I was inspired, by the lack of contemporary books and films about her, to begin my own. How's this for a start?
Bloody Mary
By
Michael Meakin
It was dark, it was dangerous to be seen; it was damp, as befits a dungeon. The lower half of the walls were rock, the upper half earthen, there was a musty odor, much like there must be in the homes of the primitive Irish, she imagined, with their peat walls. Two men with unsheathed daggers stood directly in front of her, facing the rickety stairs; she hoped her dress did not get dirty. Four men stood at the foot of the stairs, all with swords in hand; two in front of the stairs, one on either side. They had rushed her into this house and down into this dank root-cellar when the force was first seen coming down the road. There were about twenty men, she had heard the captain estimate, well-armed and traveling fast. They had surely seen the coach and the horses. One thing was sure: this damnable peasant’s house was a sturdy structure, knocked together of thick, heavy plank, much like the hull of a ship; she could hear nothing… Then, all at once, the earth closest the front of the house began to thud with the unmistakable clod of approaching horse hooves. They could hear the sound of several pairs of feet upon the steps, then on the porch; heavy pounding, the knock of a fist in a gauntlet to be sure. The latch of the door was heard giving way…any moment now, there would be the sound of clinking swords and, possibly, the thud of bodies falling to the floor… Low voices? Unperturbed and unexcited? “Highness?” They had clearly heard the word. The trap door swung upward, the men at the bottom of the stairs took the en ‘guard, the men in front of her pushed her back against the wall; DAMN IT ALL…her DRESS!
“Your Majesty, your sister! Princess Elizabeth! Loyal and true come to aid thee!” Gardiner came plodding down the stairs and the men all took attention, standing aside. She threw herself forward away from the wall and began sweeping at the back of her skirts with her hands. A slender, pale, demure, little dame stepped daintily into the darkness from the light above.
Mary thundered: “THAT remains to be seen! Gardiner you are more gullible than a child! Trusting fool! She has twice the men we do!”
Gardiner actually laughed at the Queen’s words: “Three times over, your Majesty!”
Princess Elizabeth fell to her knees on the filthy, straw-laden floor just as the men took guard again: “Long live the Queen! I am true, your Majesty; we have come to bear you safely hence!”
Mary stepped forward, noting Elizabeth’s downcast eyes: “What of Grey, then?” She put her hand beneath the Princess’ chin and raised the girl’s face.
“Rejected, Majesty, by nobles and peoples alike.” It was clear that she was in earnest, tears welled in her eyes.”
“What of YOU?”
“Your Majesty?” The Princess choked back tears.
“Why have you not claimed the crown?”
Elizabeth rose: “I would never, nor would your people, good and true, usurp your right inherent to the throne!”
“You are beguiling, as always, little actress; by show of fealty you hope to spare your deserve`ed fate?”
“I have never, my Queen, thought to edge you from the line!”
“No? But have you thought to cut it?” Mary Tudor saw the first tear leave the well and gently roll down the pale cheek of her half-sister. “I actually believe you, I think; for Grey would not’ve been the pawn if you had thought to be the Queen.”
Elizabeth fell to one knee again, her hand held out to Mary with the Tudor signet ring within: “God save the Queen!”
“God save the Queen! God save the Queen! God save the Queen!” Even the voices of the soldiers without could be heard on the last rote. Mary placed the ring upon her finger, glove and all; Elizabeth immediately grasped and kissed that hand. Gardiner was next to her in a moment and offered similar salute. Mary then fell to her knees with them.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour; for He hath looked with favor on his maid-servant…”
Gardiner rose and blessed the new Queen as she prayed.
Mary arose from that pit with new vigor, though the journey had wearied her so. It was cloudy and cool, but the light still caused her to squint as she stepped onto the porch of this peasant shack, she was met by the half-hearted cheers of the fifty or so men outside. She turned, certain that Elizabeth was close behind: “I hope the coach you brought has better cushions; my tail-bone feels broken by the road.”
Elizabeth, for the first time, felt as if she would live to see the sunset: “You may have them all, Your Gracefulness, if it ease thy regal ride!” She emitted a little giggle.
“I’ll spare you one, sister, if you sit with me and speak.” Mary held her hand out to the girl, who took it. At this, the soldiers greatly roared in unison.
As Mary stepped into the more appropriate coach the Princess had brought, gowns grasped and held out of the mud, Elizabeth spoke to the assembled men: “Your duty has now only just begun! We ride slow for the Queen’s comfort; ‘be ever-watchful and vigilant; for the diabolical roam about, seeking for someone to devour!’” It was a close quote, one which any of an education or church-goers would instantly recognize.
What had become of Grey? This was, of course, the most important question of all and the first to be asked and answered.
“Apparently, Your Grace, she is hidden and guarded; she and her would-be king the eldest son of Northumberland.” Elizabeth was pleased to report anything she could.
“What of your boyfriend, then, the youngest Dudley, Robert? Is he among her treacherous guards?” Mary adjusted both cushions and bustle.
“He is bound, my Queen, to you and I; he rides without right now!”
“My, my; you have schemed to keep your pretty little head, and save his.”
“If we had occasion to lose them, dearest mum, t’would be for defending thee…”
Mary laughed a guarded approval: “I said before, I’ll say again: that will remain for me to see! What of the rest of the military?”
Princess assured Queen: “What few there are, mum, are loyal as well; the people took to the streets, parliament rejected Jane, declared you rightful heir, and I undertook to meet and guard thee. I promise you, you shall be welcomed most warmly.”
“The question then becomes my Papal roots, I’m sure.” Mary sighed heavily. “Sister, what our father wrought was done most wrong.”
“I know it Majesty, t’was done for personal gain, not for religious freedom.” Elizabeth felt heavy with grief. “Those closest to the head of Edward flee like flies from a disturb`ed body.”
“Weren’t YOU the closest thing that Edward kept as pet?”
“By no means, mum, I was kept from him by the Lord Protector!”
Mary put her hand on Elizabeth’s: “Softest lily, fairest flower, a rook beside a knight… Count yourself as rightly spared the evils of that man; of all who flee my wrath, he shall need the strongest steed!”
Several moments of silence passed before the Princess had the gall to ask: “What of the Church, then, my lady? Shall it be allowed to stand?”
“IT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO STAND AT ALL WHEN OUR FATHER RAPED THE LAND!” She ripped her hand back to herself. “Cathedrals, abbeys, monasteries, some as old as the Conqueror! Razed! Ripped down! They lay in ruins; their coffers emptied by his gluttonous belly! Saintly Thomas Moore was not even spared his spiteful rent!”
Elizabeth was trembling now, this outburst vexed her greatly. “Surely, mum, you do not mean to do the same?”
“EVERY MAN SHALL HAVE HIS CHOICE!” Mary’s blood was boiling. “The Church shall be restored to Rome! Those who do not flee, and flee quickly, that want the heresy to continue, shall find a dungeon is their new home! It, alas, shall be a temporary one! The Inquisition shall be called upon to straighten out this evil knot!”
Princess swallowed hard, resigned then, to the fate of England. When the Queen’s eyes turned toward the window, her little half-sister dropped a handkerchief from her own; the sign that single rider must ride on ahead alone. A gallop was heard surpassing the party, the chase was on; London’s highest Protestants had better flee the coming storm. How much, then, would the people want their staunchly Catholic Queen? There had been a secret council; the will of God be done. Mary was the rightful heir, and hers to rule as she saw fit, regardless of how many had to run. Hope was kindled in the dwindling sound of that gallop, though, for fair warning, and farewell sped on.
“You, sister?” Mary saw the gaunt look on Elizabeth’s face. “SISTER?”
Princess woke as if from trance… How do you speak when your world has ended? “Your servant in all things, my Queen.”
Mary grasped Elizabeth’s face hard and turned it toward: “You had BETTER be, my little lass, you had better be!” She tossed the girl’s head away as if it were a ball. “Warmly welcomed, you say?” Mary now continued as if nothing ill had passed. “Lord Mayor at the wall?”
“Of course, Your Grace; all await. I ‘spect that quickly riding man has gone ahead as we had asked to tell them of your due once gait had been established.”
“Well, you certainly have a grasp of your language, dear; tell me, what else have you learned?” Acting, singing, dancing? How many languages?” Mary beamed.
“I know now mine own, French, and Latin, mum, with German close behind.”
“LATIN?” Now Queen shined like Sun. “Know you enough to hear the mass?”
“I’m most sure of it, ma’am…” The Princess was sick to her stomach.
“Say the Hail Mary for me!?”
“Hail Mary, Your Grace?”
The Queen irritated once more: “What the angel Gabriel spake to the Mother of Our Lord; what her cousin Elizabeth said when she learned of her due! Surely you, with your English Bible have learned the words? In Latin, then?”
It was a test; of this, Elizabeth had no doubt. She tried to form the words in her head: “Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum,” Gabriel spake thus. Her forehead beaded sweat.
“Now, little sister Elizabeth, what did Mary’s cousin, your name sake say to her?”
The young girl bit her lip, she licked them both to moisten them: “…Benedicta… tu in mulieri…bus…et benedictus, fructus…ventris…tui…” She had to clear the phlegm from her throat.
Mary applauded loudly: “Brava, madame, brava! There’s hope for you! Now, I shall teach you that which you do not know, what Holy Mother Church has given us to bolster this good prayer: Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus nunc et hora mortis!” The Queen took the princess’ hands in both her own: “Now…translate, my little catechumen!”
Elizabeth was sure now that she would cast away her breakfast: “Holy Mary…God’s mother…pray for our sins…” Mary’s eyes widened. “…now, and the hour of death…”
The Queen seemed, in appearance, pleased but still she jerked the girls hands to her: “NOT GOD’S MOTHER! MOTHER OF GOD!” The coach stopped. “Ah, Tilbury!” Mary released her grip.
“Tilbury, Mum?”
“Yes, t’was here you bore me, good sister, to bolster both our prayer and our celebration!” The door opened, and Mary bowed out.
Elizabeth looked toward the river and saw what Mary meant; a Spanish galleon, a hundred guns bored through her side, a thousand giant oars it seemed, was rowing up the mouth of the Thames.
“Come, Lillibet, see the wondrous might of Spain!” The Queen beckoned forth the girl with waving hand.
The Princess was aghast; how could it be so tall? How could it be that wide? How could it hold that many cannon and not sink? How could there be enough men within to bear those oars?
“Tis our prayer’s sake, the ‘Ave Maria,’ that bid me safely to these shores; magnificent, is she not?”
“The crown of any navy, mum,” the Princess was scared witless. “Why did you not sail in her straight up the Thames?”
“HA! For fear of ambush; for fear of canon; for fear of torches! I had to come ashore and be certain it was safely done; that peasants were not waiting, rocks in hand! HA! Now, she shall be my herald!” Horses galloped up, with armor chinking, the mounted men wore the beveled helmets of the King of Spain! A hundred men on either side of the river. “Warmly welcomed I shall be!”
Elizabeth lost all pretense, she stepped up to Mary and took her by the forearm: “Madam, I beg you, NOT this way. The people’s only fear is Spanish influence over thee! They will not stand for it! If you sail, row, or tow that thing into London, they will turn on you!”
Mary looked confused, she showed no anger, though, but gently rend her arm from her sister’s grasp… “The people shall know, my dear, that the Queen of England, AND of Spain is here!”
The Princess brought her hand to her mouth and fell backwards, seated, onto the step of the coach. “You MARRIED him? You married PHILLIP? You sold your country to the Empire of Spain?”
This vexed Mary more than any talk of heresy; but it was not her anger that was perplexed, it was her comprehension. “We are betrothed… Only… But why? Why will the people not accept the gallant man of Spain? He has built an Empire, as you said, out of city-states and little, warring princedoms; he will be of England gain upon gain, he will lead us into the modern world! His forces at the ready to restore Church and power to our island realm! He will be of England the greatest asset, and the father of all its kings to come!”
Elizabeth stood; “He will be our ruin, madam; he will rout, and pillage, and rile, and burn!”
Mary stepped closer to her sister: “The only ones to burn, my dear, shall be our hated enemies… England will prosper, I shall see to that…” They stared, silently into one another’s eyes for what seemed an eternity. “We ride on horseback into London, side by side…”
So, there it was; England was to be the puppet realm of Spain. The Inquisition would root out opposition; even if innocent, torture would secure confession; even if pure already, many would be purified in flames… Elizabeth felt a dagger in her heart. Bells began to ring a tiny, tinkling chorus, far away…
“Your man has reached London, my dear; let us mount the best of steeds that my beloved Prince hath to provide!”
There was one good thing about this sickening display, it gave the rest of England a delay…
“My Lord Gardiner?” Mary looked to the second coach, the one that had brought her from the beach. The door swung open.
“Majesty?”
Why, the man had just as many skirts as any woman, Elizabeth joked to herself as he clumsily slid out of the hack.
“You shall ride as well; as Lord Chancellor, and Archbishop of Westminster and Canterbury…”
How on Earth would HE mount a horse? The Princess was glad to have something to laugh at. All at once, the side of the galleon exploded like unto an entire battlefield of armaments, Elizabeth screamed aloud. Smoke and flames filled the air as she collapsed to the ground.
“Not to worry, sister, they but answer the joyful bells…” Mary knelt, held her hand out to help her sister up; when she did, the far side of the ship exploded just the same. Elizabeth screamed again and, this time, Mary laughed… “My goodness, you look as if you’d seen a ghost!”
“I’ve but seen the most powerful weapon ever placed within the hand of man…” Smoke obscured the entire vessel.
“MY man,” Mary warned, “my faithful cousin, friend, and ally…” Several beautiful, giant horses were brought to the party. “Tis right that we should ride in the open to be seen together; the people will know most well that you support me, and I you…”
“Thank Your Majesty…”
In the city, though many had already fled, those who thought the Queen may be lenient toward, or even accepting of, the Church Of England began to understand. Elizabeth’s messenger had brought the news, learned by her from the Queen’s mouth and conveyed with a flying, laced handkerchief. The bravest, especially those of the councils and others who thought themselves indispensible to government, would stay; anyone else was packed and awaiting word of the Queen’s intentions. They now fled in every direction, hastily loaded carts and coaches drawn by galloping steeds were making their way down every other street. The ringing of every bell had been ordered; this, proper upon the accession of a new sovereign, was also the arranged signal of the coming of the Inquisition. If Mary had told Elizabeth that the Church would stand, the bells would’ve been withheld until the Queen’s party had been sighted. Two gigantic explosions were heard and through the city into question and further panic. Had someone tried to kill the Queen? Did Princess Elizabeth take her a coach loaded with explosives? Was Mary going to storm the capitol by force? Were Grey’s supporters attacking the procession? A watchman upon the tower with a telescope began the spreading of the word: “Galleon! Spanish Galleon!”
The Yeoman and the Gaelor reported to the Lord Mayor. “We have the Dudleys and Grey in hand; Mary’s forces are approaching from Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. There are a dozen galleons in the Channel and one rowing up the Thames! A large force accompanies it with flanks on the North and the South sides of the river!”
“She leaves nothing to chance… I hope the gesture of releasing Gardiner and Norfolk, as she asked, has eased her mind.” The Lord Mayor began to invest himself with the robes of his office.
“Norfolk went straight-way to Framlingham to lead their troops; Gardiner, as if informed, left for the coast to meet her;” the Yeoman seemed to question whether Stephen Gardiner had advanced knowledge of Mary’s intentions.
“My dear sir,” the Gaelor replied, “even the Tower is susceptible to bribes!”
The Lord Mayor put an end to further debate: “I care not if one of YOU informed him! If we wish to keep our positions and our heads, we must make every conciliation! Has Norfolk and the force been sighted?”
The Yeoman shouted upward: “Watchman!? To the EAST!?”
“A sizeable force, sir!” The call came down.
“Signal the bells to stop! Signal them to start again when the parties join as one!” His Lordship now turned his thoughts to those around him; “They will rendezvous, no doubt, before they reach the city;” his chain of office was the last thing the Lord Mayor placed upon his shoulders, “to the walls!”
The great barred gates of the White Tower yawned open to reveal a marvelous procession of nobles in their finery, all quite aware that their heads were on the line. They were reserved, silent even, questioning if their decision to stay was wise or, perhaps, if they should be among those now fleeing London. A chorus of explosions, far further away than the first two, were now heard in a low rumble beneath the ceasing of the ringing bells.
