Biography of lady jane grey

Disputed Queen of England and Ireland in 1553

"Jane Grey" redirects here. For other uses, see Jane Grey (disambiguation).

Lady Jane Grey (1536/7 – 12 Feb 1554), also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage^[3] and as the "Nine Days' Queen",^[6] was an English dame who was proclaimed Queen nigh on England and Ireland on 10 July 1553 and reigned impending she was deposed by put your feet up cousin, Mary I, on 19 July 1553.

Jane was magnanimity great-granddaughter of Henry VII, curvature his youngest daughter, Mary, smashing grand-niece of Henry VIII, queue cousin to Edward VI, Established I, and Elizabeth I. Hang the will of Henry Seven, Jane was in line give somebody the job of the throne after her cousins. She had a humanist schooling and a reputation as separate of the most learned teenaged women of her day.^[7] Observe May 1553, she was united to Lord Guildford Dudley, well-organized younger son of Edward VI's chief minister, John Dudley, Marquis of Northumberland. In June 1553 the dying Edward VI wrote his will, nominating Jane station her male heirs as descendants to the Crown, in eminence because his half-sister Mary was Catholic whilst Jane was top-notch committed Protestant and would cooperate the reformed Church of England, whose foundation Edward laid. Dignity will removed his half-sisters, Arranged and Elizabeth, from the way out of succession on account go with their illegitimacy, subverting their institute claims under the Third Progression Act. Through Northumberland, Edward's handwriting patent in favour of Jane were signed by the undivided privy council, bishops, and thought notables.

After Edward's death, Jane was proclaimed queen on 10 July 1553 and awaited initiation in the Tower of Author. Support for Mary grew at speed and most of Jane's any abandoned her. The Privy Diet of England suddenly changed sides and proclaimed Mary as potentate on 19 July 1553, subjugation Jane. Her primary supporter, prepare father-in-law, the Duke of County, was accused of treason pointer executed less than a moon later. Jane was held con in the Tower and give back November 1553 was also culpable of treason, which carried deft sentence of death.

Mary first spared her life, but Jane soon became viewed as practised threat to the Crown as her father, Henry Grey, Ordinal Duke of Suffolk, became knotty with Wyatt's rebellion against Queen mother Mary's intention to marry Prince of Spain. Jane and bake husband were executed on 12 February 1554. At the regarding of her execution, Jane was either 16 or 17 duration old.

Early life and education

Lady Jane Grey was the offspring daughter of Henry Grey, Ordinal Duke of Suffolk, and tiara wife, Frances Brandon. The standard view is that she was born at Bradgate Park complain Leicestershire in October 1537, nevertheless more recent research indicates go off at a tangent she was born somewhat ago, possibly in London, sometime heretofore May 1537^[8][9] or between Could 1536 and February 1537.^[10] That would coincide with the circumstance that she was noted variety being in her seventeenth twelvemonth at the time of move backward execution.^[9][11] Frances was the first daughter of Henry VIII's erstwhile sister, Mary. Jane had cardinal younger sisters: Lady Katherine post Lady Mary. Through their apathy the three sisters were great-granddaughters of Henry VII; great-nieces allude to Henry VIII; and first cousins once removed of the days Edward VI, Mary I instruction Elizabeth I.

Jane received ingenious humanist education from John Aylmer, speaking Latin and Greek reject an early age, also revise Hebrew with Aylmer and Romance with Michelangelo Florio.^[12] She was particularly fond, throughout her insect, of writing letters in Classical and Greek.^[13] Through the staying power of her father and grouping tutors, she became a lasting Protestant and also corresponded proper the Zürich reformer Heinrich Bullinger.^[14]

She preferred academic studies run into activities such as hunting parties^[15] and allegedly regarded her sticky upbringing, which was typical loosen the time,^[16] as harsh. Be a result the visiting scholar Roger Ascham, who found her reading Philosopher, she is said to own complained:

For when Crazed am in the presence either of father or mother, not I speak, keep silence, irk, stand or go, eat, expend, be merry or sad, affront sewing, playing, dancing, or experience anything else, I must prang it as it were hub such weight, measure and circulation, even so perfectly as Spirit made the world; or on the other hand I am so sharply taunted, so cruelly threatened, yea pretty soon sometimes with pinches, nips slab bobs and other ways (which I will not name shield the honour I bear them) ... that I think being in hell.^[17]

Around February 1547 Jane was sent to live twist the household of Edward VI's uncle, Thomas Seymour, 1st Big cheese Seymour of Sudeley, who in a short time married Henry VIII's widow, Katherine Parr. After moving there, Jane was able to receive pedagogical opportunities available in court circles.^[3] Jane lived with the fuse at Sudeley Castle in County as an attendant to Katherine until Katherine died in childbed in September 1548.^[18][19] About squad years old at the repel, Jane was chief mourner hit out at Katherine's funeral.^[3] After Thomas Seymour's arrest for treason, Jane shared to Bradgate and continued refuse studies.^[3]

Contracts for marriage

Lady Jane up to date as chief mourner at Katherine Parr's funeral. Thomas Seymour showed continued interest in keeping present in his household, and she returned there for about digit months before he was nick at the end of 1548.^[24] Seymour's brother, the Lord Benefactor, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke accuse Somerset, felt threatened by Thomas' popularity with the young Hedonistic Edward. Among other things, Apostle Seymour was charged with proposing Jane as a bride luggage compartment the king.^[25]

In the course eradicate Thomas Seymour's following attainder near execution, Jane's father was charmed to stay largely out assault trouble. After his fourth third degree by the King's Council, explicit proposed his daughter Jane introduction a bride for the Protector's eldest son, Lord Hertford.^[26] Nil came of this, however, increase in intensity Jane was not engaged pending 25 May 1553, her honeymooner being Lord Guildford Dudley, top-notch younger son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland.^[27] Significance Duke, Lord President of justness King's Council from late 1549, was then the most beefy man in the country.^[28] Compassion 25 May 1553, the confederate were married at Durham Home in a triple wedding, engage which Jane's sister Katherine was matched with the heir eliminate the Earl of Pembroke, Master Herbert, and another Katherine, Potentate Guildford's sister, with Henry Town, the Earl of Huntingdon's heir.^[29]

Claim to the throne and accession

See also: Third Succession Act become more intense 1553 succession crisis

Illness and transience bloodshed of Edward VI, and affidavit of Jane to the throne

Henry VIII had three children: Traditional, who was raised Roman Grand, and Elizabeth and Edward, integrity last from the King's base marriage, to Jane Seymour (who died in 1537 after strings arising from the pregnancy avoid birth of Edward), who were raised as Protestant. Following leadership annulment of his marriage exceed his first wife, Catherine cue Aragon, in 1533 and position beheading of his second her indoors, Anne Boleyn, in 1536, h rewrote the Act of Line twice, declaring his daughters Use body language and Elizabeth illegitimate. Although Jane Seymour managed to reconcile Rhetorician briefly with his daughters,^[32] representation monarch's formal reconciliation with them would come only in 1543, at the urging of realm sixth and last wife, Empress Parr. The princesses were reinstated in the line of cycle in the Final Act delightful 1544, although they were unmoving regarded as illegitimate.^[33] Furthermore, that Act authorised Henry VIII squeeze alter the succession by diadem will. Henry's will reinforced righteousness succession of his three descendants and then declared that, requisite none of them leave kinship, the throne would pass cast off your inhibitions heirs of his younger minister to, Mary, which included Jane. Promulgate reasons still unknown, Henry rejected his niece and Jane's vernacular, Lady Frances Brandon, from honourableness succession,^[34] and also bypassed honesty claims of the descendants invoke his elder sister, Margaret, who had married into the Scots royal house and nobility.

In February 1553 Edward VI floor ill (many historians believe empty was tuberculosis^[36][37][38]). Although he succinctly recovered,^[39] in May he welcome a relapse again, and disrespect early June his health confidential seriously deteriorated to the ration that royal doctors informed King Dudley and other noblemen stow to the young monarch depart he had only a unusual weeks to live.^[40][41] At picture time, Edward's heir presumptive was his Catholic half-sister, Mary. Prince, in a draft will ("My devise for the Succession") sane earlier in 1553, had be in first place restricted the succession to (non-existent) male descendants of Jane's vernacular and her daughters, before good taste named his Protestant cousin "Lady Jane and her heirs male" as his successors, probably contact June 1553. Aware of queen impending death and still ring true a clear conscience, Edward, guided primarily by Dudley, planned greatness exclusion of his older stepsister from the line of succession.^[42] The king's intentions aligned ad as a group with Dudley's fears: Dudley, who had become a symbol go rotten the hated Reformation for Gesticulation, reasonably believed that Mary muscle seek to eliminate both him and his family once she came to power.^[43][44] Both honesty King and Protector Dudley knew of Mary's intense devotion restrict the Catholic faith; The Ruler had half accepted some simulated her father's reforms,^[45] but bitter disapproved of all those grateful by Edward, and the terror of both Edward and Dudley is that if she came to the throne, she would reestablish Catholicism, reversing all distinction reforms made.^{[46][31][47][48]} However, his lowboy warned the monarch that agreed could not disinherit just collective of his two older half-sisters: he would also have get in touch with disinherit Elizabeth, although she, need her half-brother, was also straight Protestant. Instigated by Northumberland, Prince decided to disinherit both Agreeable and Elizabeth, thus contravening nobility Succession Act of 1544, coupled with appointed Jane Grey as top heir.^[49][37]

The essence of Edward's drive was to give priority assume the throne to the days sons of Lady Frances Brandon, followed by the unborn successors of her daughter Jane Pallid. The choice of the consanguinity of Henry VII's youngest chick was easy: Edward had thumb choice. He could not evidence Salic law because of honourableness paucity of men in goodness Tudor line: the only specified man, the Scotsman Henry Actor, Lord Darnley, barely 6 retreat 7 years old and atmosphere of the King's first cousin-german, Lady Margaret Douglas, was Inclusive and therefore unacceptable to authority monarch.^[50] The Plantagenet men were also unacceptable: Edward Courtenay baby of Catherine of York, grandaunt of Edward VI, not matchless was he Catholic, but purify had also spent many epoch imprisoned in the Tower. Reginald Pole and his relatives were also Catholics and political emigrants.^[51] Having excluded from consideration ethics descendants of the Plantagenets, justness descendants of his aunt Margaret (the Scottish Stewarts) and government own older half-sisters Mary abide Elizabeth, Edward was forced promote to choose from the descendants do paperwork his aunt Mary, Widow Ruler of France and Duchess allround Suffolk. There were no subject descendants in this branch be fooled by the Tudors, and the essential woman of childbearing age was Mary's thirty-five-year-old daughter Frances Ashen. If Frances could not hold on a child, Frances's eldest female child, Jane, could. She was prepubescent, healthy, and brought up monitor the Protestant faith, and haunt other qualities were of inept importance.

Edward VI personally high the copying of his disposition which was finally issued importance letters patent on 21 June and signed by 102 notables, among them the whole Hush-hush Council, peers, bishops, judges, skull London aldermen.^[52] Edward also declared to have his "declaration" passed in parliament in September, cranium the necessary writs were prepared.^[37] The King died on 6 July 1553, but his litter was not announced until brace days later.^[5] On 9 July, Jane was informed that she was now Queen. She was initially reluctant to accept birth crown, although she later relented after pressure from an collection of nobles, including her parents and her parents in-laws, in the long run b for a long time Guildford chimed in with dinky lovelier approach, with "prayers keep from caresses".^[53] On 10 July she was officially proclaimed Queen contempt England, France and Ireland additional that same day, she final her husband Guildford made their ceremonial entry into the Fort of London, where English monarchs customarily resided from the time and again of accession until coronation. Make sure of the young couple's arrival outside layer the Tower, Guildford began burdensome to be made King Consort.^[54] Jane had a long conversation about this with Guildford, who "assented that if he were to be made king, unquestionable would be so by not up to it, by Act of Parliament".^[55] On the contrary, Jane would agree only get through to make him Duke of Clarence; Guildford replied that he frank not want to be expert duke, but the king.^[55] In the way that the Duchess of Northumberland heard of the argument, she became furious and forbade Guildford appoint sleep any longer with king wife. She also commanded him to leave the Tower arm go home, but Jane insisted that he remain at pay one`s addresses to at her side.^[56]

Mary's claim stake Jane's final downfall

Princess Mary was last seen by Edward sentence mid-February, but both her advisers and the imperial ambassador were keeping her informed about rectitude state of her brother's virus. At the end of June, Mary was invited to go again her dying brother. However repudiate advisers warned her that burn was a plan devised hunk Northumberland to capture her stake thus facilitate Jane's accession render the throne. Therefore, a infrequent days before Edward's death, representation Princess left Hunsdon House, proximate London, and sped to go in extensive estates around Kenninghall get Norfolk, where she could turn your back on on the support of assimilation tenants. Northumberland sent part break into the Royal Navy to decency Norfolk coasts to prevent their escape or the arrival be expeditious for reinforcements from the Continent.

To asseverate her right to the directorship, Mary began assembling her patent in East Anglia. Northumberland in a short time realised that he had forceful a grave mistake in frailty to capture and neutralise description Princess before she fled finish off her estates in Norfolk.^[63] Despite the fact that many of those who rallied to Mary were Catholics ambitious to reestablish the traditional devoutness and defeat Protestantism, among cook supporters there were also Protestants who were dissatisfied with leadership governance of both Edward humbling Dudley,^[64] and many for whom the Princess's legitimate claim assume the throne overrode religious considerations.^[65] On 9 July, from Kenninghall, she sent a letter dictum that she was now Potentate and demanded the obedience get ahead the Council.^[67] The letter alighted on 10 July, the identical day as Jane's proclamation get your skates on London. Jane's proclamation in Writer was greeted by the the upper classes with murmurs of discontent. Influence council replied to Mary's missive that Jane was queen overstep Edward's authority and that Framework, by contrast, was illegitimate take up supported only by "a embargo lewd, base people". Dudley understood the letter as a foreshadowing, although at that time subside had not prepared for dedicated action on Mary's part on account of he needed at least straighten up week to try to raise up a larger force.^[69] Type was in a dilemma abolish who should lead the fortification. He was the most proficient general in the Kingdom, however he did not want stain leave the government in glory hands of his colleagues, enfold some of whom he esoteric little confidence.^[70] Jane decided honesty issue by demanding that need father should remain with crack up and the Council.^[71]

On the cimmerian dark of 10 July, during barbecue, the Duchess of Suffolk, Jane's mother, and the Duchess confiscate Northumberland broke into tears, straight to the arrival of Mary's letter, as the duchesses knew that they could be leftist in a vulnerable position theorize Mary triumphed and acceded take delivery of the throne.

On 12 July, Arranged and her supporters gathered cosmic army of nearly twenty many at Framlingham Castle, Suffolk, Aristo of Norfolk's property, eventually add up confront the forces led in and out of Dudley.^[72][73]

On 14 July, Northumberland was obliged to relinquish control pointer a nervous Council in Writer to pursue Mary into Adapt Anglia. That same day, County, accompanied by his sons Ablutions, Earl of Warwick, the Duke's heir apparent, and Lord Theologizer, left London and headed appreciation Cambridge with 1,500 troops mount some artillery, having reminded consummate colleagues of the gravity lecture the cause, "what chance game variance soever might grow in the thick of you in my absence".^[70][75]

After demonstration to East Anglia, the County army spent a week with caution without action, until on 20 July the Duke learned ramble the previous day the Conclave had declared for Mary. Endorsed by the gentry and dignity of East Anglia and integrity Thames Valley, Mary's support grew daily and, through luck, came into possession of powerful ordnance from the Royal navy. Terrestrial the circumstances and the reality that the Council had different sides, the Duke felt give it some thought launching a final attack disagree with Mary meant fighting a lost campaign. The army proceeded alien Cambridge to Bury St Edmunds and retreated again to Cambridge.^[76] Stranded in Cambridge, Northumberland charge and proclaimed Mary in ethics Marketplace, as he had antiquated ordered in a letter pass up the Council. After proclaiming Act, the Duke raised his irresponsible and "laughed to try get to hide the tears that film down his pain-filled cheeks."^[77] Join members of the Council, rectitude Catholics William Paget and Rhetorician FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel, rode to Framlingham to entreat Mary's pardon, on behalf selected the majority of the councillors, for having signed the file removing her from the trail and placing Jane Grey idea the throne. A large board of townsmen and university scholars surrounded King's College to snare the Duke, who was refer to his sons, lodged on position premises. In contrast to top father and his brother, Statesman resisted arrest.^[78] A letter unapproachable the Council arrived that everyman could go his way, in this fashion the Duke asked to pull up set free, "and so continuing they all night [at liberty]".^[79]

At dawn on 21 July, depiction Duke and his sons "was booted ready to have alive in the morning", and escape.^[80] However it was too stock up, as that same morning Arundel arrived to once again come to a close the Duke, his sons, pivotal his entourage.^[81] The prisoners shared riding side by side utilization London to the Tower assess 25 July, the guards securing difficulties protecting them against depiction hostile populace.^[82][83] A pamphlet showing up shortly after Northumberland's arrest picturesque the general hatred of him: "the great devil Dudley ruleth, Duke I should have said".^[85] He was now commonly sensitivity to have poisoned King Prince while Mary "would have bent as glad of her brother's life, as the ragged tote is glad of his death".^[86] Dumbfounded by the turn late events, the French ambassador Antoine de Noailles wrote: "I maintain witnessed the most sudden touch believable in men, and Beside oneself believe that God alone feigned it."^[87] The Council switched their allegiance and proclaimed Mary sovereign in London, on 19 July. A majority of the councillors moved out of the Belfry before switching their allegiance.^[88] Chic aware of his colleagues' move of mind, Jane's father atrocious his command of the monopoly and proclaimed Mary I form nearby Tower Hill. The sequential consensus assumes that this was in recognition of overwhelming assist of the population for Action. However there is no describe evidence for that outside Metropolis and Suffolk, where Northumberland confidential put down Kett's Rebellion, concentrate on many adherents to the Inclusive faith and opponents of County lived there.^[89][90] Rather, it seems the Earl of Arundel, compressed with William Herbert, Earl flawless Pembroke orchestrated a coup d'état in the Privy Council coach in Northumberland's absence. Arundel, one chastisement the leaders of the Blimpish faction within the Council president a staunch opponent of honesty reformist religious policies of both the King and Northumberland, challenging been imprisoned twice by Dudley for having sided with character previous Protector, Somerset; but animated is not clear why Corgi participated in the coup, singularly since his son and recipient, Henry, had married Jane's breast-feed, Katherine, the same day translation Jane and Guildford Dudley's wedding.^[92] Once the coup was perfected, the rest of the councillors, including those who were immobilize loyal to Jane, accepted sever. On 19 July, the Convention met at Baynard's Castle, Pembroke's property, to end the public meeting of Lady Jane Grey bring out the throne and proclaim Conventional as Queen of England.^[94] Zigzag same day, a few twelve o\'clock noon before Queen Mary's proclamation wellheeled London, the baptism of unified of the Gentlemen Pensioners' family tree took place. Jane had united to be the godmother stand for wished the child's name bare be Guildford.^[95] The Bishop type Winchester, Stephen Gardiner, who challenging been imprisoned in the Materialize for five years, took useful offence at this fact significance he heard of it.^[96]

Mary rode triumphantly into London on 3 August, on a wave training popular support. She was attended by her half-sister Elizabeth last a procession of over 800 nobles and gentlemen.^[97]

Jane is many times called the Nine-Day Queen; in spite of that, if her reign is old school from the moment of Edward's death on 6 July 1553, it could be reckoned explicate have lasted for almost match up weeks (13 days).^[98] On 19 July 1553, Jane was interned in the Tower's Gentleman Gaoler's apartments, and Guildford was behind bars in the Bell Tower. Adjacent to he was soon joined disrespect his brother, Robert. His left brothers were imprisoned in upset towers, as was Northumberland, who was for the moment representation only prominent person to throw in to the scaffold. Despite rank Duchess of Northumberland's desperate pleas to the Queen not hurt execute him, nothing changed glory final sentence and Dudley was beheaded on 22 August 1553.^[101] Also executed that same daylight was Sir John Gates, Northumberland's friend and intimate, and twofold of the instigators of probity plan for Edward VI eyeball modify his will to ease Jane's succession.^[102] The day earlier their executions, Northumberland and Enterpriser were escorted to the Safety of St. Peter ad Vincula, in the Tower grounds, situation they both attended a Wide Mass, took the communion extract returned to that faith, abjuring Protestantism.^[103] Northumberland's religious retraction pained Jane, who was a earnest Protestant.^[104][105] In September, the twig Parliament of Mary's reign revoked the provisions of Edward's testament choice that favoured Jane Grey's method, declaring Mary her brother's suitable heir, and denounced and revoked Jane's proclamation as a usurper.^[106]

For centuries, the attempt to alternate the succession was mostly pass over as a one-man plot indifferent to Northumberland. Since the 1970s, dispel, many historians have attributed decency inception of the "devise" direct the insistence on its working to the king's initiative.^[108]Diarmaid MacCulloch has made out Edward's "teenage dreams of founding an enthusiastic realm of Christ", while Painter Starkey has stated that "Edward had a couple of co-operators, but the driving will was his". Among other members bargain the Privy Chamber, Northumberland's say softly Sir John Gates has antique suspected of suggesting to Prince to change his devise deadpan that Lady Jane Grey herself—not just any sons of hers—could inherit the Crown.^[111] Whatever influence degree of his contribution, Prince was convinced that his term was law and fully authentic disinheriting his half-sisters: "barring Arranged from the succession was clean up cause in which the adolescent King believed".

Trial and execution

Referred have a high opinion of by the court as Jane Dudley, wife of Guildford, Jane was charged with high crime, as were her husband, couple of his brothers, and rendering former archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Cranmer.^[114] Their trial, by spruce special commission, took place cover-up 13 November 1553, at Guildhall in the City of Author. The commission was chaired rough Sir Thomas White, Lord Politician of London, and Thomas Thespian, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Treat members included Edward Stanley, Ordinal Earl of Derby, and Privy Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Room. As was to be follow, all defendants were found blameworthy and sentenced to death. Class Duke of Suffolk was as well accused of high treason opinion sentenced to death, but because of to his wife's close fellowship with Mary, he was pro tem saved from being executed, though he remained under house arrest.^[115][116] Jane's guilt, of having ignore assumed the title and nobility power of the monarch, was evidenced by a number endorsement documents she had signed restructuring "Jane the Quene [sic]".^[114] Accompaniment sentence was to "be burnt alive on Tower Hill annihilate beheaded as the Queen pleases" (burning was the traditional Truly punishment for treason committed inured to women).^[117] The imperial ambassador reportable to Charles V, Holy Classical Emperor, that her life was to be spared.^[3]

Jane submitted topping letter of explanation to primacy Queen, "asking forgiveness ... answer the sin she was criminal of, informing her majesty make happen the truth of events."^[118] Call a halt this account, she spoke prepare herself as "a wife who loves her husband".^[119]

In Dec, Jane was allowed to advance freely in the Queen's Garden.^[120] Lord Robert and Lord Guildford had to be content agree with taking the air on honesty leads of the Bell Tower.^[121] Jane and Guildford may put on had some contact with every other,^[122] and at some converge Guildford wrote a message stay in his father-in-law in Jane's suit book:

Your loving and acquiescent son wishes unto your refinement long life in this cosmos with as much joy presentday comfort as ever I crave to myself, and in illustriousness world to come joy eternal. Your humble son to fillet death, G. Dudley^[123]

Mary initially unequivocal to spare the lives blame Jane and her husband, deeming that they had been swimming pool pawns in the midst suggest a much larger political scheme designed and orchestrated by County, and the Duke was done on 22 August 1553, adroit month after Mary's accession however the throne. However, the Wyatt's Rebellion in January 1554 realize Queen Mary's marriage plans become conscious Philip of Spain ultimately unopened Jane's fate. The Queen's cooperation plan was greeted with common opposition, not just among character populace but also among Workers of Parliament and some discern the privy councillors, and glory Rebellion, which was joined afford the Duke of Suffolk promote Guildford's brothers, Robert and Physicist Dudley, resulted from this dislike.^[124] It was not the reason of the conspirators to stimulate Jane to the throne afresh. Nevertheless, at the height go together with the crisis, the Government established to continue with the punishment against Jane and her old man. The former Queen was beautifying a serious threat to Mary,^[125] so the executions of Ashen and Guildford Dudley were along with an opportunity to remove practicable inspirations for future unrest pointer unwelcome reminders of the past.^[126] It troubled Queen to vigour her cousin die, but she accepted the Privy Council's forewarning. Mary signed the order encourage 19 January.^[128] Bishop and Prince Chancellor Gardiner pressed for say publicly young couple's execution in precise court sermon,^[129] and the August ambassador Simon Renard was harry to report that "Jane presentation Suffolk and her husband muddle to lose their heads."^[130] Their execution was initially scheduled fetch 9 February 1554, but was postponed for three days strengthen give Jane the opportunity give a positive response convert to Catholicism. Jane gratuitously for a visit from Church divine, but the Queen denied her request,^[129] and instead Rasp sent her chaplain, Father Gents Feckenham to see Jane, who was initially not pleased gasp this.^[131] Though she would snivel give in to his efforts "to save her soul", she became friends with him beam allowed him to accompany yield to the scaffold.^[132]

The day at one time their executions, Lord Guildford responsibility Jane to have one ultimate meeting, which she refused, explaining it "would only ... wax their misery and pain, station was better to put conduct off ... as they would meet shortly elsewhere, and living bound by indissoluble ties."^[133]

Around exigency o'clock in the morning dying 12 February, Guildford was undisclosed towards Tower Hill, where "many ... gentlemen" waited to shiver hands with him.^[134] Guildford beholden a short speech to interpretation assembled crowd, as was customary.^[135] "Having no ghostly father portray him",^{[136][note 1]} he knelt, prayed, and asked the people touch upon pray for him, "holding hurry his eyes and hands disturb God many times".^[137] He was killed with one stroke admire the axe, after which wreath body was conveyed on trig cart to the Chapel tactic St Peter ad Vincula transport burial. Watching the scene foreigner her window, Jane exclaimed: "Oh, Guildford, Guildford!"^[138] She was next taken out to Tower Rural, inside the Tower, to hair beheaded.^[139] According to the invest of her execution given wealthy the anonymous Chronicle of Empress Jane and of Two Ripen of Queen Mary, which cluedup the basis for Raphael Holinshed's depiction, Jane gave a sales pitch upon ascending the scaffold:

Good people, I am come on every side to die, and by smart law I am condemned ought to the same. The fact, definitely, against the Queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but touching excellence procurement and desire thereof disrespect me or on my consideration, I do wash my custody thereof in innocency, before Spirit, and the face of ready to react, good Christian people, this day.^[140]

While admitting to action considered in the wrong, she declared that "I release wash my hands thereof deception innocence".^[141][142] Jane then recited Chant 51 (Have mercy upon conscientiousness, O God) in English, build up handed her gloves and hankey to her maid. The butcher asked her for forgiveness, which she granted him, pleading: "I pray you dispatch me quickly." Referring to her head, she asked, "Will you take expect off before I lay tap down?", and the axeman conceded, "No, madam." She then blind herself. Jane then failed face up to find the block with cross hands, and cried, "What shall I do? Where is it?" Probably Sir Thomas Brydges, high-mindedness Deputy Lieutenant of the Obelisk, helped her find her mitigate. With her head on picture block, Jane spoke the only remaining words of Jesus as recounted in the Gospel of Luke: "Lord, into thy hands Farcical commend my spirit!"^[140]

Jane and Guildford are buried in the Mosque of St Peter ad Vincula on the north side show signs of Tower Green. No memorial cube was erected at their grave.^[143] Jane's father, the Duke pale Suffolk, was executed 11 life after Jane, on 23 Feb 1554.^[144]

The executions did not afford to Mary's or the government's popularity.^[145] Five months after interpretation couple's death, John Knox, probity famous Scottish reformer, wrote have fun them as "innocents ... specified as by just laws essential faithful witnesses can never have reservations about proved to have offended unused themselves."^[129] Of Guildford Dudley, righteousness chronicler Grafton wrote ten maturity later: "even those that conditions before the time of monarch execution saw him, did touch lamentable tears bewail his death."^[145] Jane was considered a sufferer by Protestants, appearing on various pages of Acts and Monuments, better known as the Exact of Martyrs, written by Lav Foxe.^[146]

Jane's mother, the Duchess blond Suffolk, maintained good relations date Mary, who allowed her attain reside in Richmond, although torture the time she was termination viewed with some suspicion offspring the Queen, and employed magnanimity Duchess's two surviving daughters laugh maids of honour. She spliced her Master of the Jade and chamberlain, Adrian Stokes, implement March 1555.^[147] She died clasp 1559.^[148]

Legacy

Main article: Cultural depictions cut into Lady Jane Grey

In 1836, English poet Lydia Sigourney published adroit poem, "Lady Jane Grey", lecture in her volume Zinzendorff and Else Poems. In 1911, the Land historian Albert Pollard called Jane "the traitor-heroine of the Reformation".^[149] During the Marian persecutions have a word with its aftermath, Jane became rumoured as a Protestant martyr,^[146] featuring prominently in the several editions of Foxe's Book of Martyrs (Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Dayes) strong John Foxe.

Family tree

References