Mary FitzAlan ~ Duchess of Norfolk

Mary FitzAlan ~ Duchess of Norfolk

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Mary was born in 1540, the third and last of the children of Henry FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel by his first wife Lady Katherine Grey.

On her mother’s side, Mary was a niece of Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk, and and first cousin of Lady Jane Grey – the nine day queen.

In March 1555, fifteen year old Mary was betrothed to nineteen year old Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.

As a ward of Queen Mary, Howard had to obtain her permission to marry.

Their wedding was the great social event of the spring of 1555.
Mary continued to reside with her family for a further year before the marriage was consummated.

Mary became pregnant at the end of 1556, and the young Duchess chose Arundel Place for her lying-in, where all was prepared for the arrival of an heir.

Mary gave birth on 28th June1557, to what would be her only child, Philip.

Mary suffered serious health complications after the birth of Philip, possibly due to a puerperal infection.

She lingered for eight weeks, but never left her bed at Arundel Place.
On 25th August 1557, Mary passed away, she was just 17.

Mary was buried on 1st September 1557 in the Church of St Clement Danes, in London.
Mary was buried with full funeral pomp, including twelve dozen torches in the funeral procession

Bonner, Bishop of London, and the last Abbot of Westminster together conducted the service, while the choir of St Paul’s sang.

Decades later, based on the provisions of the will of her grandson, her remains were moved to the FitzAlan Chapel in Arundel.

The earldom of Arundel passed to Mary’s son Philip.
For remaing loyal to Catholicism, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in April 1585.

He remained there until his death from natural causes, in October 1595.

His tomb and shrine are in Arundel Cathedral.

Hans Eworth.