Lady Jane Grey
October 1537 – February 1554
Queen of England for 9 Days
by Rit Nosotro First Published:: 2003( )
“Young, beautiful and learned Jane, intent
On knowledge, fount it peace; her vast acquirement
Of goodness was her fall…”
- William Hone1
Innocent to the very end Lady Jane Grey bore the consequences of others actions. Actions that placed her as the Queen of England for nine days and made her name one that will be remembered throughout history. Through the short life of Jane Grey we see how the sinful roots of men’s heart can lead not only to their own downfall (Gal. 6:8)5 but also to the downfall of those around them.
Born in her family’s home of Bradgate Park/Manor sometime in October
of 1537, Jane Grey entered into what would be a difficult childhood. Her
exact date of birth is unknown but it is believed she was born sometime
before Prince Edward whom it was thought she might one day marry to become
the Queen of England. It would turn out that her rise to the throne would
come about quite differently than what was originally intended. Her parents
despite their love for her were not the best at showing it and she was
raised in a strict environment. Throughout her life Jane never did develop
a close relationship to her parents that many children enjoy. Part of
this could be due to the fact that her parents Henry Grey, the Marquee
of Dorset and Frances Brandon, daughter of Henry VIII’s sister Mary
were for the most part concerned with themselves. Jane’s father
eventually gained the title of Duke of Suffolk. She spent most of her
early childhood at her parent’s home with her two younger sisters
Katherine and Mary.
When Jane was nine years old she was sent to court to be under the guardianship
of Queen Katherine Parr, who was the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII.
During her time there Jane continued her education which consisted of
what would have been common for a girl in an upper class home. Amazingly,
she mastered Latin, Greek, French, English, and Italian. She also was
for a time in her life truly happy and it was during her time with Katherine
Parr she became truly committed to her own personal faith. It was a time
where words like these became part of who she was and what she believed,
'Live still to die, that by death you may purchase eternal life.... As
the preacher sayeth, there is a time to be born and a time to die; and
the day of death is better than the day of our birth.” (Jane Grey,
1554)2 When the time would come for her to say these words the faith that
she developed during her early years would become her closest ally. A
description of Jane by Baptista Spinoal, “She is very short and
thin, but prettily shaped and graceful. She has small features and a well-made
nose, the mouth flexible and the lips red. The eyebrows are arched and
darker than her hair, which is nearly red. Her eyes are sparkling and
reddish brown in color.”2 reflects outwardly the character that
was inside. While Jane was at court Katherine Parr married again, this
time to Thomas Seymour and it was arranged that Jane would be a ward for
the Seymour’s. This was a common practice for English families to
send their children to the homes of larger, wealthier families to in a
sense grow up with. Jane’s parents also had the motive or in reality
the hope that it would work out for their daughter to marry Prince Edward.
They were trusting the Seymour’s to take care of this for them but
everyone has their own interests and the scheme of using the Seymour’s
to get Jane to the throne ended up to be unsuccessful. In the end Thomas
Seymour was found to be a traitor and was executed.
After the death of Thomas Seymour, Jane found herself under the care of
John Dudley. A man who she never trusted and always had a fear of which
would prove to be credible apprehensions later on. Prince Edward who had
become King Edward after the death of his father became quite ill and
it became clear that he would not produce an heir. Now, John Dudley had
found himself promoted to a high position, second only to the King and
if the King were to die without a loyal heir it could mean that he would
lose his position. This was something John Dudley could not allow to happen
so he devised a plan which would involve Edward signing a new will that
passed the crown on to none other than young Jane Grey. In order to convince
Edward of his need to make this will, Dudley brought in the issue of Mary
being Catholic while Edward was Protestant. Edward was informed of Jane’s
devout Protestant faith and convinced that it would be better for England
if Jane took the throne. Dudley was aware that he would need to do more
than just get Jane the crown in order to secure him a powerful position;
he also would need a closer tie to Jane. So Jane Grey found herself marrying
Sir Guildford Dudley, much against her will.
After Edwards much anticipated death Lady Jane Grey became “Jane the Quene” which not only shocked her but also Edwards sister Mary who the crown rightfully belonged too. Jane knew this as well as anyone and it caused her to be opposed to taking the crown. However, the control of John Dudley on her actions was too strong and in July 1553 she became Queen of England. Dudley’s true motives were soon clear to Jane and it angered her because she knew she was only a pawn along with her husband Guildford. Throughout her reign it is clear that Jane was nothing more than a puppet to John Dudley’s personal agenda by the fact that she made no political statements in her nine days as Queen.
It was not going to be that easy for John Dudley to get rid of Mary the
rightful heir. She was popular with the people and eventually got her
way back to the throne with little resistance from Jane. As a consequence
for his actions John Dudley was executed. Queen Mary had Jane locked in
the Tower of London and she was not to happy about the thought of killing
her young relative. However, out of political necessity she was left little
choice. Jane was given a chance to have her life spared if she would convert
to the Catholic faith but she refused. Queen Mary sent John Feckham to
try and convert Jane but her commitment to the Protestant faith can be
seen through her words to him, “I think that at the supper I neither
receive flesh nor blood, but bread and wine; which bread when it is broken,
and the wine when it is drunken, put me in remembrance how that for my
sins the body of Christ was broken, and his blood shed on the cross. ...I
ground my faith upon God's word, and not upon the church... The faith
of the church must be tried by God's word, and not God's word by the church;
neither yet my faith.” (Jane Grey to John Feckenham, 1554)2 So with
dignity and courage well beyond her seventeen years Jane Grey faced death
with the reading of Pslam 51. She was then beheaded with the final words
of “So Perish all the Queen’s enemies” being spoken
over her.
One of the greatest examples of dedicated faith, Jane Grey still serves
as a true inspiration. Although, innocent she became ensnared by the evil
desires of men who cared more about themselves and what they could gain
from her, than her well being. This is something that still takes place
today in many governments and even social areas. However, despite her
unfortunate circumstances Jane did not waver from her faith in God but
remained strong her understanding that she could “Rejoice, as I
do, and adsist that I shall be delivered of this corruption, and put on
incorruption, for I am assured that I shall, for losing of a mortal life,
find an immortal felicity.” – (Jane in the letter written
on the blank pages of her Greek Testament to her sister Katherine - February
10th 1554)3 She knew that a better place awaited her and that she would
be missing little from this world! Jane Grey was in many peoples minds
to young to die but in reality she was probably more ready for the grave
than most adults today! She should serve as an example to the peace that
comes with knowing Christ (Phil. 4:7)6!
Bibliography/Endnotes:
1 http://www.ladyjanegrey.org/
2 http://englishhistory.net/tudor/relative/janegrey.html#Biography
3 http://www.geocities.com/jane_the_quene/index_english.html
4 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/lady_jane_grey.htm
5 Galatians 6:8, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature,
from that nature will destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit,
from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
The Christian Growth Study Bible, New International Version ®
Copyright © 1997 by the Zondervan Corporation
All Rights Reserved
6 Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The Christian Growth Study Bible, New International Version ®
Copyright © 1997 by the Zondervan Corporation
All Rights Reserved
