One of the most famous quotations attributed to Mary of Guise is her alleged reply to Henry VIII's proposal of marriage:

"I may be a big woman, but I have a very little neck."

It's a wonderful story, cleverly alluding to Anne Boleyn's execution and Henry VIII's reputation. But did Mary of Guise really say those words?

In this video, I investigate the evidence by examining contemporary diplomatic correspondence, including the dispatches of the French ambassador Castillon, along with the works of John Knox, John Lesley, George Buchanan, Agnes Strickland, Antonia Fraser, John Guy and other historians.

Can this famous quotation be traced to a contemporary source, or has it become accepted simply through repetition?

Join me as I follow the evidence and explore one of Tudor history's most intriguing quotation mysteries. ...