordinge to the multitude of thy mercies dost soe put awaie the sinnes of them that truly repent, that thou remembrest them noe more, open, wee beseech the, thy eyes of mercie and behould this p[er]son appointed unto death, whose eyes of understandinge and spirituall light thou hast hitherto shutt upp, that the glorious beames of favoyor in Jesus Christe doe not shine upon her but is possessed wth great blindenesse and ignorance of heavenly things, a certaine token of thy heavie displeasure, yf thy mercie doe not triumph over thy iudgment.Impute not unto her, O God, wee beseech the, those her offenses wch sep[ar]ate her from thy mercy, and, yf yt may stand wth thy everlastinge purpose and good pleasure, O Lord, grante unto us (we beseech the) thy humble servants, that the eyes of her hart maye be lightned that she may understande and be converted unto thee. And graunt her alsoe, yf yt be thy blessed will, the heavenly comforte of thy holy Spirite that she may taste & see howe gracious the Lo: is. Thou hast noe pleasure, good Lo:, in the death of a synner, and noe man shall praise thy name in the pitt. Renewe in her, we most humblie beseech thy Matie, whatsoever is corrupt in her, either by her owne frailty or by the mallice of the ghostly enemy, visite her (Good Lo:) yf it be thy good pleasure wth thy savinge health, as thou did the offendor on thy side upon the Cross, wth this consolacon, sayeinge, 'this day shalt thou be wth me in Paradise.' Sayinge unto her soule as thou didest unto thy servant David, I am thy salvacon, soe shall thy mercie be the more mighty and be more magnified. And graunt theis mercies unto us, thy servants, to the encrease of this kingdome and glorie at this tyme. And further, moste mercifull Father, preserve, we moste humblie beseech the, in longe and honorable peace and safetie Ellizabeth, thy Servant, or moste naturall Souvraigne Ladye and queen—lett them be ashamed and confounded (oh Lo.) that seeke her soule, lett them be turned backe and put to confusion that wishe her evell, and strenghten still, O Lo., thy hand and ballance of Justice amongst us by her gracious government; soe shall we both nowe and ever rest under thie faithfullnes and truth as under a sheild and buckler, so prayse thy name & magnifye thy mercie wch livest and raignest ever one, moste gracious God, for ever and ever. Amen." All the assemblie, savinge the said Q. and her servants, said the prayer after Mr Deane, duringe the sayinge of wch prayer the Q herself sittinge upon a stole, havinge about her necke an Agnus Dei, in one of her hands a Crucifix, at her gerdell a paire of beads wth a goulden Crosse at the end of them, wth a Latine booke of vayne prayers in her other hande. Thus furnished wth her sup[er]stitious trumpery, wthout any regarde had to that wch Mr Deane said, began verie faste wth teares, and loude, to praye in Latyne, and in the middest of her prayeinge, by reason of her overmuch weepinge and mourninge, as it seemed, she beganne to slide from her stole, at wch tyme, kneelinge againe, said diverse other prayers in latten, and soe she lefte prayinge before Mr Deane. When Mr Deane had done againe, she prayed in Englishe for Christ's afflicted church and for an end of her trobles, for her sonne, and for the Q: Matie, and desired God that she might p[ro]sper and serve God arighte; that spoken, she said she hoped to be saved by and in the bloude of Jesus Christe at the feet of whose Crucifix houldinge the Pope, wch she had in her hande, she would shed her blode. Then said the Earle of Kent: "(Madame), I beseech yow settle Christe in yor harte, as yow did before, and leave the addicon of theis Popyshe trumperies to them selves." Then she seemed little or nothinge at all to regarde the good counsell of the said E of Kent, but went forwarde wth her prayers and, in the conclucon thereof, desired of God that yt would please him to averte his wrath from this Island and that he would graunt unto yt grace and forgivenes of sinnes. Then she said that she forgave her enemyes, wth all her harte, whoe had longe soughte her bloude, and desired God to converte them to the truthe. This done, she desired all Saints to make intercession for her to the Savior of the worlde, Jesus Christe. Then she beganne to kiss her Crucifix and to cross herself sayeinge theis words: "Even as thy armes (O Jesus Christe) were spredd here upon the Crosse, soe receive me (I beseech the) into thy armes of mercie and forgive me all my sinnes," and soe she ended.

Then the twoe execucioners kneeled downe unto her and desired her to forgive them her death. She annswered: "I forgive yow wth all my harte, for I hope that this death shall give me an end to all my trobles." Then they wth her, twoe woomen helpinge her upp, beganne to disrobe her & then she laid the Crucifix upon the stole & one of the Executioners toke from her necke the Agnus Dei. And then she beganne to lay hould on yt, sayeinge she would give it to some of her woomen and wthall tould the execucionr that he should have monie for yt; then she suffered him, wth her twoe woomen, to take of her chayne of pomander beads & all her other apparrell, and that wth a kinde of gladnesse and, smylinge, she beganne to make herself unreadie, puttinge on a paire of sleves wth her owne hands, wch the execucionrs rudely had before put off, and that wth such speed as yf she had longed to be gone out of the worlde. Duringe all theis actions of disrobinge of the said Q. she nevr altered her countenance but, smylinge as yt were, said she never had such gromes before to make her unreadie nor ever did put off her clothes before such a Companie. At length, she beinge untyred of such of her attire and apparell as was convenient, savinge her peticote & kirtell, her twoe woomen, lokinge upon her, burst out into a verie great and pittifull weepinge, cryeinge, and lamentinge, and when their cryeinge and screekinge beganne to declyne, they crossed them selves and prayed in Latine.

Then the said Q., turninge herself unto them and seeinge them in such a lamentable and mournefull plighte, imbrased them and said theis words in French, crossinge them and kissing them: "Yow ought rather to pray for me and not to be soe mournefull, for," said she, "this day I truste shall end yor mris troubles." Then, wth a smylinge countenance, she turned herself to her men servants, Melvyne and the rest, standinge upon a bench nere unto the scaffold, whoe were some time cryeinge out aloude and contynually crossinge themselves and prayeinge in Latine, and the said Q. tourned unto them and did herself likewise crosse them, and bidd them farewell, and prayed them to pray for her, even unto the laste hower. This done, one of her woomen havinge a Corpus Christie cloth, lapped yt upp three cornerd wayes, and kissed yt, and putt yt over the face of her Q. and Mris, and pinned yt faste upon the calle of her head. Then the twoe woomen mournefullie dep[ar]ted from her. And then the said Q. kneeled downe, at wch tyme, verie resolute and wthout anie token of feare of death, she spake aloude this Psalme in Latine: In te Doie confido ne confundar in eternum. Then, gropinge for the blocke, she laid downe her head, puttinge her chaine upon the blocke wth both her hands wch, holdinge there still, had bene cutt off had they not been espied, then she laid her self upon the blocke moste quietlie and stretched out her armes and leggs and cryed out, "in manus tuas Domine," three or fower tymes, and at the laste, while one of the executioners held her slyghtlie wth one of his hands, the other gave twoe strokes wth an ax before he did cutt off her head, and yet lefte a litle gristle behinde, at wch tyme she made verie smale noyse and stirred not anie part of her self from the place where she lay.

Then the Execucionr, that cutt off her head, lifted yt up and bade "God save the Q:" Then her dressinge of Lawne fell from her head, wch appeared as grey as yf she had ben iij½ score yeares old, powled very short, her face beinge in a moment soe much altered from the forme wch she had when she was alive as fewe coulde remember her by her dead face, her lipps stirred upp and downe almoste a quarter of an hower after her head was cutt off. Then said Mr Deane: "Soe p[er]ysh all the Queenes enemyes." Afterward, the E: of Kent came to the dead bodie and, standinge over yt, wth a loude voice said likewise; such an end happen to the Q. and the Gospell's enemyes. Then one of the execucioners, pluckinge off her garters, espied her litle dogge, wch was crepte under her clothes, wch would not be gotten forth but wth force, and afterward would not departe from the dead corps, but came & lay betwene her head and shoulders, a thinge dilligentlie noted. The same dogge, beinge imbrued in her bloude, was caried away & washed, as all things else were that had anie bloude, unlesse those things that were burned. The execucioners were sent awaie wth monie for their fees, not havinge anie thinge that belonged unto her. Afterwards everie one was comaunded forth of the hall, savinge the Sheriffe and his men, whoe caried her upp into a great chamber made readie for the Surgions to imbalme her, and was imbalmed.

And thus I hope my verie good Lo: I have certified unto yor honor of all such accons, matters, and circumstances as did p[ro]ceed from her, or anie others at her death, wherein I dare p[ro]mise unto yor good Lo: yf not in some better or worse words then were spoken I have somewhat mistaken in matters I have not anie whitt offended I will not soe iustifye my duety herein but that manie things mighte well have bene omitted as not worthie notinge, yet because it is yor Lo: faulte to desire to knowe all & soe I have certified yt: yt is an offence pardonable. Soe restinge at yor Honor's farther comands, I take my leave this xjth of Februarye, 1586.

Yor Honors in all humble service to comaunde   

R. WYNKFEILDE. 





Page images from Surrey History Centre (LM/1921, section C1):




Citation:

Wingfield, Robert. "Letter to Lord Burghley, 11 February, 1587."
         Transcription by Anniina Jokinen. Luminarium.
         20 Feb 2023. [Date you accessed the page].
         <https://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/maryscotsexecution.htm>





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Isabella of France, Queen of England
Piers Gaveston
Thomas of Brotherton, E. of Norfolk
Edmund of Woodstock, E. of Kent
Thomas, Earl of Lancaster
Henry of Lancaster, Earl of Lancaster
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The Battle of Crécy, 1346
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The Good Parliament, 1376
Richard II
The Peasants' Revolt, 1381
Lords Appellant, 1388
Richard Fitzalan, 4. Earl of Arundel
Archbishop Thomas Arundel
Thomas de Beauchamp, E. Warwick
Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford
Ralph Neville, E. of Westmorland
Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk
Edmund Mortimer, 3. Earl of March
Roger Mortimer, 4. Earl of March
John Holland, Duke of Exeter
Michael de la Pole, E. Suffolk
Hugh de Stafford, 2. E. Stafford
Henry IV
Edward, Duke of York
Edmund Mortimer, 5. Earl of March
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
Sir Henry Percy, "Harry Hotspur"
Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester
Owen Glendower
The Battle of Shrewsbury, 1403
Archbishop Richard Scrope
Thomas Mowbray, 3. E. Nottingham
John Mowbray, 2. Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Fitzalan, 5. Earl of Arundel
Henry V
Thomas, Duke of Clarence
John, Duke of Bedford
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury
Richard, Earl of Cambridge
Henry, Baron Scrope of Masham
William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk
Thomas Montacute, E. Salisbury
Richard Beauchamp, E. of Warwick
Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick
Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter
Cardinal Henry Beaufort
John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset
Sir John Fastolf
John Holland, 2. Duke of Exeter
Archbishop John Stafford
Archbishop John Kemp
Catherine of Valois
Owen Tudor
John Fitzalan, 7. Earl of Arundel
John, Lord Tiptoft

Charles VII, King of France
Joan of Arc
Louis XI, King of France
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy
The Battle of Agincourt, 1415
The Battle of Castillon, 1453



The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485
Causes of the Wars of the Roses
The House of Lancaster
The House of York
The House of Beaufort
The House of Neville

The First Battle of St. Albans, 1455
The Battle of Blore Heath, 1459
The Rout of Ludford, 1459
The Battle of Northampton, 1460
The Battle of Wakefield, 1460
The Battle of Mortimer's Cross, 1461
The 2nd Battle of St. Albans, 1461
The Battle of Towton, 1461
The Battle of Hedgeley Moor, 1464
The Battle of Hexham, 1464
The Battle of Edgecote, 1469
The Battle of Losecoat Field, 1470
The Battle of Barnet, 1471
The Battle of Tewkesbury, 1471
The Treaty of Pecquigny, 1475
The Battle of Bosworth Field, 1485
The Battle of Stoke Field, 1487

Henry VI
Margaret of Anjou
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
Edward IV
Elizabeth Woodville
Richard Woodville, 1. Earl Rivers
Anthony Woodville, 2. Earl Rivers
Jane Shore
Edward V
Richard III
George, Duke of Clarence

Ralph Neville, 2. Earl of Westmorland
Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick
Edward Neville, Baron Bergavenny
William Neville, Lord Fauconberg
Robert Neville, Bishop of Salisbury
John Neville, Marquis of Montagu
George Neville, Archbishop of York
John Beaufort, 1. Duke Somerset
Edmund Beaufort, 2. Duke Somerset
Henry Beaufort, 3. Duke of Somerset
Edmund Beaufort, 4. Duke Somerset
Margaret Beaufort
Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond
Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke
Humphrey Stafford, D. Buckingham
Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham
Humphrey Stafford, E. of Devon
Thomas, Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby
Sir William Stanley
Archbishop Thomas Bourchier
Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex
John Mowbray, 3. Duke of Norfolk
John Mowbray, 4. Duke of Norfolk
John Howard, Duke of Norfolk
Henry Percy, 2. E. Northumberland
Henry Percy, 3. E. Northumberland
Henry Percy, 4. E. Northumberland
William, Lord Hastings
Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter
William Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel
William Herbert, 1. Earl of Pembroke
John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
Thomas de Clifford, 8. Baron Clifford
John de Clifford, 9. Baron Clifford
John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester
Thomas Grey, 1. Marquis Dorset
Sir Andrew Trollop
Archbishop John Morton
Edward Plantagenet, E. of Warwick
John Talbot, 2. E. Shrewsbury
John Talbot, 3. E. Shrewsbury
John de la Pole, 2. Duke of Suffolk
John de la Pole, E. of Lincoln
Edmund de la Pole, E. of Suffolk
Richard de la Pole
John Sutton, Baron Dudley
James Butler, 5. Earl of Ormonde
Sir James Tyrell
Edmund Grey, first Earl of Kent
George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent
John, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton
James Touchet, 7th Baron Audley
Walter Blount, Lord Mountjoy
Robert Hungerford, Lord Moleyns
Thomas, Lord Scales
John, Lord Lovel and Holand
Francis Lovell, Viscount Lovell
Sir Richard Ratcliffe
William Catesby
Ralph, 4th Lord Cromwell
Jack Cade's Rebellion, 1450


Tudor Period

King Henry VII
Queen Elizabeth of York
Arthur, Prince of Wales
Lambert Simnel
Perkin Warbeck
The Battle of Blackheath, 1497

King Ferdinand II of Aragon
Queen Isabella of Castile
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor

King Henry VIII
Queen Catherine of Aragon
Queen Anne Boleyn
Queen Jane Seymour
Queen Anne of Cleves
Queen Catherine Howard
Queen Katherine Parr

King Edward VI
Queen Mary I
Queen Elizabeth I
Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond

Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland
James IV, King of Scotland
The Battle of Flodden Field, 1513
James V, King of Scotland
Mary of Guise, Queen of Scotland

Mary Tudor, Queen of France
Louis XII, King of France
Francis I, King of France
The Battle of the Spurs, 1513
Field of the Cloth of Gold, 1520
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Eustace Chapuys, Imperial Ambassador
The Siege of Boulogne, 1544

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey
Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex
Thomas, Lord Audley
Thomas Wriothesley, E. Southampton
Sir Richard Rich

Edward Stafford, D. of Buckingham
Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland
Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk
Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire
George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford
John Russell, Earl of Bedford
Thomas Grey, 2. Marquis of Dorset
Henry Grey, D. of Suffolk
Charles Somerset, Earl of Worcester
George Talbot, 4. E. Shrewsbury
Francis Talbot, 5. E. Shrewsbury
Henry Algernon Percy,
     5th Earl of Northumberland
Henry Algernon Percy,
     6th Earl of Northumberland
Ralph Neville, 4. E. Westmorland
Henry Neville, 5. E. Westmorland
William Paulet, Marquis of Winchester
Sir Francis Bryan
Sir Nicholas Carew
John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford
Thomas Seymour, Lord Admiral
Edward Seymour, Protector Somerset
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury
Henry Pole, Lord Montague
Sir Geoffrey Pole
Thomas Manners, Earl of Rutland
Henry Manners, Earl of Rutland
Henry Bourchier, 2. Earl of Essex
Robert Radcliffe, 1. Earl of Sussex
Henry Radcliffe, 2. Earl of Sussex
George Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon
Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter
George Neville, Baron Bergavenny
Sir Edward Neville
William, Lord Paget
William Sandys, Baron Sandys
William Fitzwilliam, E. Southampton
Sir Anthony Browne
Sir Thomas Wriothesley
Sir William Kingston
George Brooke, Lord Cobham
Sir Richard Southwell
Thomas Fiennes, 9th Lord Dacre
Sir Francis Weston
Henry Norris
Lady Jane Grey
Sir Thomas Arundel
Sir Richard Sackville
Sir William Petre
Sir John Cheke
Walter Haddon, L.L.D
Sir Peter Carew
Sir John Mason
Nicholas Wotton
John Taylor
Sir Thomas Wyatt, the Younger

Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio
Cardinal Reginald Pole
Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester
Edmund Bonner, Bishop of London
Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London
John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester
John Aylmer, Bishop of London
Thomas Linacre
William Grocyn
Archbishop William Warham
Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of Durham
Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester
Edward Fox, Bishop of Hereford

Pope Julius II
Pope Leo X
Pope Clement VII
Pope Paul III
Pope Pius V

Pico della Mirandola
Desiderius Erasmus
Martin Bucer
Richard Pace
Christopher Saint-German
Thomas Tallis
Elizabeth Barton, the Nun of Kent
Hans Holbein, the Younger
The Sweating Sickness

Dissolution of the Monasteries
Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536
Robert Aske
Anne Askew
Lord Thomas Darcy
Sir Robert Constable

Oath of Supremacy
The Act of Supremacy, 1534
The First Act of Succession, 1534
The Third Act of Succession, 1544
The Ten Articles, 1536
The Six Articles, 1539
The Second Statute of Repeal, 1555
The Act of Supremacy, 1559
Articles Touching Preachers, 1583

Queen Elizabeth I
William Cecil, Lord Burghley
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Sir Francis Walsingham
Sir Nicholas Bacon
Sir Thomas Bromley

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick
Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon
Sir Thomas Egerton, Viscount Brackley
Sir Francis Knollys
Katherine "Kat" Ashley
Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester
George Talbot, 6. E. of Shrewsbury
Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury
Gilbert Talbot, 7. E. of Shrewsbury
Sir Henry Sidney
Sir Robert Sidney
Archbishop Matthew Parker
Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich
Sir Christopher Hatton
Edward Courtenay, E. Devonshire
Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland
Thomas Radcliffe, 3. Earl of Sussex
Henry Radcliffe, 4. Earl of Sussex
Robert Radcliffe, 5. Earl of Sussex
William Parr, Marquis of Northampton
Henry Wriothesley, 2. Southampton
Henry Wriothesley, 3. Southampton
Charles Neville, 6. E. Westmorland
Thomas Percy, 7. E. Northumberland
Henry Percy, 8. E. Northumberland
Henry Percy, 9. E. Nothumberland
William Herbert, 1. Earl of Pembroke
Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
Henry Howard, 1. Earl of Northampton
Thomas Howard, 1. Earl of Suffolk
Henry Hastings, 3. E. of Huntingdon
Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland
Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland
Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland
Henry FitzAlan, 12. Earl of Arundel
Thomas, Earl Arundell of Wardour
Edward Somerset, E. of Worcester
William Davison
Sir Walter Mildmay
Sir Ralph Sadler
Sir Amyas Paulet
Gilbert Gifford
Anthony Browne, Viscount Montague
François, Duke of Alençon & Anjou

Mary, Queen of Scots
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell
Anthony Babington and the Babington Plot
John Knox

Philip II of Spain
The Spanish Armada, 1588
Sir Francis Drake
Sir John Hawkins

William Camden
Archbishop Whitgift
Martin Marprelate Controversy
John Penry (Martin Marprelate)
Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury
John Dee, Alchemist

Philip Henslowe
Edward Alleyn
The Blackfriars Theatre
The Fortune Theatre
The Rose Theatre
The Swan Theatre
Children's Companies
The Admiral's Men
The Lord Chamberlain's Men
Citizen Comedy
The Isle of Dogs, 1597

Common Law
Court of Common Pleas
Court of King's Bench
Court of Star Chamber
Council of the North
Fleet Prison
Assize
Attainder
First Fruits & Tenths
Livery and Maintenance
Oyer and terminer
Praemunire


The Stuarts

King James I of England
Anne of Denmark
Henry, Prince of Wales
The Gunpowder Plot, 1605
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset
Arabella Stuart, Lady Lennox

William Alabaster
Bishop Hall
Bishop Thomas Morton
Archbishop William Laud
John Selden
Lucy Harington, Countess of Bedford
Henry Lawes

King Charles I
Queen Henrietta Maria

Long Parliament
Rump Parliament
Kentish Petition, 1642

Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford
John Digby, Earl of Bristol
George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax
Robert Devereux, 3rd E. of Essex
Robert Sidney, 2. E. of Leicester
Algernon Percy, E. of Northumberland
Henry Montagu, Earl of Manchester
Edward Montagu, 2. Earl of Manchester

The Restoration

King Charles II
King James II
Test Acts

Greenwich Palace
Hatfield House
Richmond Palace
Windsor Palace
Woodstock Manor

The Cinque Ports
Mermaid Tavern
Malmsey Wine
Great Fire of London, 1666
Merchant Taylors' School
Westminster School
The Sanctuary at Westminster
"Sanctuary"


Images:

Chart of the English Succession from William I through Henry VII

Medieval English Drama

London c1480, MS Royal 16
London, 1510, the earliest view in print
Map of England from Saxton's Descriptio Angliae, 1579
London in late 16th century
Location Map of Elizabethan London
Plan of the Bankside, Southwark, in Shakespeare's time
Detail of Norden's Map of the Bankside, 1593
Bull and Bear Baiting Rings from the Agas Map (1569-1590, pub. 1631)
Sketch of the Swan Theatre, c. 1596
Westminster in the Seventeenth Century, by Hollar
Visscher's View of London, 1616
Larger Visscher's View in Sections
c. 1690. View of London Churches, after the Great Fire
The Yard of the Tabard Inn from Thornbury, Old and New London




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