Random: Mary I of England

Sometimes I just like to share random information. And I have this fun book called Useless History Fact-O-Pedia, so I just picked a random page from that book to find some random info to share with you today.

Mary I of England

1. The first daughter of Henry VIII. Born 1516-1558. Earned the nickname "Bloody Mary" by having hundreds of people burned at the stake.
2. As a child she suffered from bad headaches and stomachaches. When he had trouble bearing children as an adult, she was said to have "strangulation of the womb."
3. Married Phillip II of Spain two days after meeting him.
4. The nursery rhyme "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" is said to be about her.

            Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

            (Contrary- due to her attempt to convert Protestant England to Catholicism)

            How does your garden grow?

            ( teasing about her infertility)

            With silver bells, and cockle shells

            ( Silver bells- reference to Catholic church)

            and pretty maids all in a row

             (either relating to her miscarriages or a reference to the fact that she had Lady Jane Grey executed 

               for ascending the throne after the death of Edward VI)

The rhyme has also been said to be about Mary, Queen of Scots. So who knows?

Well, that was kind of depressing. So now for something a little more fun, here is a recipe for a Bloody Mary from the New York School of Bartending.

•  1 shot of vodka in a highball glass with ice
• fill with tomato juice
• a pinch of celery salt
• a pinch of ground black pepper
• a dash of Tabasco
• 2-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp horseradish
• a dash of lemon or lime
• garnish with a celery stalk

So there you go. Information you didn't know that you wanted to know.