Rare Tudor Manuscript from Lady Jane Grey's Reign Heads to Auction
A remarkable and historically significant document from one of the most dramatic episodes in English royal history has emerged for public sale. The manuscript, dating from the fleeting nine-day reign of Lady Jane Grey in July 1553, is described by auction house Lyon and Turnbull as "an extremely rare survival" from this turbulent period.
The Tragic Queen's Brief Rule
Lady Jane Grey, often termed the "reluctant and forgotten queen," was thrust onto the throne unexpectedly following the death of her cousin, King Edward VI. The young Protestant monarch had named the sixteen-year-old Jane as his successor in his "devise for the Succession," deliberately bypassing his older Catholic sister, Mary Tudor, in a bid to maintain Protestant rule.
Historical accounts suggest Jane was terrified and distressed by the news of her accession, confusing the Privy Councillors who knelt to swear allegiance to her. Her reign lasted just nine days before collapsing amid political maneuvering and rebellion in favor of Mary Tudor.
The Manuscript's Historical Significance
The document now up for auction is a warrant addressed to Armagil Waad, clerk of the privy council, authorizing payments to couriers tasked with delivering official announcements of Jane's accession across England. It bears the signatures of twelve Protestant magnates who were reluctant participants in the Duke of Northumberland's plot to install his daughter-in-law as queen.
Lyon and Turnbull estimates the manuscript will fetch between £10,000 and £15,000 at auction. The auction house emphasizes its rarity, noting that only a handful of government documents from this two-week interregnum between Edward VI's death and Mary I's accession are known to exist.
A Desperate Father's Plea
The warrant represents what appears to be a last-ditch attempt by Jane's father, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, to assert his daughter's right to the throne as Mary Tudor gathered support in Suffolk. The document specifically directs messengers to deliver letters to regional authorities demanding loyalty, including sheriffs in Oxfordshire and Berkshire who were actually raising troops for Mary's cause.
Despite these efforts, discipline among Jane's supporters quickly broke down. Privy councillors were confined to the Tower of London during her reign, and by July 19, key figures had switched allegiance to proclaim Mary as queen.
Aftermath and Legacy
Following her arrest and imprisonment, Lady Jane Grey was executed on Tower Green on February 12, 1554. Some historians view her as an "innocent bystander" in a political coup, while others suggest she played a more active role in events leading to her execution.
Most of the privy council signatories on the document survived Mary Tudor's accession, with notable exceptions like Thomas Cranmer who was executed. The manuscript's survival offers a tangible connection to this pivotal moment when England's religious and political future hung in the balance.
Similar documents from this period are held in major institutions including the Folger Shakespeare Library and the British Library, making this auction offering particularly significant for collectors of Tudor historical artifacts.
