Do you think Elizabeth I should have observed Mary's wishes about where Mary and Catherine of Aragon were buried? Let me know below and remember to check out my Patreon. Link in the description box.

I do think Elizabeth should have honored her wishes but I am not surprised that she didn’t. The whole horrible religion thing was always going to be a problem between them. Their father set them up for these terrible things to be between them.

I feel so bad for Mary I. I truly believe she wasn't as bad as history makes her out to be. We can look at certain events in her life and see she was compassionate and had a heart. Men took advantage of her, especially her husband. She was Henry VIIIs daughter, but she was also Catherine of Aragons daughter as well. People forget that.

At the beginning of her reign, Elizabeth would have had to have been insane to disinter Catherine of Aragon and to call attention to all the questions of her own legitimacy. If she wasn't going to cause a stir by reburying her own mother, uncle and cousins, why would she create a controversy by literally digging up the scandal that preceded her birth? If Mary wanted her mother's body moved to a more prominent location, she needed to do it during her own reign.

I don't think Elisabeth could have moved, according to Mary's last will, the body of Queen Catherine to Westminster Abbey. If she would have done so, she would have diminished her own mother (whom she did not move either) and thus proclaiming truth in the illegitimacy of Henry's and Catherine's divorce. Making her own claim to the throne more feeble.

All of Henry's children were deeply troubled and always afraid of losing their positions. They grew up seeing and knowing what Henry was capable of and being manipulated by both Henry and all sorts of other people around them. During Henry's reign there was always a faction or a family trying to overthrow another faction or family to manipulate the King and gain power for themselves. It was no different when he died. Edward, Mary and Elizabeth were always at the mercy of others trying to do the same and they knew it. All through their lives I feel they lived in fear.

Her life was so tragic. I can't imagine her experiences' toll on her mental health. That would mess up anyone. I'm not saying it is an excuse, but a reason for her disposition.

Both sisters suffered under Henry. Mary could not see her mother because of her father, Elizabeth lost her mother because of him. If we are talking about damaged princess, we should talk about both of them. Elizabeth was only 2 years when her mother was beheaded and I bet that for along time people did not let her forget it. I do pity both of them.

I'm not sure you can call Mary I's life a failure based on how she is remembered. The victors (usually the countries who win wars, here for England the Protestants) always write history for a time until someone re-examines it with fresh unbiased eyes, which is now being done for both Mary I and her mother, Catherine (who was very successful Queen Regent, not just the mistreated wife of Henry 8th). Mary I was the 1st successful Queen of England in her own right. She started its modern navy and exploration around the world. Being the 1st she also established what England's idea of what a female monarch should be and historians have pointed out her father, likely had more subjects executed than Mary I, and Edward 6th and Elizabeth I executed probably as many so Mary I doesn't hold that record, but again, the victors had the chance to stick her with her unflattering monicker.

From Mary's point of view, I can imagine she felt betrayed by Edward and Elizabeth. Edward excluded her from the crown, and Elizabeth was likely guilty of plotting against her. She'd suffered a lot because her father wanted them to exist over her, and even then she was close to them when they were younger. She was also writing her will when either thinking she was pregnant and might die like her grandmother or knowing she wasn't pregnant, being laughed at by her subjects and was about to die, with everyone swarming around Elizabeth. I can see why she might have been in a less than jovial mood. I would love to know what Elizabeth was thinking in Mary's dying days.

I'm quite sure Elizabeth didn't follow all of Mary's final wishes. Why would she. The woman made her life hell. Liz can't help it that she was born to Henry and Anne.

Mary's whole life just feels like one gut punch after another. Even in death she gets shunted aside and most of her last wishes end up coming to nothing. She may have done some terrible things during her reign but I can't help but feel so much pity for her. She is one of the great losers of history and honestly I think she deserved so much better than what she ended up getting.

You explain our complicated ancient history so simply and eloquently. Thank you.

I think the reason Mary is viewed as being bloody is simply because during her reign she was mainly out for revenge. Based on how her father treated her and her mother. Elizabeth especially wasn’t liked because of who her mother was and was a constant reminder of how her life drastically changed. Protestants were to her the enemy. I don’t think Elizabeth was in any plot against Mary because she knew that would instantly get her killed. Elizabeth was very smart and only executed those that were trying to have her killed. I believe that while on the throne Elizabeth was in constant survival mode.

I subscribe to several history channels and must say that I find your documentary videos some of the finest online. Thank you for providing such excellent, well-researched commentary about the historical figures you have covered.

So sad that she's not with her mother especially considering she was separated from her during her life. Her life was so tragic. Being loved so much by he father only to be cast out as if she wasn't even his child. Then separation from Catherine, marriage to a man who probably wasn't too thrilled to be married to her, not to have children and the sadness of her pregnancies that didn't even existed....so she never even conceived, On a throne for only 5 years after really anticipating her seat there from birth, then to be remembered as Bloody Mary after death. Just like her mother, her life just makes me so sad!

It boggles the mind that the only thing that stood between the old religion and the reformation was Mary's womb. If Mary had born an heir, England's history would be been so different today.

Last Will & Testament’s are funny things, they leave no doubt how the deceased really felt about you! And it doesn’t take a scholar (though you, Ms. History Calling, make a brilliant scholarly effort in this presentation) to see that Mary’s will indicated grave misgivings towards her father and siblings.

I think Henry and Anne keeping Catherine and Mary apart was terribly cruel. At that point Anne had Catherine's title, her home and her former husband but still salt was rubbed in by the new royal couple denying Catherine contact with the one joy left in her life as her resources dwindled and health faded. If they were worried about conspiracy they could even have supervised the visits. The fact Mary wasn't granted the request of being reunited with her beloved mother in death is certainly a great injustice. Mary's actions towards protestants were unforgivable but my heart goes out to that poor girl separated from her mother, forsaken by her previously affectionate father and made to serve her father's 'replacement daughter' and acknowledge her parent's marriage as false. That upbringing in that time was never going to produce the most mentally sound and well rounded individual.

Okay the moving pictures are freaking me out!!!!