The Nine Day Queen - Part Two

Jane informed her parents that she did not want the title. However, she accepted it reluctantly when told that it was "Edward's will." Jane was welcomed to Westminster as the titular Queen of England on 10th July 1553. She was to rule for just nine days!

As for Mary, the one who should have been crowned queen, she had been forewarned and to escape being captured, she fled and went to live in Norfolk.

So what of Northumberland? He had now gained all the power he'd wished for. Now that Jane was queen, his son Guilford, as Jane's husband, would rule as king! He was in the perfect position! Northumberland however, had underestimated England's Parliament.

Northumberland was ordered to seek out and capture Mary. It was while he was away on this mission that Parliament held a secret meeting. Many of the council members had felt bullied by Northumberland into signing the document that eliminated Mary from the throne. Now, they questioned his authority and after some discussion, agreed to pronounce him a traitor and to put Mary back on the throne of England.

Nine days after being announced queen, Jane's father received orders telling him that Jane was to relinquish the title. Jane gave up the title willingly, a title that she had never wanted in the first place. All she wished to do was to return home. Sadly, she would never get that chance.

On July 20th, Northumberland was arrested and Jane, along with her husband Guildford, was taken into custody. They were all imprisoned in The Tower of London. Northumberland, in the hope of securing a pardon from the new queen, denounced his Protestant beliefs. It did him little good. He was executed on August 23rd 1553.

Jane and Guildford meanwhile, on November 13th, were charged with treason and sentenced to death. Mary was reluctant to have Jane executed, and Jane may have escaped her fate, but for the actions of yet another, who once more sealed her doom and forced Mary's hand. Jane's father Henry took part in a rebellion against Queen Mary. It was this act of rebellion that left Mary no choice but to carry out the execution as planned.

Guildford was executed on Tower Hill. Jane, a little before 11 a.m. on February 12th, 1554,was led to the executioner's block within the confines of the Tower itself. Her last words were these: "Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

After her beheading, her head was held aloft with the announcement,

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