Mary Stuart (1605–1607) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Stuart
Mary accompanies her siblings in an 1814 mezzo-tint by Willem van de Passe
Born	8 April 1605 Greenwich Palace, Greenwich
Died	16 September 1607(1607-09-16) (aged 2) Stanwell Park, Stanwell
Burial	23 September 1607 Westminster Abbey, London
House	Stuart
Father	James VI and I
Mother	Anne of Denmark

Mary Stuart was a princess born on April 8, 1605. She was the sixth child of King James VI and I and Queen Anne of Denmark. People were very excited for her birth. Sadly, she became sick with pneumonia when she was 17 months old and passed away the next year, on September 16, 1607.

Preparing for a Royal Birth

Princess Mary was the first child born to Queen Anne and King James after he became King of England. Both the Scottish and English people were very excited for her arrival.

Queen Anne's Stay at Greenwich

In December 1604, the queen's doctors told her to go to Greenwich Palace. They thought it would be a healthier place for her. There was a smallpox outbreak at court. Doctors tried to stop her from visiting a sick maid of honor. Queen Anne moved to Greenwich in January, after a special play called the Masque of Blackness.

Preparing for the Baby's Arrival

Important people in the kingdom wanted to be part of the new baby's household. They competed for jobs like nurses and cradle rockers. One royal doctor said there would be more than 40 women working for the baby.

Even a few days before the birth, Queen Anne had not chosen a midwife. She kept three women close by. Finally, Alice Dennis was chosen and received a large reward. The king ordered expensive fabrics for the baby's christening. These fabrics cost a lot of money.

Princess Mary's Life

Greenwich Palace, Mary's birthplace.

Princess Mary was born on April 8, 1605, at Greenwich Palace. Even though people had hoped for a boy, everyone celebrated the birth of the first princess of the united kingdoms. People lit bonfires and rang church bells all day. It had been 68 years since an English ruler had a child. The next day, King James celebrated with his wife and new daughter. He wrote letters calling her "a most beautiful infant."

Royal Christening Ceremony

Plans for a royal christening began right after Mary was born. The ceremony took place on May 5, in the chapel at Greenwich Palace. Elizabeth de Vere, Countess of Derby, carried baby Mary. Two countesses helped carry Mary's long, purple velvet christening gown.

The archbishop of Canterbury, Richard Bancroft, christened the child. Her godparents chose the name Mary. She was named after her grandmother, Mary, Queen of Scots. After the ceremony, trumpets sounded. The king gave Queen Anne new jewelry and created new noble titles to celebrate.

Queen Anne's Churching Ceremony

On May 19, 1605, Queen Anne had her "churching" ceremony. This special event took place at Greenwich Palace. The king and lords listened to a sermon. The queen came from her private rooms with many ladies. She was brought into the chapel and sat under a special canopy. After prayers and music, the king and queen met at the altar and then walked out together.

Mary's Care at Stanwell

Princess Mary was placed in the care of Sir Thomas Knyvet. He was famous for helping to arrest Guy Fawkes and stopping the Gunpowder Plot. On June 1, 1605, Mary was sent to Knyvet's home in Stanwell, Middlesex. He built new rooms for the women who cared for Mary.

Sir Thomas Knyvet received money each week to pay for the princess and her staff. This staff included six women who rocked her cradle and other helpers. The king paid their wages and other costs, like moving Mary between houses. Sir Thomas Knyvet's wife, Elizabeth Hayward, took great care of the young princess.

Princess Mary's Death and Burial

A later depiction of Mary's tomb.

When Princess Mary was 17 months old, she caught a bad cold. This cold turned into pneumonia. She had a fever all the time. Queen Anne was called to Stanwell and visited her daughter often. The royal doctor, Martin Schöner, came to care for "sweet Lady Mary."

An eyewitness later said that Mary's death was very surprising. Her voice had become weak from her long sickness. But just before she passed away, she sighed and said, "I go, I go!" When people tried to give her medicine, she looked at them and repeated, "Away, I go!" A third time, just before she died, she faintly cried, "I go, I go!" This seemed strange because she was so weak, but she spoke these words clearly.

Mary died at Stanwell on September 16, 1607. She had suffered from a "burning fever" for 24 days.

Informing the Queen and Funeral

As soon as Mary died, several noblemen went to Hampton Court Palace to tell the queen. When Queen Anne saw them, she knew what had happened before they spoke. She showed her sadness, then asked that the king be told. She also asked for an autopsy and a funeral to be prepared.

A private funeral ceremony took place on September 23. Mary's body was buried in Westminster Abbey's Henry VII Lady Chapel. Her tomb was placed across from her sister Sophia's tomb.

Jeremy Leech gave the funeral sermon. He spoke about the sadness of Lady Elizabeth Knyvett, Mary's caregiver. The sermon was later published.

Mary's Tomb and Legacy

Mary's tomb has a statue of her. It shows a young girl in a grown-up dress with a traditional ruff around her neck. The inscription on her tomb says: "I, Mary, daughter of James, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland and of Queen Anne, received into heaven in early infancy, found joy for myself, but left longings for my parents, on the 16th of September, 1607." It also states she lived for "1 year 5 months and 88 days."

After Mary's death, the women who rocked her cradle asked the queen for yearly payments. Mary Thompson, who was her wet nurse, also asked for pay or a pension. A special necklace of pearls and rubies that King James had given to Mary was given to her nurse.

See also

In Spanish: María Estuardo (1605-1607) para niños