The Holy State, Book 4 · Chapter 14
JANE GRAY proclaimed Queen of England wife to the Lord GILFORD DUDLEY. She was beheaded on Tower-hill in London Februarie ye 12. 1553. at 18 yeares of Age. W.M. sculp
CHAP. 14. The life of Ladie Jane GREY.
JAne Grey, eldest daughter of Henry Grey Marquesse of Dorset, and Duke of Suffolk, by Francis Brandon eldest daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk, and Mary his wife youngest daughter to King Henry the seventh, was by her parents bred according to her high birth in Religion and Learning. They were no whit indulgent to her in her childhood, but extremely severe, more then needed to so sweet a temper; for what need iron instruments to bow wax?
But as the sharpest winters (correcting the ranknesse of the earth) cause the more healthfull and fruitfull summers; so the harshnesse of her breeding compacted her soul to the greater patience and pietie, so that afterwards she proved the miroir of her age, and attained to be an excellent Scholar through the teaching of Mr Elmer her Master.
Once Mr Roger Ascham, coming to wait on her at Broad-gates in Leicestershire, found her in her chamber reading *Ascham's Schoolmaster, lib. 1. fol. 10.Phoedon-Platonis in Greek, with as much delight as some Gentleman would have read a merry tale in Bocchace, Whilest the Duke her father with the Dutchesse and all their houshold were hunting in the Park: He askt of her, how she could lose such pastime? who smiling answered, I wisse all the sport in the Park is but the shadow of what pleasure I find in this book, adding moreover, that one of the greatest blessings God ever gave her, was in sending her sharp parents, and a gentle Schoolmaster, which made her take delight in nothing so much as in her studies.
About this time John Dudley Duke of Northumberland projected for the English Crown: But being too low to reach it in his own person, having no advantage of royall birth, a match was made betwixt Guilford his fourth sonne, and this Lady Jane; the Duke hoping so to reigne in his daughter-in-law, on whom King Edward the sixth by will, passing by his own sisters, had entayled the Crown: And not long after that godly King, who had some defects, but few faults (and those rather in his age then person) came to his grave: it being uncertain whether he went, or was sent thither. If the latter be true, the crying of this Saint under the Altar, beneath which he was buried in King Henries Chappell (without any other monument, then that of his own virtues) hath been heard long since for avenging his bloud.
Presently after Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen of England.1553 She lifted not up her least finger to put the Diadem on her self, but was onelyonly contented to sit still, whilest others endeavoured to Crown her; or rather was so farre from biting at the bait of Sovereignty, that unwillingly she opened her mouth to receive it.
Then was the Duke of Northumberland made Generall of an Army, and sent into Suffolk to suppresse the Lady Marie, who there gathered men to claim the Crown. This Duke was appointed out of the policie of his friend-seeming enemies for that employment: For those who before could not endure the scorching heat of his displeasure at the Counsell-table, durst afterwards oppose him, having gotten the skreen of London-walls betwixt him and them. They also stinted his journeys every day (thereby appointing the steps by which he was to go down to his own grave) that he should march on very slowly, which caused his confusion. For lingring doth tire out treacherous designes, which are to be done all on a sudden, and gives breath to loyalty to recover it self.
His army like a sheep left part of his fleece on every bush it came by, at every stage and corner some conveying themselves from him, till his Souldiers were wash'd away before any storm of warre fell upon them. OnelyOnly some few, who were chain'd to the Duke by their particular engagements, and some great Persons hopelesse to conceal themselves, as being too bigge for a cover, stuck fast unto him. Thus those enterprises need a strong hand which are thrown against the bias of peoples hearts and consciences. And not long after the Norfolk and Suffolk Protestant Gentry (Loyalty alwayes lodgeth in the same breast with true Religion) proclaimed and set up Queen Marie, who got the Crown by Our Father, and held it by Pater noster.
Then was the late Queen, now Lady Jane Grey, brought from a Queen to a prisoner, and committed to the Tower. She made misery it self amiable by her pious and patient behaviour: Adversity, her nightclothes, becoming her as well as her day-dressing, by reason of her pious deportment.
During her imprisonment many moved her to alter her religion, and especially Mr Fecnam sent unto her by Queen Mary: but how wisely and religiously she answer'd him, I referre the Reader to Mr Fox,*Acts & Monum. pag 1419. & deinceps. where it is largely recorded.
And because I have mentioned that Book, wherein this Ladyes virtues are so highly commended, I am not ignorant that of late great disgrace hath been thrown on that Authour, and his worthy Work, as being guilty of much falsehood: chiefly because sometimes he makes Popish Doctours, well known to be rich in learning, to reason very poorely, and the best Fencers of their Schools worsted and put out of their play by some countrey poore Protestants. But let the cavillers hereat know, that it is a great matter to have the oddes of the weapon, Gods word on their side; not to say any thing of supernaturall assistance given them. Sure for the main, his Book is a worthy work (wherein the Reader may rather leave then lack) and seems to me, like Aetna, alwayes burning, whilest the smoke hath almost put out the eyes of the adverse party, and these Foxes firebrands have brought much annoyance to the Romish Philistines. But it were a miracle if in so voluminous a work there were nothing to be justly reproved; so great a Pomgranate not having any rotten kernell must onelyonly grow in paradise. And though perchance he held the beam at the best advantage for the Protestant party to weigh down, yet generally he is a true Writer, and never wilfully deceiveth, though he may sometimes be unwillingly deceived.
To return to the Lady Jane: Though Qu…en Marie of her own disposition was inclined finally to pardon her, yet necessity of State was such, as she must be put to death. Some report her to have been with child when she was beheaded (cruelty to cut down the tree with blossomes on it) and that that which hath saved the life of many women hastned her death; but God onelyonly knows the truth hereof. On Tower-hill she most patiently,1553. Feb. 12. Christianly, and constantly yielded to God her soul, which by a bad way went to the best end. On whom the foresaid Authour (whence the rest of her life may be supplied) bestows these verses,
Nescio tu quibus es, Lector, lecturus ocellis:
Hoc scio, quod siccis scribere non potui.
What eyes thou readst with, Reader, know I not:
Mine were not dry, when I this story wrote.
She had the innocency of childhood, the beauty of youth, the solidity of middle, the gravity of old age, and all at eighteen: the birth of a Princesse, the learning of a Clerk, the life of a Saint, yet the death of a Malefactour, for her parents offenses. I confesse, I never read of any canonized Saint of her name, a thing whereof some Papists are so scrupulous, that they count it an unclean and unhallowed thing to be of a name whereof never any Saint was: which made that great Jesuit Arthur Faunt (as his *Burton of Leicestershire pag. 105.kinsman tell's us) change his Christian name to Laurence. But let this worthy Lady passe for a Saint; and let all great Ladyes, which bear her name, imitate her virtues, to whom I wish her inward holinesse, but farre more outward happinesse.
Yet lest Goodnesse should be discouraged by this Ladyes infelicity, we will produce another example, which shall be of a fortunate virtue.