10 July 1553 A.D. Lady Jane Grey’s Proclamation

10 July 1553 A.D.  Lady Jane Grey’s Proclamation

Graves, Dan. “Lady Jane’s Proclamation.” Christianity.com.  Jul 2007.  http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1501-1600/lady-janes-proclamation-11629983.html.  Accessed 8 May 2014.

Fifteen-year-old Jane was uneasy. Do I even have a right to the throne? she asked herself. Like everyone in England she knew that her great uncle, King Henry VIII, had willed the crown first to his son Edward (who now was dead) then to his daughter Mary, and lastly to his daughter Elizabeth. This arrangement had the approval of Parliament. And yet, Jane was faced with a page of signatures saying that King Edward had changed Henry's arrangement. Jane was to be queen, he wrote. Yes, his sixteen year old cousin, Lady Jane Grey, with whom he sympathized in ardent Protestant faith. His advisors agreed, although some, like Archbishop Cranmer, did so most reluctantly; but Jane was not told that.

So when her power-mad family announced that she was to be queen, she fell down and wept uncontrollably. "No," she said. Not only did she doubt it was legal, she knew how wretched she would be under the thumbs of the in-laws she detested. The Duke of Northumberland, her father-in-law, was the mastermind behind this plot, and it was not out of love for her he wanted to see her queen; he desired chiefly to protect his own influence.

The arm-twisting of her harsh parents and overbearing father-in-law finally beat down Jane's resistance. "All right," she agreed. But she absolutely refused any suggestion that her husband, the cruel Lord Guildford Dudley, reign with her. What a misery that would be!

Toward evening on this day, the 10th of July, four days after Edward died, Jane proceeded to the Tower of London with a great company of lords and nobles. She was dressed in Tudor green and white. The duchess, her mother, bore the train of her dress.

Jane was proclaimed queen. There was celebration in London. Guns were fired. Heralds proceeded through town with a trumpet blowing, proclaiming Mary Tudor illegitimate.

The proclamation was of no more value than the paper it was written on. The nation hated Northumberland and rallied behind Mary. Nine days later, Mary rode into London and Jane's brief reign ended. She was thrust into prison. No doubt Mary would have spared her cousin had Jane's family stepped quietly aside. But, when Jane's father participated in a rebellion, Jane had to go.

She was brought to the platform where she was to be beheaded. There she declared, "Good people, I am come here to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same." She acknowledged that in consenting to become queen she acted treasonously, but insisted that she never sought the crown. It was forced on her.

She had written to a sister: "Now, as touching my death, rejoice as I do, my dearest sister, that I shall be delivered of this corruption, and put on incorruption; for I am assured that I shall for losing a mortal life win one that is immortal, joyful and everlasting..."

After reciting a psalm in English, her last words before the executioner struck off her head, were: "Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit."

Bibliography:

1.      Bainton, Roland H. Women of the Reformation in France and England. Boston: Beacon Press, 1973.

2.      Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Mary. http://tudorhistory.org/primary/janemary/contents.html

3.      Durant, Will. The Reformation. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1957, especially pp. 586, 587, 593.

4.      Fuller, Thomas. "The Life of Ladie Jane Grey." The Holy State and the Profane State Volume II. New York: Columbia University Press, 1938, p. 307ff.

5.      Tudor England, 1485-1603. http://englishhistory.net/tudor.html.

6.      Various encyclopedia and internet articles.

Last updated June, 2007.

12 Feb 1554: Lady Jane Grey Schools Anglo-Italian Inquisitor Re: Sacraments

Justin Taylor|10:04 pm CT


http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/09/18/how-a-16-year-old-girl-explained-the-sacraments-to-a-catholic-interrogator-in-1554/

How a 16-Year-Old Girl Explained the Sacraments to a Catholic Interrogator in 1554

In early 1554 Queen Mary I sent John de Feckenham to seek to persuade her 16-year-old Protestant cousin, the Lady Jane Grey, of the truth of the Catholic faith, thereby avoiding execution. Feckenham was unsuccessful, and she was beheaded February 12, 1554.




After dialoging about justification by faith, they turned to the subject of the sacraments:




Feckenham. — How many sacraments are there?




Lady Jane. — Two; the one the sacrament of Baptism, and the other the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.




Feckenham. — No, there are seven.




Lady Jane. — By what scripture find you that?




Feckenham. — Well, we will talk of that hereafter. But what is signified by your two sacraments?

Lady Jane. — By the sacrament of Baptism I am washed with water, and regenerated by the Spirit, and that washing is a token to me that I am the child of God. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper offered unto me, is a sure seal and testimony that I am, by the blood of Christ which he shed for me on the cross, made partaker of the everlasting kingdom.

Feckenham. — Why, what do you receive in that sacrament? Do you not receive the very body and blood of Christ?


Lady Jane. — No, surely, I do not so believe. I think that at the supper I neither receive flesh nor blood, but bread and wine, which bread, when it is broken, and which wine, when it is drunken, putteth me in remembrance how that for my sins the body of Christ was broken, and his blood shed on the cross, and with that bread and wine I receive the benefits that came by the breaking of his body, and shedding his blood for our sins on the cross.

Feckenham. — Why, doth not Christ speak these words, Take, eat, this is my body? Require you any plainer words? Doth he not say, it is his body?




Lady Jane. — I grant he saith so; and so he saith, ‘I am the vine, I am the door’: but he is never the more the door nor the vine. Doth not St. Paul say. He calleth things that are not, as though they were? God forbid that I should say that I eat the very natural body and blood of Christ; for then either I should pluck away my redemption, or else there were two bodies, or two Christs. One body was tormented on the cross, and if they did eat another body, then had he two bodies; or if his body were eaten, then was it not broken on the cross; or if it were broken on the cross, it was not eaten of his disciples.
Feckenham. — Why, is it not as possible that Christ by his power could make his body both to be eaten and broken, and to be born of a woman without man, as to walk upon the sea having a body,and other such like miracles as he wrought by his power only?

Lady Jane. — Yes verily. If God would have done at bis supper any miracle, he might have done so; but I say that then he minded to work no miracle, but only to break his body, and to shed his blood on the cross for our sins. But I pray you to answer me to this one question. Where was Christ when he said, “Take, eat, this is my body”? Was he not at the table when he said so? He was at that time alive, and suffered not till the next day. What took he but bread? What brake he but bread? Look, what be took he brake, and look, what he brake he gave, and look, what he gave they did eat; and yet, all this time he himself was alive, and at supper before his disciples, or else they were deceived.

For an introduction to the moving story of this young woman’s life and testimony, see Simonetta Carr’s new Lady Jane Grey. You can see a brief overview below, along with some of the artwork from the book.




A nice scholarly website with primary source material can be found here.






For an accessible book, see Faith Cook’s The Nine Day Queen of England: Lady Jane Grey.

And you can find a nice overview of her life and witness in this lecture by Michael A.G. Haykin.

Children's Books: Polycarp, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, Charlemagne, Calvin, & Lady Jane Grey

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA: THE MAN WHOSE FAITH LASTED tells the story of a hero. He was a follower of Jesus Christ. He loved and served his Lord for over eighty years. And from the beginning to the end - his faith lasted.

http://www.amazon.com/Polycarp-Smyrna-Heroes-Sinclair-Ferguson/dp/1848710925/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y
 

IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH

IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH - THE MAN WHO FACED LIONS is the story of a hero. He was a follower of Jesus Christ. He was prepared to live and die for his Lord. And one day - he faced lions.

http://www.amazon.com/Ignatius-Antioch-Heroes-Sinclair-Ferguson/dp/1848710933/ref=pd_sim_b_2 

  

IRENAEUS OF LYONS

IRENAEUS OF LYONS: THE MAN WHO WROTE BOOKS tells the story of a hero. He was a follower of Jesus Christ. He served him far away from home. And to help his fellow Christians - he wrote books.

http://www.amazon.com/Irenaeus-Lyons-Heroes-Sinclair-Ferguson/dp/1848710941/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y 

  

ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA

http://www.amazon.com/Athanasius-Christian-Biographies-Young-Readers/dp/1601781512/ref=pd_sim_b_5 

"A complex and fascinating character, Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, is best remembered as the Father of Orthodoxy, upholding the doctrine of the Trinity against the Arian heresy. In the newest addition to the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series, author Simonetta Carr introduces children to the life and times of this important church father who tirelessly defended the Nicene Creed, which many of us today recite as a confession of our faith. Born during the Great Persecution, forced five times to leave his church and city, and constantly threatened by those who tried to ruin his reputation, Athanasius provides an example of godly faithfulness. Beautiful illustrations and a winsome, simply written narrative will bring the Nicene Creed to life for children of all ages, prompting relevant discussions on the divinity of Christ and the importance of creeds and confessions."

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

http://www.amazon.com/Augustine-Hippo-Christian-Biographies-Readers/dp/1601780737/ref=pd_sim_b_1 

"Outside of the people in the Bible, Augustine of Hippo is the most influential person in church history. Yet how many people know his story? In this book, Simonetta Carr introduces young readers to the life and ministry of Augustine. Readers will come to know Augustine's personal struggles and the high value he came to place on the Bible and truth. Readers will also see the difficult days in which Augustine lived, learning about his disputes with false teachers and the turbulent times during the fall of the Roman Empire. This volume is vividly illustrated, simply written, and full of interesting facts. It is written for young readers, but is sure to capture the interests of the whole family." 

CHARLEMAGNE OF EUROPE

http://www.amazon.com/Charlemagne-Early-Middle-Rulers-Their/dp/0761414878/ref=pd_sim_b_99

Grade 5-8: This attractive volume doubles as a biography of Charlemagne and an overview of everyday life during his reign. Part one covers the ruler's life and period in power while the second section includes chapters on "The Christian Church," "Education," "A Variety of Crafts," and other topics. Unfortunately, Greenblatt makes several errors in discussing Charlemagne's family. A final section contains poems, oaths, spells, letters, and historical accounts. Quality, full-color reproductions of period art illustrate the text and one inadequate map is included. Sources for quotations are noted. Timothy L. Biel's Charlemagne (Lucent, 1997), for older students, is a thorough and readable study but also contains errors. Fiona Macdonald's The World in the Time of Charlemagne (Dillon, 1998; o.p.) is similar in format to Greenblatt's work but encompasses the entire globe, making it less pertinent for those interested primarily in European activities.
Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

CALVIN OF GENEVA

http://www.amazon.com/Calvin-Christian-Biographies-Young-Readers/dp/1601780559/ref=pd_sim_b_2

“This helps young readers study the life, thought, and work of one of the most famous Reformers of the Christian church. She tells about the life of John Calvin from his birth to his death, placing him within the troubled context of the sixteenth century. She also introduces Calvin s writings in a way that children will desire to know more about his ministry and influence. Readers will come to know Calvin s personality, his devotion to God and the church, and the personal challenges he faced. They will understand the struggles the early Reformed church faced at that time, not only surviving attacks of the Roman Catholic Church, but also achieving a clear identity and a unified doctrine. They will also have a glimpse of life in sixteenth-century Europe, stricken by pestilence, poverty, and wars. Simply written, and full of interesting facts, this book makes a great gift for children of this rich Reformed heritage.” 

LADY JANE GREY OF ENGLAND

http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Christian-Biographies-Young-Readers/dp/1601781903/ref=pd_sim_b_4

“Lady Jane Grey has been admired for generations for her courage and faithfulness to the gospel even though she was executed for treason at the age of sixteen. In this addition to the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series, Simonetta Carr tells Lady Jane Grey's story of intrigue and explains its context: the tumultuous politics of Reformation England. Maps, photographs, and beautiful illustrations decorate the narrative, helping young readers visualize what life was like in sixteenth-century England. More importantly, they will learn the story of an extraordinary young girl who understood that she was saved only by the mercy of God and the merits of the blood of Jesus Christ.”