depiction of beheading of Lady Jane Grey  
A Conference between the Lady Jane Grey and F. Fecknam a Romish Priest, concerning the Blessed Sacrament; whilst she was Prisoner in the Tower of LONDON, and was Beheaded on the Green there, Feb. 12. 1554. Together with her Behaviour and last Speech and Prayers at her Suffering.  

DURING the Languishing Sickness of K. Edward the Sixth, a Marriage was contracted between the Lord guildford Dudley, eldest Son to the Duke of Northumberland, and the Lady Jane, the Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk, whose Mother being then alive, was Daughter to Mary, K. Henry the Eighth his second Sister, who was first Married to the French King, and afterward to Charles Duke of Suffolk.  
This Marriage being finished, and the King growing every ●ay more sick than other, so that he seemed past recovery, the ●… ke of Northumberland being ambitious to advance his Fami●…▪ persuaded the King in his weakness, that the Crown might 〈◇〉 left to the Lady Jane, the eldest Daughter; whose Reasons ●o prevailed with this sick King, that by his last Will he exclu●… d both his Sisters, and left the Crown to the Lady Jane.  
〈◇〉 this Will, by the power and fear of the Duke of Northumberland, all the Kings Council, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, with almost all the Judges and Lawyers of this Realm, except only Justice Hales of Kent, a Man favouring the True Religion, and also an upright Judge, as any hath been known in this Kingdom did assent.  
A while after K. Edward dyed, and the L. Jane was persuaded to take the Crown upon her; it was  told her by the Duke of Northumberland, her Father in Law, That the King was dead, and that he had declared her for his next Successor to the Crown Imperial; and that this Declaration was approved by all the Lords of the Council, most of the Peers, and all the Judges of the Land; which they had testified by the Subscription of their names: and all this ratified and confirmed by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England: And that the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, and some of the Principal Citizens had been spoken withal, by whom they were assured of the fidelity of the rest of the City. That there was nothing wanting, but her grateful acceptance of that high Dignity which God Almighty, the sovereign Disposer of all Crowns and sceptres, never sufficiently to be thanked by her for so great a Mercy, had advanced her to; and that therefore she should cheerfully take upon her the Name, Title, and Estate of Q. of England, France, and Ireland, with all the Royalties and worthies to the same belonging; receiving at their hands the first fruits of that humble Duty now tendered by them on their knees, which shortly was to be paid to her by the rest of the Kingdom.  
This Speech being ended, the poor Lady found her self in great perplexity; not knowing whether she should more lament the death of the King, or her Adoption to the Kingdom.  
Taking some time therefore of deliberation, she considered of the matter, and then half drowned in Tears, she returned an Answer to this effect:  
That the Laws of the Kingdom and Natural Right standing for the Kings Sisters, she would beware of burdening her Conscience with a yoke that did belong to them; That she understood the Infamy of those who had permitted the violation or Right to gain a sceptre, and it were to mock God, and de●ide Justice, to scruple at the stealing of a shilling, and not at the Usurpation of a Crown: Besides( said she) I am not so young, nor so little red in the guiles of this deceitful world, 〈◇〉 suffer myself to be taken by them; if she enrich any, it is 〈…〉 make them the subject of her spoil; if she raise others, 〈◇〉 ●ut to please her self with their ruin: What she adored 〈◇〉 ●esterday, is to day her pastime; and if I now permit her 〈◇〉 ●… rn and crown me, I must to morrow suffer her to crush 〈◇〉, and tear me to pieces. Nay, with what a Crown doth she 〈◇〉 ●… ent me, a Crown which was so unhappy to Q. Katharine, 〈◇〉 so sad and fatal to the La. Anne of Bullen, and others that wore it after her; and why then would you have me add my Blood to theirs, and be the third Sacrifice from whom this fatal Crown hath been ravished, with the Head that wears it? But in case it should not prove fatal unto me, and all its Venom were consumed; if the World should give me Warrant of her Constancy, should I be well advised to take upon me those Thorns which would torture me, though not kill me outright; to burden myself with a yoke which will not fail to vex and torment me, though I were assured not to be strangled by it? My Liberty is better than the Chain you proffer me, with what precious stones soever it be adorned, or of what Gold soever framed: I will not exchange my Peace for honourable and precious Jealousies, for magnificent and glorious Fetters; and if you love me sincerely, and in good earnest, you will rather wish me a secure and quiet condition, though mean, than an ●… ted state, exposed to Tempests, and followed by some ●… al Fall.  
〈◇〉 notwithstanding these her earnest and reasonable Argu●… and Denials, yet by their strong and pressing Importuni●… ●hey at last wearied her out, and prevailed upon her to 〈◇〉▪ whereupon she was immediately proclaimed Queen 〈…〉  
There was not much difference in age between this young Lady and King Edward, but in Learning and Knowledge she was superior to him; having the happiness to be instructed by one Master Elmar, a Learned and virtuous Man; which being joined with an excellent Wit of her own, made her much to be admired.  
When the Lady Mary heard her Brother was dead, being then at Hunsdon in Hartfordshire, she sent a Letter to the Lords of the Council, wherein she claimeth the Crown as due to her by Birth, by Act of Parliament, and by the Last Will of King Henry 8. Whereunto the Lords answer, That according to the last Will of K. Edward the Lady Jane was Proclaimed Queen, and that by the Divorce of Q. Katharine she was made justly Illegitimate, and uncapable of the Crown.  
The Lady Mary was much perplexed at this Letter, and in hearing that the Lady Jane had been proclaimed Q. in London, and some other principal Cities and Towns; she thereupon retires her self to Framingham Castle in Suffolk, where resorted to her many, both of that County and Norfolk, and being guarded with their power, she vanquished the D. of Northumberland and all his Adherents, and was settled in the Kingdom.  
When the Lords of the Council heard how the Country came in to the Lady Mary, they also proclaimed her Queen in London; and the D. of Suffolk being then in the Tower, with his Daughter Q. Jane, the Lords seized upon the Tower, and commanded the Duke to surrender himself a Prisoner; who submitted accordingly, and presently went to his Daughters Chamber, and  told her, That she must not now use any Royal Ceremonies any longer, but must be contented to return to her former private condition. To which with a settled Countenance she answered, Sir, I better like this Message than my former advancement to Royalty: Out of Obedience to you and my Mother, I have grievously sinned, and offered violence to myself, now I do willingly, and as obeying the motions of my Soul relinquish the Crown, and endeavour to salue those faults committed by others, if at least so great a fault can be salved by a willing relinquishment and ingenuous acknowledgement.  
Thus continued the L. Jane with her Husband the L. guildford Dudley Prisoners, for about five Months after Q. Mary came to London, and were then both arraigned and condemned at Guild-Hall for Treason, and then returned back to the Tower.   

A While after there was one Fecknam, a Priest, sent to the Lady Jane, with whom she had the following Conference.  Fecknam. 
Madam, I lament your heavy case, and yet I doubt not but that you bear out this sorrow of yours with a constant and patient mind.  L. Jane. 
You are welcome unto me Sir, if your coming be to give Christian Exhortation; and as for my heavy Case, I thank God I do so little lament it, that I rather account it a more manifest Declaration of the favour of God, than ever he shewed to me before: and therefore there is no cause why either you or others which bear me good-will, should lament or be grieved for this my Case; since it is so profitable to my Souls Health.  Feck. 
I am now sent to you from the Queen and her Council, to instruct you in the True Doctrine of the Right Faith, though I have so great confidence in you, that I hope I shall have little need to labour much with you therein.  L. J. 
Sir, I hearty thank the Queens Highness, who is not unmindful of her humble Subject; and I hope likewise you will do your Duty both truly and faithfully therein, according as you are sent.  Feck. 
What is then required of a Christian Man?  L. J. 
That he should believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Chost; Three Persons in one God.  Feck. 
What is there nothing else to be required or looked for in a Christian, but to believe in him?  L. J. 
Yes, we must love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind, and our Neighbour as ourself.  Feck. 
Why then Faith justifieth not, and saveth not?  L. J. 
Yes verily, Faith, as St. Paul saith, only justifieth.  Feck. 
Why, St. Paul saith, If I have all Faith without Love, it is nothing.  L. J. 
That's true, for how can I love him whom I trust not? Or how can I trust him whom I love not? Faith and Love go both together, and yet Love is comprehended in Faith.  Feck. 
How should we love our Neighbour?  L. J. 
To love our Neighbour is to feed the hungry, to cloath the naked, and to give drink to the thirsty, and to do to him as we would do to ourselves.  Feck. 
Why then it is necessary unto Salvation to do good works also; and it is not sufficient only to believe?  L. J. 
I deny that, and I affirm, That Faith only saveth; but it is fit for a Christian, when that he followeth his Master Christ, to do good works; yet must we not say that they profit to Salvation: For when we have done all, yet we are but unprofitable Servants; and Faith only in Christs blood saveth us.  Feck. 
How many Sacraments are there?  L. J. 
Two, One the Sacrament of Baptism, and the other the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  Feck. 
No, There are Seven.  L. J. 
By what Scripture find you that?  Feck. 
Well we will talk of that hereafter, but what is signified by your two Sacraments?  L. J. 
By the Sacrament of Baptism I am washed with Water, and regenerated by the Spirit; and that washing is a token to me, that I am a Child of God. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper offered unto me, is a sure Seal and Testimony that I am by the Blood of Christ which he  shed for me upon the across, made partaker of his Everlasting Kingdom.  Feck. 
Why what do you receive in that Sacrament? Do you not receive the very Body and Blood of Christ?  L. J. 
No surely, I do not believe so; I think that at the Supper I neither receive Flesh nor Blood, but Bread and Wine; which Bread when it is broken, and Wine when it is drank, putteth me in remembrance, that for my sins the Body of Christ was broken, and his Blood  shed on the across; and with that Bread and Wine I receive the benefits that come by the breaking of his Body, and shedding of his Blood on the across.  Feck. 
Why doth not Christ speak these words, Take, eat, This is my Body? Can you require any plainer words? Doth he not lay. It is his Body.  L. J. 
I grant he says so, and he says, I am the Vine, I am the Door, but he is never the more either a Vine or a Door: Doth not St. Paul say, He calleth things that are not as though they were. God forbid that I should ●ay I eat the very Natural Body and Blood of Christ; for then I should either take away my Redemption, or else there were two Bodies, or two Christs: One Body was tormented on the across, and if they did eat another Body, then he had two Bodies: Or if his Body were eaten, then was it not broken on the across; or if it were broken upon the across, it was not eaten of his Disciples.  Feck. 
Why is it not as possible that Christ by his power could make his Body both to be eaten and crucified, as to be born of a Woman without seed of a Man, or to walk on the Sea, having a Body; and other such like Miracles as he wrought by his power only?  L. J. 
Yes verily, if God would have done any Miracle at his Supper, he might have done so; but I say, that then he intended no Work nor Miracle, but only to break his Body, and  shed his Blood on the across for our sins. But I pray answer me this one question, Where was Christ when he said, Take, eat, this is my Body? Was he not at the Table at this time? When he said so, he was now alive, and did not suffer till the next day; therefore what took he but Bread? What broke he but Bread? And what gave he but bread? Now observe, what he took, he broke; and what he broke, he gave; and what he gave they did eat; and yet all this while he himself was alive, and at Supper with his Disciples; or else they were very much deceived.  Feck. 
You ground your Faith upon such Authors as say and unsay both in a breath, and not upon the Church; to whom you ought to give credit.  L. J. 
No, I ground my Faith upon Gods Word, and not upon the Church; for if the Church be a good Church, the Faith of the Church must be tried by Gods Word; and Gods Word must not be tried by the Church; no more must my Faith. Shall I believe the Church because of her Antiquity? Or shall I give credit to that Church that taketh away from me the half part of the Lords Supper; and will let none receive it in both kinds? Do they learn that of St. Paul, whom they know ministered to the Corinthians in both kinds? And shall I believe this Church? God forbid.  Feck. 
That was done for a good intent by the Chursh, to avoid an heresy that sprung up upon it.  L. J. 
What shall a Church alter Gods Will and Ordinance for a good intent? How did King Saul? The Lord God defend.  
With such like Arguments did this Priest endeavour to persuade the Lady Jane to forsake her Religion, but finding that they did little prevail upon her, he took his leave, saying, That he was sorry for her; For I am sure, saith he, we shall never meet.  L. J. 
It's true, said she, we shall never meet, unless God turn your heart; and I pray God in the Bowels of his Mercy, to sand you his Holy Spirit; and that as it hath pleased him to give you this great gift of utterance, so he would open the Eyes of your Heart, and so he departed.   

IN the morning of the day wherein this Lady suffered, her Husband the L. guildford Dadley, a gallant young Gentleman, was carried out to the Scaffold on Tower-hill, where with Prayers in a most penitent manner he ended his Life. And now her part came next to be acted, for which a Scaffold was erected upon the Green within the Tower, upon which she mounted with a cheerful Countenance, and looking upon the People with great constancy, she spake in this manner:  
Good People, I am come hither to die, and by a Law I am condemned to the same; my offence against the ●ueens Highness, was only in consenting to the device of others which now is deemed Treason; yet it was never of my seeking, but by counsel of those who should seem to have further understanding of things than I, who know little of the Law, and much less of Titles to the Crown: But teaching the procurement thereof by me, or on my behalf, I do here wash my hands in Innocency before God and the fac● of you all this day: And therewith she wrung her hands, wherein she had her Book, and then the said further: I pray you all good Christian People, to bear 〈◇〉 witness that I die a True Christian Woman, and that I do look to be saved by no other means but only by the mercy of God, in the Blood of his only Son Jesus Christ: And I do confess, that when I did know the word of God, I neglected the same, and loved myself and the world; and therefore this plague and punishment is justly befallen me for my sins; and I yet thank God of his goodness that he hath been pleased to give me a time and respite to repent in: And now good People while I am alive, I pray assist me with your Prayers?  
She then kneeled down and said in English the 51 Psalm, to the end, and then standing up she gave her Gloves and her Handkerchief to her Maid, and her Book to Mr. Bruges Lieutenant of the Tower; after which she pulled off her Gown, and the Executioner offering to help her, she desired him to let her alone, and turning to her two Gentlewomen, they helped her off with it and her other Garments, and gave her a fine Handkerchief to tie about her Eyes; then the Executioner fell upon his knees and asked her forgiveness; to whom she said, The Lord forgive thee, and I do, and I pray dispatch me quickly. He then desired her to stand upon the straw, doing which she saw the block; and so kneeling down, she said, Will you take it off before I lay it down? The Executioner answered, No Madam: Then she tied the handkerchief about her Eyes, and feeling for the block, she said, What shall I do? Where is it? Where is it? And one of the Spectators guiding her thereunto, she laid her head upon the block, and stretching forth her body she said, Lord into thy hand, I commend my Spirit; which was scarce uttered before she received the fatal stroke of the Axe, and thus she ended her Life, Feb. 12. in the year 1554. and in the 16th year of her Age; of whom one writes these two Verses: 
Tu quibus ista legas incertum est Lector ocellis,  
Ipse quidem siccis scribere non potui.  
What Eyes thou readest with Reader, know I not,  
Mine were not dry when I this story wrote.    
FINIS.