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
