MARY I (1516-1558), Queen of England and Ireland, and PHILIP II of Spain (1527-1598) as King of England. Document signed by both (at head, 'philipp R' and 'Marye the quene'), a fragment cut from a letters patent, n.p., n.d. [1554-5].

MARY I (1516-1558), Queen of England and Ireland, and PHILIP II of Spain (1527-1598) as King of England. Document signed by both (at head, 'philipp R' and 'Marye the quene'), a fragment cut from a letters patent, n.p., n.d. [1554-5].

In English. Three lines on vellum, 58 x 278mm, cut from a larger document. Provenance: Enys Collection – sale at Bonham's, 28 September 2004, lot 126.

Philip and Mary as joint monarchs. The fragment encompasses the imposing list of Philip and Mary's joint titles: 'Philipp and Mary, by the grace of god King and Quene of England, France, Naples, Jer[usa]l[e]m and Ireland, Defenders of the fayth, Princesse of Spayne and Cicill, Archdukes of Austriche, Dukes of Millayne, Burgundy and Brabant, Countyes of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyrol'.

Philip and Mary married on 25 July 1554, and they ruled as joint-monarchs for the next year until Philip's departure for Flanders in September 1555, a period which was arguably the happiest of Mary's reign, even if it encompassed the humiliation of her very public false pregnancy in the spring and summer of 1555. Philip returned to England briefly in March to July 1557, but the present document can be dated to his first stay, as it does not name him as King of Spain (a title he inherited in January 1566).