Lady Jane Grey
Jane Grey sat in the presence of her father or mother, speaking, keeping silence, sitting, standing, going, eating, drinking, merrily or sadly. She had to do everything as if it were done with weight, measure and number, perfectly as God made the world. If she failed this standard, she was sharply taunted, cruelly threatened, pinched, nipped, and bobbed. She told the visiting scholar Roger Ascham that these punishments made her feel like she was in hell. This strict upbringing defined her early years at Bradgate House in Leicestershire. Recent research suggests she may have been born between May 1536 and February 1537 rather than October 1537. Her education came from John Aylmer, who taught her Latin and Greek from an early age. She also studied Hebrew with Aylmer and Italian with Michelangelo Florio. Jane wrote letters in Latin and Greek throughout her life, earning a reputation as one of the most learned young women of her day. She corresponded with the Zürich reformer Heinrich Bullinger. Around February 1547, she moved into the household of Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley. He married Henry VIII's widow Catherine Parr shortly after. Jane lived at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire until Catherine died in childbirth in September 1548. At about eleven years old, Jane served as chief mourner at Catherine's funeral.
On the 25th of May 1553, Lady Jane Grey married Lord Guildford Dudley at Durham House. The wedding occurred during a triple ceremony where her sister Katherine matched with Lord Herbert and another Katherine matched with Henry Hastings. Guildford was a younger son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, the most powerful man in the country. By June 1553, the dying King Edward VI had written his will to bypass Mary and Elizabeth. Edward named Lady Jane and her male heirs as successors to the Crown. This decision stemmed from fear that Catholic Mary would reestablish Roman Catholicism and eliminate Protestant reforms. Edward VI personally supervised the copying of this document known as My devise for the Succession. Letters patent declaring Jane successor were issued on the 21st of June and signed by 102 notables including the entire Privy Council. The king intended to disinherit both half-sisters because they were considered illegitimate under the Third Succession Act. Edward believed barring Mary from succession was a cause in which he fully endorsed it. He also disinherited Elizabeth despite her Protestant faith because he could not disinherit just one older half-sister. The choice fell upon descendants of Henry VII's youngest daughter since no acceptable male candidates existed elsewhere.
King Edward VI died at about nine o'clock on the evening of the 6th of July 1553 but news remained hidden until four days later. On the 9th of July, Jane received a summons to attend a Council meeting at Syon House. There she met Dudley and other nobles who informed her of the king's death and her new role. She initially refused the crown but relented after pressure from an assembly of nobles including her parents and in-laws. Guildford chimed in with prayers and caresses to persuade her. On the 10th of July she was officially proclaimed Queen of England, France and Ireland. That same day she made her ceremonial entry into the Tower of London. Support for Mary grew rapidly as she fled to East Anglia. By the 4th of July, Princess Mary had left Hunsdon and headed to Kenninghall in Norfolk. Mary became the largest landowner in East Anglia receiving 32 estates in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. On the 8th of July, Mary summoned supporters to Kenninghall while support grew throughout the country. Nobles, royal officials and municipal councils declared their allegiance to her. On the 12th of July, Mary gathered an army of nearly 20,000 men at Framlingham Castle. Northumberland led forces against her but faced mass desertions by the 19th of July. The Privy Council switched sides and proclaimed Mary queen on the 19th of July. Jane was imprisoned in the Tower's Gentleman Gaoler's apartments that same day.
On the 19th of July 1553, Lady Jane Grey was held prisoner in the Tower while Guildford was confined to the Bell Tower. He soon joined there by his brother Robert. Other brothers and their father were locked in separate towers. Dudley, his sons John Gates and other noblemen involved in the plot were tried for high treason on the 18th of August. They were found guilty and sentenced to death. Northumberland re-converted to Catholicism before his execution on the 22nd of August. In September, the first Parliament of Mary's reign revoked Edward's will provisions favoring Jane. Wyatt's Rebellion broke out in January 1554 against Queen Mary's marriage plans with Philip of Spain. The rebellion included members of the Duke of Suffolk and Guildford's brothers Robert and Henry Dudley. Although conspirators did not intend to place Jane back on the throne, the government decided to reactivate her suspended sentence. Jane became a serious threat to Mary due to her status as a potential figurehead for unrest. Mary signed an order on the 19th of January to execute both Jane and her husband. The execution was initially scheduled for the 9th of February but postponed three days to allow time for conversion attempts.
Jane faced charges of high treason alongside her husband, two of his brothers, and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Their trial took place on the 13th of November 1553 at Guildhall in the City of London. A special commission chaired by Lord Mayor Thomas White and Duke of Norfolk heard the case. All defendants were found guilty and sentenced to death. Jane's guilt was evidenced by documents she had signed as Jane the Quene. Her sentence allowed burning alive or beheading depending on the Queen's choice. Burning remained the traditional punishment for women convicted of treason. The imperial ambassador reported that her life would be spared initially. Jane submitted a letter explaining herself to the Queen asking forgiveness for the sin she was accused of. She described herself as a wife who loves her husband. In December, she walked freely in the Queen's Garden while Guildford took air on the leads of the Bell Tower. At some point Guildford wrote a message inside Jane's prayer book wishing long life and joy to his father-in-law. He signed it Your humble son to his death G Dudley. Mary initially decided to spare their lives assuming they were pawns in Northumberland's scheme. However Wyatt's Rebellion changed everything. The government viewed them as dangerous reminders of past events.
Around ten o'clock on the morning of the 12th of February 1554, Guildford was led toward Tower Hill where many gentlemen waited to shake hands with him. He knelt prayed and asked people to pray for him holding up eyes and hands to God many times. His body was conveyed on a cart to the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula after one stroke of the axe. Watching from her window, Jane exclaimed Oh Guildford Guildford! She then went out to Tower Green to face execution. Before ascending the scaffold she gave a speech recounting her innocence. She thanked John Feckenham for his company in final moments saying Go and may God satisfy every wish of yours. They had disagreed on Earth but believed they might meet in a better place. Feckenham burst into tears after the execution. Jane recited Psalm 51 Have mercy upon me O God in English before handing gloves and handkerchief to her maid. The executioner asked forgiveness which she granted pleading I pray you dispatch me quickly. She failed to find the block with her hands crying What shall I do Where is it? Thomas Brydges helped her locate it. With head on the block she spoke Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit. Both were buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula without memorial stones. Five months later John Knox wrote calling them innocents who could never be proved to have offended by themselves.
Jane became viewed as a Protestant martyr featuring prominently in several editions of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Acts and Monuments by John Foxe. In 1836 American poet Lydia Sigourney published a poem titled Lady Jane Grey in her volume Zinzendorff and Other Poems. British historian Albert Pollard called Jane the traitor-heroine of the Reformation in 1911. Fictional treatments include historical novels such as Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir Her Highness the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham The Lady of Misrule by Suzannah Dunn and The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory. Three films tell the story including the 1923 silent film Lady Jane Grey Or The Court of Intrigue the 1936 film Tudor Rose starring Nova Pilbeam and the 1986 film Lady Jane directed by Trevor Nunn with Helena Bonham Carter. Mary allowed Jane's mother Frances to reside at Richmond despite some suspicion from the Queen. Frances employed her two surviving daughters as maids of honour. In late 1554 there was talk of marriage between Frances and Edward Courtenay but he went into exile to Venice where he died. Frances married Adrian Stokes in March 1555 and died in 1559. Guildford's brothers and sisters were released from the Tower in autumn 1554.
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Common questions
When was Lady Jane Grey born?
Recent research suggests she may have been born between May 1536 and February 1537 rather than October 1537. Her early years were defined by a strict upbringing at Bradgate House in Leicestershire.
Who educated Lady Jane Grey during her childhood?
Her education came from John Aylmer, who taught her Latin and Greek from an early age. She also studied Hebrew with Aylmer and Italian with Michelangelo Florio.
On what date did Lady Jane Grey become Queen of England?
Lady Jane Grey was officially proclaimed Queen of England on the 10th of July 1553. That same day she made her ceremonial entry into the Tower of London.
Why was Lady Jane Grey executed in 1554?
The government decided to reactivate her suspended sentence after Wyatt's Rebellion broke out in January 1554 against Queen Mary's marriage plans. Jane became a serious threat to Mary due to her status as a potential figurehead for unrest.
How did Lady Jane Grey die on the 12th of February 1554?
Jane faced execution on Tower Green after watching her husband Guildford beheaded on Tower Hill. She recited Psalm 51 before handing gloves and handkerchief to her maid and speaking Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit.