Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey (13 page)

"Northumberland has informed Princess Elizabeth of her brother's death."

I wondered how Elizabeth was feeling.

"Princess Mary slept last night at Euston Hall, near Thetford, the home of a friend. She now travels disguised as a serving maid. A courier of Northumberland's intercepted her and told her that she cannot hope to prevail against Northumberland. That she cannot escape from England because the way is barred by warships on the eastern coast."

I knew Mary well enough to reason that, told such, she would only press on harder to her goal.

Northumberland did not know her. He only thought he did.

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The next day I had another caller: Lady Mary Sydney, daughter of Northumberland. She came by way of the river, with a retinue of ladies.

"It is necessary that you come with me immediately," she said when I had received her. "We must go on to Syon House, my father s mansion at Isleworth on the Thames.''

"Why?" I inquired.

"Don't ask, just do as you are told," my mother said. Then she ordered one of my ladies to pack some of my things. I should have been suspicious of something, because my best dresses were packed with care. And in a short time I found myself on Lady Mary's barge along with Mother and Mrs. Tilney, to take the water to Syon House.

Mother would not tell us why we were being taken there. And we did not press her to know. But she had a pleased smile on her face that made me suspect they were all in congress about something.

The sun was hot on the water, in spite of the silk canopy over us. A musician on board played the lute skillfully. We passed the gilded barge of the Lord Mayor and he waved at us. Seagulls

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swooped and cried overhead, following us, as if to say, "Beware, Lady Jane, beware."

I tried to keep from being frightened. I was Protestant, so I knew I was safe, but all kinds of people were being moved about on Northumberland's chessboard since Edward's death.

On the shore, farmers and their helpers came to the water's edge, waving at us, knowing we were somehow connected to royalty. The girls threw flowers into the water. I waved back.

When we arrived at the water gate for Syon House, we were greeted respectfully by Northumberland's servants. They helped us out of the barge, Mother first. And we made our way up the steps and into the great hall of the house.

At first it seemed deserted except for a few stray servants who brought us wine and sweetmeats.

"It is requested that all of you wait here, madam," one of the servants said. And she left us.

I looked around at the Persian carpets, the magnificent tapestries.

"This used to be a convent," Lady Mary told me.

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Tes,

I thought.

One of the many seized by Henry VIII and now by Northumberland

Soon we heard footsteps echoing on the marble hall floors, and Northumberland, my father, and the whole of the Privy Council came into the room to join us. Helios were said but the Council and Northumberland stood a way apart, discussing something in low voices. Then my husband, Guildford Dudley, came running into the room, late and apologizing.

His father gestured to him, and he came to my side and bowed. "Good morrow, Lady Jane."

"Good morrow," I said.

He stood to one side of me, my mother to the other, waiting. It seemed like everyone was waiting and everyone but me knew what they were waiting for.

Northumberland gave the faintest of signals with his head and then two of the Council, Pembroke and Huntingdon, came over to speak to me. I raised my head to listen.

But they did not speak.

They knelt. They called me their sovereign lady. I thought they were mad to give me such honor. I looked at my mother and she shrugged.

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I looked at Guildford and he smiled.

Northumberland and the rest of the council were smiling too.

"Is there something you are not telling me, my lords?" I asked. "Why do you do me this semblance of honor? I am not your sovereign lady."

"Ah, but you are, Lady Jane." Northumberland stepped forward a pace or two.

He paused and said something to one of the council, who immediately left the room. Then he proceeded to approach me and extended 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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--

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"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 conducting a most dolorous Inquisition, killing all who are not of their faith. We will have an Inquisition in England, and all of us will die if Mary is named Queen. It is your duty, child."

"What about Elizabeth?" I asked.

"You know those who would make Mary Queen believe that Elizabeth is illegitimate," my father said soothingly. "You learned this at your mother's knee."

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They made sense, but I could not be sure. I needed time.

"And, as daughter of a princess, your mother has waived her right to the throne so it may go to you," my father added, making me feel twice as guilty.

"I have to pray," I said. It was the only way to get time.

All nodded and agreed, and I knelt down on the floor right there and bowed my head. But I could not pray. All I could do was try to stop my head from spinning.

Jane Grey, Queen of England!

I had freckles. I had sandy hair. I was too short. Would my feet even touch the floor if I sat on the throne? What would I do as ruler? What did queens do all day long? I knew that kings went hunting, pursued women, played at cards, jousted in tornaments, and signed death warrants.

Kings also roared when angry, ate great amounts of food, ordered court entertainments. How could I do all those things?

Who would listen to a woman, much less a short, freckle-faced girl? What did I know of

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matters of state, the doings of the Privy Council, foreign ambassadors?

These people were all addled in the head.

But what would happen if I refused?

Elizabeth would reign. And Mary would try to dispose of her, and they would end up killing each other. Then I'd have to be Queen anyway. And I'd have two dead princesses on my conscience.

But what would keep Mary from trying to dispose of me? She could put spies in my court. I could be poisoned. They could loosen the cinch of my saddle when I rode, and I could fall and break my neck.

I shivered and looked at Northumberland, who was eyeing me darkly. "Who will protect me if Mary decides to do away with me?" I asked.

"You heard, Jane. All of us are willing to spill blood for you."

"I will protect you." Guildford squatted down next to me.

Well, that counted for nothing. All he wanted was to be King. That was why Northumberland had had us wed. He'd been planning this all along.

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"I know nothing about matters of state," I told Northumberland.

"Your Privy Council runs things."

I sighed. I felt like a dog in a bear-baiting contest, running around with no way out. There was no way out. I knew that now. Well, I might as well act graciously and not disgrace my family. Besides, mother would whip me if I did.

"May I still study as I wish?" I asked Northumberland.

"You may study to your heart's content, Lady Jane. And let us worry how to run the kingdom."

That was what he wanted of course, to run the kingdom. Well, what could I do about it, I, just a girl? If I refused, he might maneuver to make his son Guildford King, and I didn't want that. I sighed deeply. If the country was going to hell, I might as well be on the throne as anyone else. I could keep some fairness alive.

"Think," my mother said, "think of all the Protestants who will not be burned at the stake because you are on the throne. Think of how they will be destroyed if Mary takes over."