Page:History of the Kings & Queens of England.pdf/23

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MARY,

Born 1516. Began to Reign July 16, 1553. Died Dec. 1, 1558, Reigned 5 Years.

Daughter of Henry VIII. and Catherine of Arrogan, ascended the throne after deposing Lady Jane Grey, who had been nominated in the late king's will as his successor, and whom she caused to be beheaded, with Lord Dudley and other persons of quality. Mary was extremely bigoted in the Roman Catholic religion; on which account she was thrown out of the succession to the crown. A persecution began by the burning of the most honourable men in the kingdom, amounting to about 300 souls ; besides those punished by confiscation of their estates, fines, and imprisonments. In the year 1557, Calais, which had been in the possession of the English for upwards of 200 years, was taken by the Duke of Guise. Mary fell into a decline, and died after a short reign of five years.

Eminent men in this reign :--Cardinal Pole; Lord Stafford; Bishops Latimer, Hooper, and Ridley.