Brain Teasers
My Garden Grew
I was a great king's daughter and a queen in bygone times;
My story's told in one of Mother Goose's little rhymes.
My garden grew, blood-watered, and by pretty maids well-fed,
With bells and shells along the way, the tortured soon lay dead.
My mother was a queen who, supplanted, lost her place.
My marriage was political; no love showed in his face;
He roamed far distant from my side to avoid my many flaws.
But unlike certain other queens, I died from natural cause.
Littler sister then was queen; the world knew of her fame.
Knowing of my story, can you now pronounce my name?
My story's told in one of Mother Goose's little rhymes.
My garden grew, blood-watered, and by pretty maids well-fed,
With bells and shells along the way, the tortured soon lay dead.
My mother was a queen who, supplanted, lost her place.
My marriage was political; no love showed in his face;
He roamed far distant from my side to avoid my many flaws.
But unlike certain other queens, I died from natural cause.
Littler sister then was queen; the world knew of her fame.
Knowing of my story, can you now pronounce my name?
Hint
A cocktail is named for her.Answer
Mary Tudor, Queen Mary I of EnglandMary's father was King Henry VIII of England by his first wife, Queen Catherine of Aragon. At Henry's death, his only son became king as Edward VI, at the age of nine, but died when he was fifteen. Mary came to the throne at age 37, but her marriage to Phillip of Spain was loveless, and she had no heirs. She is remembered for her persecution of alleged heretics. At her death, Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn's daughter, became queen and reigned for 45 years.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
These verses allude to the torture and deaths of accused heretics. The "silver bells and cockle shells" refer to instruments of torture used, while "pretty maids" were the "iron maidens" used to pierce victims with nails inside a casing shaped like a human form.
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