This Day in Tudor History

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

From Queen to History

9th July 1553: On this day in history the Duke of Northumberland informed his daughter in law, Lady Jane Grey that the late King Edward VI had declared her to be his lawful heir. At first Lady Jane did not wish to be Queen and declared that Mary Tudor was the rightful heir but she was persuaded and accepted the title.

On this day in history, 9th July...

1539 - Execution of Sir Adrian Fortescue, courtier and landowner, on Tower Hill. He was condemned for treason by act of attainder, but it is not known what he had done to deserve this. He was beatified in 1895 as a martyr, but historian Richard Rex points out that he is unlikely to have opposed Henry VIII's supremacy because he was a cousin of Anne Boleyn.
 

1540 - The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves was declared null and void by convocation.
 

1553 - Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, preached at St Paul’s Cross denouncing Henry VIII’s daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, as bastards. The congregation were "sore annoyed with his words".
 

1553 - The Duke of Northumberland officially informed Lady Jane Grey of Edward VI’s death in front of the Council and nobles, going on to explain the terms of Edward’s will which named Lady Jane Grey as the heir to the throne. Lady Jane Grey accepted that she was Queen.
 

1553 - Mary (future Mary I) wrote to the Privy Council stating her claim to the throne and demanding their allegiance.
 

1575 - Elizabeth I was entertained at Kenilworth Castle by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. It was a special visit in that it lasted nineteen days and was the longest stay at a courtier’s house in any of her royal progresses. See http://www.elizabethfiles.com/elizabeth-is-visit-to-kenilworth-castle/3953/
 

1586 - Death of Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley, soldier and landowner, at Westminster. He was buried in St Margaret's, Westminster.