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Authors: Carol Mackrodt
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objective in mind. I hide my opinions lest people believe I’m a little strange.
The following day is the 14 th . Many people are out to watch Northumberland’s army leave for Norfolk but there are no cries of support, no cheering from the people along the way. Jane fears an uprising while the Duke is absent and orders the gates of the city to be guarded. She imposes a night time curfew inside the city.
Inside the Tower there’ s an almost unearthly silence now as the counsellors and courtiers sit and wait. Amy and I leave early to avoid being outside during the hours of curfew.
For the next two days the news is just as bad as it could be. Closer to London the people of Buckinghamshire have declared for Queen Mary. Jane is furious and has promised that all traitors will suffer their rightful punishment. The news from the east is even worse. At Framlingham in Suffolk Mary has been inspecting her troops and many of the towns in Norfolk that Robert had rallied to Jane’s cause have now gone over to Mary. But there’s worse to come. News arrives that the crews of five royal ships have mutinied off the coast of Norfolk and have gone over to Mary’s side.
Inside the chamber s of the royal court people say that Jane is sick. She’s complaining that the skin is peeling from her back and blames the evil air in the Tower. But she’s still working furiously, writing and signing letters to sheriffs and justices of the peace to demand that they deal with any subversion. And now it seems that there’s disloyalty within the Tower as well as outside as some members of the Privy Council begin to murmur that all is lost and that Jane’s cause should be abandoned.
Now Jane trusts no one. She orders a strong guard to be mounted around the Tower. When Amy and I try to leave that evening we find the gates locked.
“Open the gates this instance and let us through,” demands Amy imperiously. The guard can see from our clothes that we are high ranking gentlewomen but it makes no difference.
“I’m sorry, my lady, but the gates are now closed until tomorrow by order of the Queen.”
“Do you know who I am?” says Amy heatedly. “I am the daughter-in-law of the Duke. Bring the key immediately.”
But the guard can’t do this. Jane has the key and has taken it to bed with her!
We stand on the green discussing our next move and two young men approach us.
“Do you need a chamber for the night, ladies? We have fine chambers and you are very welcome to share them with us.”
“Go to the devil,” says Amy. “I’d rather sleep here on the green with my head on the block.”
“You may yet do that,” say the impudent pair laughing. “Good night ladies.” They bow and walk away. Another figure is walking towards us. It’s Mary Sidney and she’s crying.
“Oh Mary. What’s the matter?” I ask.
“It’s father,” she says. “There are some scandalous rumours going round court to blacken his name. Some are saying that he’s been plotting with the French to put Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Others say that he plans to give away English towns in France to gain French support and there’s worse still. People are whispering that he’s made Jane ill by poisoning her just as he did with Edward.”
We’re speechless. How can they say that? Moreover who is saying that?
“And Henry,” says Mary referring to her husband, “Says that the situation is turning nasty and I’m to return home at once but now I can’t go beca use the doors are locked. He’ll think me disloyal and disobedient.”
“I’m sure he won’t think that, Mary ,” I say. “Don’t worry, we’ll vouch for you. We’re in the same position and can’t return home
The following day is the 14 th . Many people are out to watch Northumberland’s army leave for Norfolk but there are no cries of support, no cheering from the people along the way. Jane fears an uprising while the Duke is absent and orders the gates of the city to be guarded. She imposes a night time curfew inside the city.
Inside the Tower there’ s an almost unearthly silence now as the counsellors and courtiers sit and wait. Amy and I leave early to avoid being outside during the hours of curfew.
For the next two days the news is just as bad as it could be. Closer to London the people of Buckinghamshire have declared for Queen Mary. Jane is furious and has promised that all traitors will suffer their rightful punishment. The news from the east is even worse. At Framlingham in Suffolk Mary has been inspecting her troops and many of the towns in Norfolk that Robert had rallied to Jane’s cause have now gone over to Mary. But there’s worse to come. News arrives that the crews of five royal ships have mutinied off the coast of Norfolk and have gone over to Mary’s side.
Inside the chamber s of the royal court people say that Jane is sick. She’s complaining that the skin is peeling from her back and blames the evil air in the Tower. But she’s still working furiously, writing and signing letters to sheriffs and justices of the peace to demand that they deal with any subversion. And now it seems that there’s disloyalty within the Tower as well as outside as some members of the Privy Council begin to murmur that all is lost and that Jane’s cause should be abandoned.
Now Jane trusts no one. She orders a strong guard to be mounted around the Tower. When Amy and I try to leave that evening we find the gates locked.
“Open the gates this instance and let us through,” demands Amy imperiously. The guard can see from our clothes that we are high ranking gentlewomen but it makes no difference.
“I’m sorry, my lady, but the gates are now closed until tomorrow by order of the Queen.”
“Do you know who I am?” says Amy heatedly. “I am the daughter-in-law of the Duke. Bring the key immediately.”
But the guard can’t do this. Jane has the key and has taken it to bed with her!
We stand on the green discussing our next move and two young men approach us.
“Do you need a chamber for the night, ladies? We have fine chambers and you are very welcome to share them with us.”
“Go to the devil,” says Amy. “I’d rather sleep here on the green with my head on the block.”
“You may yet do that,” say the impudent pair laughing. “Good night ladies.” They bow and walk away. Another figure is walking towards us. It’s Mary Sidney and she’s crying.
“Oh Mary. What’s the matter?” I ask.
“It’s father,” she says. “There are some scandalous rumours going round court to blacken his name. Some are saying that he’s been plotting with the French to put Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Others say that he plans to give away English towns in France to gain French support and there’s worse still. People are whispering that he’s made Jane ill by poisoning her just as he did with Edward.”
We’re speechless. How can they say that? Moreover who is saying that?
“And Henry,” says Mary referring to her husband, “Says that the situation is turning nasty and I’m to return home at once but now I can’t go beca use the doors are locked. He’ll think me disloyal and disobedient.”
“I’m sure he won’t think that, Mary ,” I say. “Don’t worry, we’ll vouch for you. We’re in the same position and can’t return home
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