Mary Beatrice of Modena (born 5th October 1658, died 7th May 1718) was a daughter of Alphonso IV., D'Este, Duke of Modena. She was a strong Roman Catholic. In 1673 she married James, Duke of York, whom she presently converted to the Roman Catholic religion, and when she became queen in 1685, her influence over the king continued to be very great. There were many disquieting rumours about the birth of the Prince of Wales, and Queen Mary was never liked in England. She seems, however, to have been a devoted and affectionate wife.
Her trouble culminated about 1688, when she fled to France with her little son, and was well and honourably received by Louis XIV. James II. presently joined her at the Palace of St. Germain, which the French king had put at his disposal on his deposition from the throne of England in 1689. After James's death in 1701 Queen Mary continued to live at St. Germain, and remained there for the rest of her life.
MARY, PRINCESS OF ENGLAND, AFTERWARDS QUEEN OF FRANCE AND DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK.
Arms.—Quarterly, France and England, as used by Henry VIII. (q.v.).
Badges.—Tudor roses, gu. and arg., and portcullis arg., chained or.
Initials.—M. S. (Mary Suffolk).
Note.—The book bears the arms of Henry VIII., and the initials have been added. It is one of the earliest gold-tooled English bindings in existence, and was probably made by John Taverner for an earlier inside than that which it now covers.