With Edward’s early death in 1553, his older sister Mary became queen. There was a brief attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne but the people wanted their rightful sovereign, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon. She was a loyal Catholic and she promptly restored Catholicism and sought the forgiveness of the pope. Cardinal Pole, Mary’s best friend in England, was made papal legate and absolved the nation. Most of the people cared little whether Catholic England was under papal or royal jurisdiction, but many liked the old Catholic ways and there was no disturbance over the changes in religion that Mary made. The leaders in the Church of England were divided in their preferences. Men like Gardiner, whom Mary made Lord Chancellor, and Bonner, Bishop of London, would have been content with royal instead of papal supremacy, and Cranmer preferred Protestantism, but the queen had her way. Gardiner and Bonner fell in with her policies. Cranmer went to the stake, and with him were burned Latimer and Ridley, both eminent scholars, because they would not conform to the Catholic policy of Mary.
Impact: The short and unhappy reign of “Bloody Mary” resulted in the execution of about three hundred persons. She was disappointed in her marriage to Philip II of Spain and was disappointed in her hope of an heir. Her death after five years on the throne was celebrated in England and the people gladly welcomed her half-sister, Elizabeth.