Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey by Ann Rinaldi Page B
Book: Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey by Ann Rinaldi
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Authors: Ann Rinaldi
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his arm. "Come with me, Lady Jane. Do not be fearful, child."
But I was fearful. Northumberland was up to some terrible mischief. I knew that. And he had made me part of it. I took his arm and we all walked slowly into another great room even more lavishly decorated.
In the middle of the room was a chair with a rich canopy over it. He led me to the chair. My mother-in-law was waiting in this room and a number of other noble persons. As Northumberland led me to the chair, they started to bow and curtsey to me.
159
I stopped. "Wait. You must tell me what this is all about," I begged. "Why is everyone doing me such reverence?"
Northumberland gave a great sigh and commenced to speak as if he'd been waiting a long time for this. "As President of the Council I do now declare the death of his most blessed and gracious Majesty, King Edward VI. He shall be sorely missed."
Murmurs of assent from all in the room.
Northumberland continued. I don't recollect half he said. It was all about defending the kingdom from the popish faith and the rule of the King's evil sisters. It was about my mother, graciously waiving her right to the throne. And then:
"His Majesty hath named your grace as heir to the crown of England. Your sisters will succeed you in the case of your default of issue."
The floor moved beneath my feet. My head felt light. The numerous candles hurt my eyes. Peoples' faces wavered in front of me.
Northumberland was still going on. About God now, and how He was the sovereign and disposer of all crowns and scepters, and how He had advanced me.
160
Then, of a sudden, all in the room knelt before me. Even my mother and father who had slapped and scolded me so.
Northumberland assured me that each one in the room would shed blood for me. Gladly.
It was then that I fainted.
161
EIGHTEEN
N
obody approached me as I lay on the floor in a faint. I became conscious soon enough, but still lay there, with no strength to rise.
My mother's voice came to me through a mist in front of my eyes and what seemed like a hood over my ears. "Get up, Jane. We raised you better than that. "
If I was Queen, how could she scold me, was my only thought. Tears came to my eyes then.
Why were these people tormenting me?
was all I could think. I had done everything they wanted, hadn't I?
Then Guildford knelt over me. He was all dressed in white, gold, and silver. "Jane. Wife.
162
Get up. You are Queen now. Your subjects await you.
He helped me to my feet. The only reason I let him was because I was starting to feel silly prone on the floor with everybody staring at me. I stood and shook off Guildford's hand on my arm.
"God save you, Jane Grey," Northumberland said. "God save the Queen."
They'd all gotten to their feet and were staring at me. "I am not the Queen," I said in a tremulous voice. "I am only a girl of fifteen."
"Edward was fifteen and just coming into his majority when he died," Northumberland reminded me.
"The crown is not my right. I don't want it. Princess Mary is the rightful heir."
Anger set Northumberland's face in hard lines. He was not accustomed to being argued with. "Your Grace does wrong to herself and to her house!"
Then he turned to my parents. "You said the girl was brought up to this. You said she would be amenable."
"Jane Grey"--my mother spoke sharply--
163
"do not disgrace yourself, your family, your father and your mother. We have brought you up to be an obedient daughter. And anyway, the matter of your inheriting the crown was in Edward's will! He wanted you as Queen. Do you deny him?"
I said nothing. "Be brave" was the message he had sent me with Dr. Banister.
"You professed your love for him while he lived, and now you denounce his wishes, when he is not here to defend them?"
My father spoke. But softly, as he always did. "Jane, think what will happen if Mary takes the throne. She is Catholic. She must soon, as Queen, wed. She will no doubt pick a Spanish prince. The Spanish have been
But I was fearful. Northumberland was up to some terrible mischief. I knew that. And he had made me part of it. I took his arm and we all walked slowly into another great room even more lavishly decorated.
In the middle of the room was a chair with a rich canopy over it. He led me to the chair. My mother-in-law was waiting in this room and a number of other noble persons. As Northumberland led me to the chair, they started to bow and curtsey to me.
159
I stopped. "Wait. You must tell me what this is all about," I begged. "Why is everyone doing me such reverence?"
Northumberland gave a great sigh and commenced to speak as if he'd been waiting a long time for this. "As President of the Council I do now declare the death of his most blessed and gracious Majesty, King Edward VI. He shall be sorely missed."
Murmurs of assent from all in the room.
Northumberland continued. I don't recollect half he said. It was all about defending the kingdom from the popish faith and the rule of the King's evil sisters. It was about my mother, graciously waiving her right to the throne. And then:
"His Majesty hath named your grace as heir to the crown of England. Your sisters will succeed you in the case of your default of issue."
The floor moved beneath my feet. My head felt light. The numerous candles hurt my eyes. Peoples' faces wavered in front of me.
Northumberland was still going on. About God now, and how He was the sovereign and disposer of all crowns and scepters, and how He had advanced me.
160
Then, of a sudden, all in the room knelt before me. Even my mother and father who had slapped and scolded me so.
Northumberland assured me that each one in the room would shed blood for me. Gladly.
It was then that I fainted.
161
EIGHTEEN
N
obody approached me as I lay on the floor in a faint. I became conscious soon enough, but still lay there, with no strength to rise.
My mother's voice came to me through a mist in front of my eyes and what seemed like a hood over my ears. "Get up, Jane. We raised you better than that. "
If I was Queen, how could she scold me, was my only thought. Tears came to my eyes then.
Why were these people tormenting me?
was all I could think. I had done everything they wanted, hadn't I?
Then Guildford knelt over me. He was all dressed in white, gold, and silver. "Jane. Wife.
162
Get up. You are Queen now. Your subjects await you.
He helped me to my feet. The only reason I let him was because I was starting to feel silly prone on the floor with everybody staring at me. I stood and shook off Guildford's hand on my arm.
"God save you, Jane Grey," Northumberland said. "God save the Queen."
They'd all gotten to their feet and were staring at me. "I am not the Queen," I said in a tremulous voice. "I am only a girl of fifteen."
"Edward was fifteen and just coming into his majority when he died," Northumberland reminded me.
"The crown is not my right. I don't want it. Princess Mary is the rightful heir."
Anger set Northumberland's face in hard lines. He was not accustomed to being argued with. "Your Grace does wrong to herself and to her house!"
Then he turned to my parents. "You said the girl was brought up to this. You said she would be amenable."
"Jane Grey"--my mother spoke sharply--
163
"do not disgrace yourself, your family, your father and your mother. We have brought you up to be an obedient daughter. And anyway, the matter of your inheriting the crown was in Edward's will! He wanted you as Queen. Do you deny him?"
I said nothing. "Be brave" was the message he had sent me with Dr. Banister.
"You professed your love for him while he lived, and now you denounce his wishes, when he is not here to defend them?"
My father spoke. But softly, as he always did. "Jane, think what will happen if Mary takes the throne. She is Catholic. She must soon, as Queen, wed. She will no doubt pick a Spanish prince. The Spanish have been
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