Family Ancestry: History: Tudor: England: Edward V I:

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Edward VI of England

More than twenty five years has been desperately waited by King Henry VIII to have a son. It was a gladly celebration after Jane Seymour, wife of Henry VIII give birth to a child named Edward VI whose baptism was held at the Hampton Court chapel in a grandeur ceremony. Soon Queen Jane became ill and died shortly in October 24, left Edward raised and took care by Mother Jack, his nurse together with some of the servants.

After the death of Edward's mother, his father Henry VIII stayed single for almost two years giving thought to all people that he still honestly and purely expresses great sorrow for her. However, a confidential agent named Thomas Cromwell was hired to start seeking information about a possible candidate of foreign bride for Henry VIII. The split-up of England from Rome left Henry detached and weak that is why he also took his ministers to find her a bride that could strengthen the treaty between his country. The efforts of agents and his ministers were not enough until he also wanted painters to bring him some pictures and images of the possible women. It was in 1539 when the famous painter of Tudor court Hans Holbein, painted the sisters of the Duke of CLeves that makes Henry a decision to sign a contract for his marriage with Anne. But it was a great surprised for King Henry VIII to thrown out Anne of Cleves after finding her ugly in personal compared to her portrait. Again, another marriage also ended badly to Catherine Howard when she was punished for adultery. There were many more relationship were reported after the two most controversial marriages happened in the life of Henry VIII.

Only in 1543 when King Henry VIII found a loving mother to Edward in the arms of Catherine Parr, the very last to all of his six wives. She was not only a woman that took care of Henry's poor health and old age that greatly improved his current condition but also played important role in managing Edward's education. Through tutors, Prince Edwards was given too much attention on geography, political issues, history of past events and different languages as well as on social behavior and conducts, music and sports. To apportion his education, King Henry agreed a benefit for fourteen children to accompany Edward for his studies. Barnaby Fitzpatick became Prince Edward most favorite friend that appoints him to become the punisher of the hard to deal port. Edward grown into a studious and sincere person, sometimes he also displays a wild and cruel anger even in directed forward of his tutors or any other people that he is capable of tearing a bird into pieces. On the other side, he was very affectionate to his half sister Elizabeth than that of Mary.

Prince Edward became a King when his father, King Henry VIII died in 1547 but a council was elected to rule first because he is still under legal age. Likewise, Edward Seymour, the uncle of Edward VI wanted to become the defender of the Kingdom and the King thus, he gave trust to William Paget to keep the last will and testament of King Henry VIII without having purpose of letting other people know until he had taken dominion of King Edward VI and convey him to go in London. Together with his sister Elizabeth and the legislative body of Enfield, Seymour proclaimed the death of their father and expressed formal and deep respect to Edward as the new King. The death of Henry VIII brought sorrows and grief not only to his children but also to all servants that made consciousness to their adjusted roles and many changes in the closeness of Edward and Elizabeth.

It was on February 17, 1547 when Edward VI was honored and recognized by his uncle Seymour, who himself became the first Duke of Somerset. Jealousy of power and position started to play fool with Edward when Admiral (Somerset's brother) plans to put the power in his hand by fooling to count the good deeds of the young king. Edward VI was almost growing from a child to a man showing indications of becoming responsible and independent of being a King until time came when the King himself established the truth of his wrong doings resulted into his arrest and charges for betrayal of trust. Later, Edward permitted the council to punished Admiral by cutting his head when Edward Seymour doubted to sign the death warrant of his brother. In succeeding years, several death warrants were signed by the fourteen year old Edward to all his uncles but it was proven to be purely of sovereign business as always.

Time has come that Edward VI has already finished his studies and was already taking part on some acquaintances that it was concluded that at the age of sixteen, he will be the one to take over the rule for the country. This was really a bad report for Mary, who was that time a devotee of Catholic who decline to follow reforms on preaching and practices made by Edward while, got a total sympathy form his sister Elizabeth, a moderate believer of Protestant. Different form his father attitudes, Edward shows little interest on sports but prefers to practice more in knowledge and intellect during his spare time that have been noted by some Kings as a Christian King with excellent education. He also mastered the history, geography, religion but above all he knew sacred writings of the old and new testaments for he's passionate enough to hear religious discourse from preachers.

King Edward VI health refuses and weakened after suffering from small pox in a period of time that in the spring of April 1552, he was obviously dying of tuberculosis of the lungs. Mary should be the next Queen if Edward will die without having any children according to his father will but, Northumberland convinced him that Jean Grey will be his next successor. At the age of 16, King Edward VI died after conversing in whisper his last prayer to God.

Original Authors: Phil Post
Edit Update Authors: None
Updated On: 24/01/2007



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