Nine Days Queen

It was the most nerve wrecking day of her life. The sun had barely risen over central England and it was casting beams of light so crisp that they almost seemed solid fixtures in the morning space. Anxiety plagued her chest and stomach as she attempted to control her breathing. The air was an usual coolness; the moisture of dew still spread about all the grass. The news she had just received was so overwhelming yet there are some who would no doubt enjoy to be in her shoes at this moment. Her small hands gripped at the lengthy cloth of her dress out of sheer nervousness as she stood at the back garden to her family’s home.

“What will become of me?!” she thought as she struggled to contain herself.

(a few moments earlier)

“Lady Jane!” her favorite maid called out as she quickly approached.

Jane was on the way back to her quarters after engaging in her daily prayer activities. She felt this way she would now be prepared for the day.

“Lady Jane! Something of great interest has arrived for you! It is said to be the news we suspected would come from the high courts!”

Her maid was so excited; the sincerity and nervousness in her voice was not easily concealed. Emma, as Jane called her, was a small and shapely maiden who could pass for Jane’s sister when the two were viewed together from a distance. She excitedly handed a youthful Jane the decorated envelope that had just been delivered by a courier of the royal courts. “Here it is!” Emma squealed.

Her father Henry, the Duke of Suffolk, was already aware of this news before it had been delivered. He recognized that his daughter Jane was growing up and aside from his political motivations, he really wished her the best. Henry saw the relationship between her and her new husband Lord Guildford Dudley as a bit odd when he observed them together, but he knew it was for the best in keeping the noble status of his family for generations to come. Guildford’s father John, 1st Duke of Northumberland, was a decorated military officer and had been quite cordial with the Grey family as a whole. He and Henry took a mutual interest in the recent affairs that surrounded the question of who would be replacing the young king Edward VI upon his inevitable death. Now that the young king would be passing without a legitimate heir, it became an interesting moment of anticipation throughout the kingdom as everyone awaited the official announcement of who would seat the throne next.

Lady Jane had only been married to Guildford a month before the day the royal parcel was delivered to her family’s home. She initially did not want to marry him as he seemed to be a completely different person to herself and they seemed to share very little in common. To Jane, her spirituality took precedence over all else in her life. Emma had been the only person there with Lady Jane as she opened the official letter baring the royal seal. The envelope had been well decorated. Her thin finger lightly plucked at the envelope’s edge until it was neatly unsealed. When she read her name in the letter as the next queen of England, she felt faint. She gulped hard in a mixture of anxiety and dizziness. Emma caught a hold of her shoulder as to stabilize her before she could tumble. The hand in which she held the letter fell limp and the letter slid across the floor.

In the next moment, a servant called Gregory walked out to the entrance of the back garden where the two young women had been standing. Gregory was a servant of long standing at the house and was as loyal as they came. He paid no mind to Lady Jane and Emma standing off to the side of the walk way reading the letter. Gregory came from a good family and was quite knowledgeable of worldly affairs considering his position. He was someone who could often be found with his nose buried in some form of literature. Though he was learned, he knew better to inquire where he was not welcome. Even still, it was hard not to notice the eccentric behavior of the two young women.

Then the day came where Jane actually ascended to the throne. The ceremony was legitimate but quite informal and many people were indeed shocked at the revelation of Jane as the new queen. Her first few days involved an almost forced participation in many long and boring ceremonies and readings. If it weren’t for her father and father in law, she would not have pursued such a position. Lady Jane quite fancied her cousin Edward, the late king. She was now days into her enthronement and she could not help but to think of the mounting responsibilities. Just yesterday it was explained to her that on occasion she would have to review prisoner logs and sign death warrants. Such were one of the many responsibilities of a queen in her age. She didn’t like playing this role at all. Edward had faced this pressure too.

It was a dark and wet morning. The skies had been overcast for several days and the onset of rain was inevitable. Jane had dawned an exquisite gown forwarded to her in her position as queen. It flowed about in an elegant dance with the air around her as she walked. She was now taking the morning walk to the church where she would study until noon. Although quite young, she was very well mannered and respected at the courts. Many people enjoyed her personality when John Dudley wasn’t attempting to speak for or guide her. In the afternoon when she returned from the church and walked through one of the main court yards, those about would bow to her and greet her as her majesty in honor. This would take some getting used to for Jane.

Queen Jane was young but she had quite a lot of experience around adult matters. She had served as ward to Thomas Seymour, the late king Henry VIII’s brother. Thomas, who was named Baron of Sudeley, had married Henry’s widow Queen Katherine Parr. This provided Jane firsthand experience of the royal courts and their affairs. Jane had heard many things about the harsh nature of the late King Henry VIII, but when she met Queen Katherine she could only admire her beauty. Not to mention she was quite sophisticated and very well spoken. Jane had suffered many days and nights sobbing after Queen Parr passed away after the deliverance of her daughter with Thomas Seymour. Seymour had his own issues that culminated to him being charged with treason and executed. Jane could not help but consider the heavily political environment of the royal courts. Would they conspire against her? Would her life be in jeopardy?

Then it was the morning of her ninth day on the throne as Queen Jane Grey. Outside was saturated in a damp fog blanketed by overcast skies. This wasn’t going to be a good day judging by the weather. Jane was seated at one of her dressing tables deep in thought when a loud eruption of sound shattered her serenity. It sounded of a large gathering of people at the entrance to her quarters, with some beginning to step into her quarters. She released a squeal of surprise and immediately stood up to face the closest man.

“Lady Jane Grey” he called out. “You have been charged with treason in an attempt to unrightfully assume the throne of England.”

Lady Jane’s heart sank as the man continued. ” You are hereby under arrest and shall be held captive until the true queen, Mary decides your fate.”

Saliva gulped down Jane’s throat as she began to perspire in anxiety. She could only place herself at the mercy of these men. She dare not put up a fight out of fear for her immediate survival. Surely Queen Mary would have mercy on her; they were family after all. Lady Jane was immediately taken into custody and imprisoned at the Tower of London, where she would find her husband had been taken as well. Jane knew she never really tried to conspire against Mary, but was a victim of her controlling family’s political pursuits. Mary seemed to understand this, since she had multiple opportunities to sign Jane’s death warrant, but she did not. At this point, Jane had very little communication with anyone, including Guildford Dudley.

Lady Jane could barely sleep in such a place under those circumstances. That cold morning in February where an agent of the royal court came to visit her would be no different. She was awake when he came to her quarters with the news that her father had participated in a rebellion against Queen Mary in opposition of her marrying Philip of Spain, but had failed and was killed. As a result, Spain would not allow a marriage between Philip and Mary unless those who staged the rebellion and their associates were killed. Mary did understand what it was like to be a victim of a controlling and abusive family and had great sympathy for Lady Jane. It was that last event, the rebellion, that forced her hand. Mary had signed her death warrant. Guildford was about to be executed and she would be executed in the coming days.

On the morning of 12th February 1554, a sweet 16 year old lady uttered her last words on a scaffold designed to stage executions. After learning of all the events that had happened which forced Mary’s hand to sign the warrant, Jane was ready to accept her fate. Her faith made her strong in those final moments. She was steadfast in her belief that her ultimate fate after this life would depend on the content of her heart and not what people thought of her. She knew that she would not be judged on falling victim to the manipulation of her loved ones. In her final act, she recited the Psalm 51, a prayer for divine mercy. Then she knelt by the block and tied a piece of cloth around her eyes. Long live the queen.