Something I've been wondering about lately, why was it necessary for Queen Mary to execute Lady Jane Grey after the Wyatt rebellion? As far as I know Lady Jane was not involved in anyway in inciting or supporting the uprising, and it is difficult to see how Jane could possibly have been considered a threat to Mary's rule, seeing as how even when Jane actually was the Queen no one had rallied to her defense against Mary, and now her father-in-law was dead and her father was about to be executed (for actual treasonous acts).
So given that Mary was supposedly a devout Catholic what if she decides to follow the Christian teachings of mercy and not execute Lady Jane?
Would this lead to additional Protestant uprisings against Mary calling for Jane to be restored as Queen? Would it cost Mary the support of Spain? And would Mary's historical reputation be better (no "Bloody Mary") without her having ordered the killing of an innocent teenage girl?
And what would Mary do with Lady Jane if she didn't execute her? I can't really see her just letting Jane go free. Would she keep her in prison indefinitely, make her a lady-in-waiting (as was later done with Jane's sisters), pack her off to a convent somewhere (could that even be done for Protestant women?)
And what would happen to Lady Jane once Mary died. I would assume that Mary still goes with Elizabeth for her successor. Would Elizabeth let Jane live out her life in peace or would she see her as a potential threat that had to be imprisoned or killed?