Posted on 02/16/2018 2:55:05 AM PST by beaversmom
Leicestershire's young Nine-Day Queen showed bravery and humility
She was Leicestershire’s own monarch – and the very first reigning queen of England. But the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey is often overlooked by historians.
Only now does a three-part TV series – the second part is tomorrow at 9pm on BBC4 – shed any new light on Jane.
Born in Bradgate in October, 1537, Jane’s life was as short as it was tragic. Beautiful and intelligent, she was reluctantly proclaimed Queen of England in 1553, aged just 15.
She reigned for just nine days, before being imprisoned in the Tower of London, awaiting her execution.
Jane’s parents, Henry and Frances Grey, lived in Bradgate House, Bradgate Park, on the edge of Newtown Linford.
She was a devout Protestant, the great-niece of Henry VIII and fourth in line to the throne.
But after the death of Edward VI in 1553, a plot was hatched to put Jane on the throne instead of his Catholic sister, Mary Tudor.
Edward’s trusted adviser, John Dudley, knew he would be punished severely by Mary for his anti-Catholic views if she took the throne.
He persuaded dying Edward, too weak to protest, to proclaim Jane heir to the throne and disregard Mary’s claim.
When Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen shortly after Edward’s death, she fainted.
It was the first time she had heard of the plot.
Jane knew the crown was not hers and took no pleasure in accepting it. Mary, the rightful heir, had the support of the populace, and nine days later Jane was forced to relinquish her crown. She did so willingly.
She asked her father if she could go home to Bradgate, but he did not answer – aware a darker fate lay ahead for his daughter.
The next day, Jane was committed to the Tower and tried for high treason. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death.
Mary later chose to suspend the sentence, but, tragically, Henry Grey’s decision to actively oppose Mary’s marriage sealed his daughter’s fate.
Mary’s choice of husband was Philip of Spain. A Spanish king on the English throne was unthinkable.
Jane’s father returned to Bradgate to raise resistance to the marriage in the Midlands, but was captured before he could do so. The success of Mary’s alliance with Spain depended upon the stability of her kingdom.
The Queen was left with little choice other than to remove every trace of unrest.
Jane was executed on February 12, 1554, aged 16.
The day before, she had told Mary’s chaplain Dr Feckenham: “I am ready to face death patiently and in whatsoever manner it may please the Queen to appoint.”
She said she had no time for the controversy between the two religions. She simply sought the peace to ready herself for death.
When Jane had taken her final steps to the scaffold where she would meet her execution, she solemnly handed her gloves and handkerchief to her lady-in-waiting, Mrs Ellen.
As she began to untie her gown herself, the executioner stepped forward to help, but she brushed him aside.
Mrs Ellen helped her to remove her headdress and neckerchief, and dispense with her heavy outer garment.
The executioner then knelt and asked for Jane’s forgiveness, which was given “most willingly”.
There followed a five-minute silence while officials waited for a last-minute reprieve from the Monarch. None came.
Jane’s last words were: “Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
After the executioner had completed his grim task, according to tradition, the head was held aloft with the words: “So perish all the Queen’s enemies. Behold, the head of a traitor.”
In the 464 years since her death, Jane Grey has been seen by many as a religious heroine whose honour and faith led to her choice of death before heresy.
Poor kid. RIP.
How horrible. I cannot help but contrast her with the snowflakes of today, many of whom are much older but do not have even a smidgeon of the grace, wisdom, and dignity of this unfortunate young girl.
What a brave young lady. So glad to not have been born in that period of time. People getting their heads chopped off at the whims of whomever is king and queen smh.
How horrible. I cannot help but contrast her with the snowflakes of today, many of whom are much older but do not have even a smidgeon of the grace, wisdom, and dignity of this unfortunate young girl.
AMEN!!!
I cannot find this on DirecTV.
Is it not available on regular TV?
I find English Kings and Queens very interesting.
I do not know. I guess just able to watch in England unless a way to watch BBC here. I would be interested in watching it as I had never heard about her before.
I think this might be it:
Episode 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4EX2W1J5xs
You can find Episodes 2 and 3 from that link.
Thank you so much, beaversmom.
I love your handle.
Does anyone know if this is on BritBox yet?
Not that I can see. Youtube is fine, though.
Thanks beaversmom.
Time Team - Season 18, Episode 7 - The House of the White Queen (Groby, Leicestershire)
Mick Aston of Time Team. Sad that he passed in 2013. I was turned on to the UK Time Team show when one of the US networks aired a few of their episodes. Searching the internet for any info, I found a privately-run website about the series. I’ve got every episode from their 20 years on TV...gathered over the years from UK torrent sites. It was an excellent program. Every so often I catch a view of Phil Harding appearing in various UK archaeology documentaries, and Tony Robinson does 3-4 part historic series from time to time. The Brits certainly know how to do history documentaries.
Glad somebody posted it on YouTube. I downloaded the three episodes from a UK torrent site when it aired, and watched it. It’s very good.
The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey Epìsode 1
The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey Epìsode 2
The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey Epìsode 3
I've been enjoying the old shows (and the newer post-TT specials) on YouTube.
Thanks, I’m running #3 now — the Roku app didn’t show me which ep number I was getting and I just stuck with it.
Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_FitzAlan,_19th_Earl_of_Arundel#Court_career
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dudley,_1st_Duke_of_Northumberland
John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dudley,_2nd_Earl_of_Warwick
Lady Jane Grey
born 1536 or 1537, executed by Bloody Mary aged 16/17, 12 February 1554
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Jane_Grey
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