A great beauty, Mary took pride in her appearance throughout her 14 years in confinement.
Something of a fashionista, she would order the finest materials from the continent to have made up into the styles of the day.
She wore a different wig every day and she loved to bathe in the most luxurious fashion. While Cleopatra was rumoured t
o favour asses' milk, Mary preferred the best white wine.
Mary believed it was good for her complexion and consequently her wine allowance was over two barrels a month.
On January 3, 1570, Shrewsbury wrote to Queen Elizabeth, saying he desperately needed more wine – and more money to pay for it. Much of Mary's upkeep had to be paid out of Shrewsbury's pocket.
Elizabeth paid £52 per week – not nearly enough for a Queen and her entourage.
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