In Discussion Of The Bill, Members Of Parliament Raised No Objection To This Dual Status Of Elizabeth

In discussion of the bill, members of Parliament raised no objection to this dual status of Elizabeth as illegitimate heir, and the result, as Commendone reported, was that Mary was proclaimed 'the legitimate and true successor...and consequently all other women of Henry concubines and not wives, and their offspring bastards.' In her Queen's Title Act, Mary [...] [took] advantage of a public opportunity to settle old scores against those who had harmed her family.

The Birth of a Queen: Essays on the Quincentenary of Mary I

But I must tell you The Privy Council, despite these recent hurts, have pleaded with me to venture once more into matrimony, in the hope that my bride will produce a legitimate heir.                           I think you know my choice has fallen upon your daughter.

Tamzin Merchant as Katherine Howard in The Tudors (4.01)

Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Lady Jane Grey in Lady Jane (1986).

3 years before his death, Henry VIII made the Third Succession Act of 1544, which restored his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, to the line of succession. Henry’s will stated that if none of his three children should have decadents, the throne would be passed to the heirs of his younger sister, Mary. Lady Jane Grey just happened to be the granddaughter of Mary Tudor.

In the summer of 1553, the 15 year old Edward VI knew he was dying. Knowing that when he shall die, his half sister Mary would ascended to throne, he decided to name his protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey, as his successor instead. Edward wanted to ensure his protestant legacy, and Mary was a devout Roman Catholic.

3 days after the death of Edward VI, Jane was informed that she was now the Queen. There’s no doubt that she was probably surprised by this, and she even stated later that she accepted the crown with reluctance.

On July 10th of 1553, Jane was proclaimed Queen of England, France and Ireland. However, she refused to name her husband, Lord Guilford Dudley, as King. Instead, she only made him Duke of Clarence.

Jane’s time of royalty would not last long, though. As soon as Princess Mary heard of her brothers death, she began to rally supporters for her succession to the throne. There was a plan for troops to capture Mary, but the Privy Council switched their allegiance and proclaimed Mary as Queen.

Jane reigned for just 9 days, and has been given the title of the “Nine-Day Queen.” She is also the shortest reigning monarch in history. On July 19th of 1553, Jane was imprisoned in the Tower of London, as well as her husband. Princess Mary then ascended to the throne to become Queen Mary I.

Jane, her husband, her husbands two brothers, and Thomas Cranmer were all charged with high treason. The trial took place on November 13th of 1553, and all defendants were found guilty. It is likely that Jane would have not been executed if the rebellion of Thomas Wyatt the Younger didn’t happen, but fate seemed to have been going downhill for Jane, and quickly. Her sentence was to be “burned alive on Tower Hill or beheaded as the Queen pleases”.

On the morning of February 12th of 1554, Jane was taken to Tower Green for her execution, just after her husband. While upon the scaffold she gave this speech: “Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact, indeed against the Queen’s highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day.”

Jane then handed her gloves and handkerchief to her maid, and the executioner asked her for forgiveness, which she granted. She said to him, “I pray you dispatch me quickly.” She then asked, “Will you take it off before i lay me down?” The execution answered, “No, madam.” Jane blindfolded herself, but then failed to find the block with her hands. She cried out, “What shall I do? Where is it?” The Deputy Lieutenant of the Tower helped her find her way to it. Jane then laid her head on the block, speaking the words: “Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit!”

Jane and her husband were buried in unmarked graves in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula on the north side of Tower Green. She was just 16 or 17 years old when she died.

“The relationship between Anne and Henry was always tempestuous. Her outspokenness and involvement in politics did not make her an easy spouse; there was a great deal of love but also a great deal of temper. And Anne, for all her declamations, was less confident than she seemed. There had been many attacks on her and she stood at the centre of a storm that showed no signs of abating.”

— Linda Porter

Today in Tudor History: Anne Boleyn is crowned at Westminster Abbey (June 1st, 1533)