Changes

==Reign==

==Reign==

===Proclaimed Queen===

===Proclaimed Queen===

As King Edward lay dying, Dudley [[Duke of Northumberland]], who had always snubbed his heir Mary, realized that all his plans would go awry and he himself might well be executed or killed if she succeded.  Therefore, he convinced Edward (a strong Protestant who had sponsored the [[Book of Common Prayer]]) that it was his responsibility to ensure, by whatever means necessary, that no Roman Catholic ascend the throne.  As there was no time to summon [[Parliament]], Edward himself disinherited both his sisters under the excuse that Parliament had previously declared them illegitimate.  The throne would then pass to Jane Grey.  Upon hearing this, the Lord Chief Justice immediately protested that it was illegal - only Parliament could change the succession! Only when Edward accused him of treason did he and the rest of the Council sign this "devise."  Less than a month later, Edward died.

As King Edward lay dying, Dudley [[Duke of Northumberland]], who had always snubbed Edward's half-sister and heir Mary, realized that all his plans would go awry and he himself might well be executed or killed if she succeeded.  Therefore, he convinced Edward (a strong Protestant who had sponsored the [[Book of Common Prayer]]) that it was his responsibility to ensure, by whatever means necessary, that no Roman Catholic ascend the throne.  As there was no time to summon [[Parliament]], Edward himself disinherited both his sisters under the excuse that Parliament had previously declared them illegitimate.  The throne would then pass to Jane Grey.  Upon hearing this, the Lord Chief Justice immediately protested that it was illegal - only Parliament could change the succession. Only when Edward accused him of treason did he and the rest of the Council sign this "devise."  Less than a month later, Edward died.

Dudley had kept the king's illness secret, so Jane (whose parents, at Dudley's urging, had forced her to marry his son Guilford) had no idea what had happened when she was summoned to the court at Syon House and proclaimed Queen of England.  She burst into tears at the announcement, soon pulling herself together to declare, "The crown is not my right, and pleaseth me not.  The Lady Mary is the rightful heir."  Then she sank to her knees in prayer while the entire Council tried to cajole her.  Finally, she prayed aloud, "If what hath been given to me is lawfully mine, may Thy divine Majesty grant me such grace that I may govern to Thy glory and service, to the advantage of the realm."

Dudley had kept the king's illness secret, so Jane (whose parents, at Dudley's urging, had forced her to marry his son Guilford) had no idea what had happened when she was summoned to the court at Syon House and proclaimed Queen of England.  She burst into tears at the announcement, soon pulling herself together to declare, "The crown is not my right, and pleaseth me not.  The Lady Mary is the rightful heir."  Then she sank to her knees in prayer while the entire Council tried to cajole her.  Finally, she prayed aloud, "If what hath been given to me is lawfully mine, may Thy divine Majesty grant me such grace that I may govern to Thy glory and service, to the advantage of the realm."