Lady Jane Grey Announces her Accession 
to the Throne of England.

Lady Jane Grey married Lord Guilford Dudley on May 21, 1553, when she was only sixteen. When brought before the Council and informed that she was to succeed Edward VI on the Throne of England, she fainted and had to be carried from the Chamber.

The Letter here was written on July 10, 1553, from the Tower of London to William Parr, Marquis of Northampton, announcing her accession as Queen of England and requiring his allegiance and help against the claims to the throne, of Princess Mary, whom Lady Jane Grey calls "the bastard daughter of Henry VIII".

How tragic was the destiny of this charming girl-wife! She was desperately in love with the handsome young husband she had just married, and was forced, through the ambition of her father-in-law, the Earl of Warwick, to ascend the English Throne in defiance of the lawful rights of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, who almost immediately recovered the Crown and ordered Jane and her youthful husband to be beheaded.

After being dethroned and committed to the Tower, this pathetic little nine-day Queen waited a whole year for the hour of her execution. When the headsman came to take her away she murmured with a wan smile: "I knew my cousin Mary had not forgotten me." Then at the last again turning to the executioner: "Do not tremble!..." And she laid her head on the block.

In the accompanying letter addressed "to our right trustie and wellbiloved couysin and Councillor the Lorde Marquess of Northampton, our Lieutenant of our Counties of Surreye, Northampton, Bedford and Berkshire", Lady Jane Grey writes "advertiseng" him that "where it hath pleased Almighty God to call to his mercye out of this lief our derest cousyn the King your Late Sovereigne Lorde, by reason of whereof and such ordonaunces as the said late king did establish in his lief tyme for the securitie and welthe of his realme we are entered into our rightful possession of his kingdom... and by the assent and consent of our said nobles and counsaillors... we doe this daye make our entree into the Tower of London as rightful Queene of this realme... nothing doubting right trusty and wellbiloved but that ye will endeavour yourself in all things to be uttermost of your power, not only to defende our juste title, but also assist us in our rightful possession of this kingdom and to disturbe, repell and resist the faymed and untrewe clayme of the Lady Marye, bastard daughter of our greate uncle Henry the eight of famouse memorye"

(British Museum)

[Grey, Lady Jane (1537-1554), became known as the nine days' queen of England. She was the great granddaughter of Henry VII of England, and daughter of Henry Grey, duke of Suffolk. She studied languages and was considered an unusually accomplished girl. At the age of 16, she married Lord Guildford Dudley, son of the duke of Northumberland.]