21. Edward VI

In 1547, the last minority in English history was formed for 9 year old Edward VI (1547-53). After the titanic reign of his father Henry VIII, a contemporary may have wondered if the country may be engulfed in civil war once more.Had the rampant religious and administrative upheaval been possible due to the colossus at the helm? Would the country accept such terms under a new king? Or would the country yield to the familiar squabbles of grasping councillors?If there were nerves, they were hidden on the 20th February 1547 when the 9-year-old walked through the nave of Westminster Abbey. The nation stood on a precipice and history was not on their side. CHARACTERS Edward VI – King of England Henry VIII – King of England, father of Edward VI (1509-47) Jane Seymour – Queen of England, mother of Edward VI, 3rd wife of Henry VIII Princess Mary – half-sister of Edward VI Princess Elizabeth – half-sister of Edward VI Catherine Parr – Queen of England, 6th wife of Henry VIII Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset – Lord Protector, uncle of Edward VI Thomas Seymour – uncle of Edward VI, brother of Edward Seymour John Dudley, duke of Northumberland – Lord President of the Council Thomas Cranmer – Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Wriothesley – Lord Chancellor Hugh Latimer – Bishop of Worcester William Paget – statesman and ally of Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset Thomas Cromwell – Chancellor of the Exchequer under Henry VIII John Cheke and Richard Cox – Tutors of Edward VI Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk – nobleman and uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard Robert Kett – leader of Kett’s rebellion Lady Jane Grey – cousin of Edward VI Mary, Queen of Scots – Queen of Scotland Francis – French dauphin, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots Richard Chancellor – explorer Ivan the Terrible – First Tsar of Russia Edmund Dudley – financial agent of Henry VII, father of John Dudley, duke of Northumberland Robert Dudley – son of John Dudley, duke of Northumberland Guildford Dudley – son of John Dudley, duke of Northumberland, husband of Lady Jane Grey Anne Boleyn – Queen of England, 2nd wife of Henry VIII Catherine Howard – Queen of England, 4th wife of Henry VIII Henry VII – King of England, grandfather of Edward VI (1485-1509) Henry VI – King of England (1422-61, 70-71) Richard II – King of England (1377-99) CREDITS Charpentier – Prelude aue dem Te Deum 2019 Tielman Susato – La Mourisque freesound.org jg booysen – pistol gunshot anton – dog bark Staffordshire bull terrier robin hood 76 – sledge ride 1 tiisetso – scrubbing floor mushroomjesus – baby noises 2-3 month old j-zazvurek – woman scream 5 roxis boy – chain rattling 2 hinzebeat – plate with cutlery f-r-a-g-i-l-e – medieval lute chords nickh69 -quill and parchment tim Kahn – footsteps bare feet soundmary – wild horses running