“‘We heard you speak to yourself, but what you said we know not.’
“He then (after his fashion, smilingly) said, ‘I was praying to God.’”[154]
The end was near.
“I am faint,” he said. “Lord, have mercy upon me, and take my spirit”; and so on July 7, towards night, he passed away. On the following day Noailles communicated to his Court “le triste et piteux inconvénient de la mort” of Edward VI., last of the Tudor Kings.
CHAPTER XVI
1553 After King Edward’s death—Results to Lady Jane Grey—Northumberland’s schemes—Mary’s escape—Scene at Sion House—Lady Jane brought to the Tower—Quarrel with her husband—Her proclamation as Queen.
A boy was dead. A frail little life, long failing, had gone out. That was all. Nevertheless upon it had hung the destinies of England.
Speculations and forecasts as to the consequences had Edward lived are unprofitable. Yet one wonders what, grown to manhood, he would have become—whether the gentle lad, pious, studious, religious, the modern Josiah, as he was often called, would have developed, as he grew to maturity, the dangerous characteristics of his Tudor race, the fierceness and violence of his father, the melancholy and relentless fanaticism of Mary, the absence of principle and sensuality of Elizabeth. Or would he have fulfilled the many hopes which had found their centre in him and have justified the love of his subjects, given him upon credit?
It is impossible to say. What was certain was that his part was played out, and that others were to take his place. Amongst these his little cousin Jane was at once the most innocent and the most unfortunate.