A Dangerous Inheritance

Then my father and Pembroke excuse themselves, saying they must join the other privy councillors in the great hall. They will be waiting to attend on the King when he arrives.

Lord Guilford Dudley joins us. As he greets us haughtily, I am struck by his arrogance. But where is Jane?

‘My sister – is she well?’ I ask.

‘Much amended after a fever,’ he replies, but I ca

But where is the King? Why all this pomp and ceremony if he is not here?

Northumberland steers Jane towards the dais. The privy councillors bow as she passes, and suddenly everyone in the room is making an obeisance to her. I am so clean amazed that I forget to follow suit until my mother gives me a sharp pinch.

Jane’s white face registers fright. She trembles and shudders as the Duke hands her up the step to the dais, where she stands, awkwardly self-conscious, looking as if she would rather be anywhere else. She seems not to be aware of any of us.

What is the matter with her? Were all these lords and ladies to bow to me, I should revel in it!

Northumberland turns to face us. His face is solemn.

‘As Lord President of the Council,’ he says gravely, ‘I do now declare to you the death of his most blessed and gracious Majesty, King Edward the Sixth, whom God has now called unto Himself.’

He pauses so that we can digest this heavy news. I find that I too am shaking, for fear of what might happen now that the Lady Mary is queen, and I look back towards the door, expecting her to enter. But why has Jane been brought here?

The Duke tells us that King Edward, in his wisdom, took great care to defend his kingdom from the Popish faith – and to deliver it from the rule of his evil sisters.

I gawp at that. Surely it is rash of the Duke to provoke the Lady Mary by such treasonous words. But there is more …

‘His Majesty intended to pass an Act of Parliament,’ Northumberland continues in ringing, even challenging, tones. ‘He was resolved that whoever acknowledges the Lady Mary and the Lady Elizabeth as heirs of the crown should be accounted traitors; for the Lady Mary was disobedient to him in regard to the true religion. Wherefore in no ma

There is a shocked hush. People glance at each other, stu

Jane – our Queen? I ca

Jane looks as dazed and uncomprehending as I feel; she too is clearly stupefied. But me – I am bursting with excitement and finding it very hard to stand as still as becomes the solemnity of the occasion. No wonder our mother is preening! She knew about this, no doubt, and probably schemed for it – she has ever been ambitious to a fault for her blood. And my father is looking highly satisfied with himself, like a tomcat that has caught a mouse. Father to the Queen! That will suit his vanity.

Jane has still said nothing. Northumberland, with a touch of exasperation in his voice, informs her that her title has been approved by the privy councillors, the peers and all the judges of the land. ‘There is nothing wanting but your Grace’s grateful acceptance!’ He adds that she could never sufficiently thank God, the disposer of crowns and sceptres, for so great a mercy, and should cheerfully take upon her the name, title and estate of queen. Then he falls heavily to his knees and offers her his allegiance, whereupon we all kneel and do her reverence, I still not being able to believe that this is happening.

Jane suddenly keels over in a faint, crumpling in a heap on the dais. I expect people to rush to her aid, but no one moves. I want to go to her, but am paralysed with uncertainty, for if she is queen, her person is sacred, and it would be presumption to touch her. The Duke stands looking down on her. I watch her face, willing her to come to her senses. To my relief, her eyes open and she blinks. Lying on the floor, she starts crying bitterly, making no effort to get up. What on earth is she crying for? She should be rejoicing and praising God to the skies for her great good fortune!

Everyone is silent, waiting for her to compose herself. For several minutes the only sound in the room is Jane’s muffled sobbing – and then my mother’s audible, impatient sigh.

‘She weeps for the King,’ murmurs the Countess of Pembroke.

Jane stops crying. She gets awkwardly to her feet. Her eyes are red and her shoulders shaking, but she faces the Duke with determination.

‘The crown is not my right,’ she declares, her voice surprisingly firm. ‘It pleases me not. The Lady Mary is the rightful heir.’

My gasp is audible in the shocked silence. Northumberland loses patience with Jane. ‘Your Grace does wrong to yourself and to your house!’ he fumes, as our father and mother step forward angrily.

‘Remember your duty to us, your parents!’ my lady snarls. ‘And to my lord Duke here, your father-in-law, and to the King’s will, and to those who are now your subjects!’

‘No,’ Jane says defiantly, just as if she is sparring with our mother over her apparel, as of old.

My mother flares in anger. ‘You owe me obedience, daughter, and you will do as you are told!’

The courtiers are watching, agog.

‘No,’ Jane says again. Northumberland is clearly finding it hard to conceal his fury.

Now Guilford steps forward and bows very low. Rising, he lifts his finger to caress Jane’s tear-stained face and stroke her arm, but she shakes him off.

‘Do as the noble lord my father asks, I pray you,’ he urges. ‘Much good can come of it. We need a new defender for our faith.’

‘Leave me be!’ Jane cries, and falls to her knees, lifting her joined hands. ‘Give me a sign, Lord!’ she beseeches. ‘Tell me what I must do.’

She remains there praying, while the court fidgets with impatience. ‘She’ll have to give in,’ Pembroke mutters. Harry bends to my ear. ‘In truth, I am sorry for your sister. But Guilford is right: she must accept, for the whole realm stands to benefit. Otherwise it will suffer under the Lady Mary.’

‘Of course she should accept it!’ I whisper, and my mother nods.

‘She will,’ she mutters.

Jane is on her feet once more. ‘God in His mercy has not vouchsafed me a sign,’ she says miserably, ‘so I can only conclude that He wishes me to obey the will of my parents, as is laid down in Scripture.’ As my mother huffs in exasperated agreement, Jane bends her head. ‘I accept the crown. I pray that I may govern to God’s glory and service, and to the advantage of the realm.’