The story of Lady Jane Grey is one of the

most poignant in all of English history. It is

the tragedy of a young girl forced to assume

the throne of England against her will. It is

also the story of a love so great it transcends

the ages.

It was clear in 1553 that Edward VI, the

fifteen-year-old Protestant King of England,

the son of Henry VIII, was dying. To prevent

the Catholic succession of Edward s sister

Mary Tudor, John Dudley, Duke of North-

umberland, persuaded the King to leave the

crown to his cousin Lady Jane Grey.

As part of this scheme, Lady Jane was also

made to marry Guilford Dudley, North-

umberland s son. At seventeen he was an

undisciplined and spoiled wastrel; she was

fifteen, scholarly and serious. Yet the mutual

dislike of the ill-matched couple quickly

grew into passionate love, a love that sur-

vived the ruthless political machinations of

the Tudor court and did not falter, even in the

face of death.

When Mary claimed the throne and North-

umberland s ambitions were thwarted, the

lovers were the innocent victims. Tae.,,, could

have betrayed each other and saved them-

selves, but they remained true--and were

executed on the same day.