The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-22
A Forgotten
Edict
Historical Story Of the Six.
tsenth Century
BY r. A. mitchell

L~~<>~N~~~~~
Harry, the great king. the bluff king.
he who married six wives and behead-
ed two of them, was dead, and his son
Edward, mere lad, was on the
throne OF Great Britain. But the boy
being too young to govern. the Duke
Of Somerset, having assumed the title
of lord protector, was sovereign In his
stead In all but In name.
But Somerset was supplanted by
John Dudley, Duke of Northumber-
land, an ambitious man. and planned
that the crown should rest upon the
heads of his descendants. Having
married his son, Lord eGuilford Dud
ley, to Lady Jane Grey, who had royal
blood In her veins, before the young
Edward died In 1853, the duke per.
in-law to succeed him.
1t was ON May day Of this year that
a number Of young persons were dane
ing around pole in a field in the
county Of Essex. Among them was
young Robert Woodville, son Of Sir
Thomas Woodville. young man much
beloved by all who knew him. Many
a lass cast covetous eyes upon him,
but they were all forced to give way
to Mary Edmonson. who Was the most
comely. and withal, modest and amia
BILE.
These two were swinging round the
circle hand in hand when man rode
up TO Woodville and asked to have
speech with him apart from the 9th
ers. The dancing stopped, for there
was a grave look on the strangers face.
and all waited while Woodville and he
talked earnestly, but in low tones. The
newcomer appeared to be endeavoring
to persuade the young man to some
thing which he did not approve. Pres
emily woodville broke away from him,
beckoned Mary Edmonson aside and
said 10 her;
The young King Edward Is dead
and has named Lady Jane Grey to be
claimants-Mary, the late kings
daughter by his first wife, Catherine
of Arragon, and Eliza beth, his daugh.
ter by his second wife. Anne Boleyn,
This man Is an emlssary of the Duke
of Northumberland, beating up adher-
ents for his daughter-in-law, the Lady
Jane Grey He offers me a commits
sion In the army and when Jane is
firmly established on the throne pc
sition at court. am persuaded to nc
cept his offer"
Il beg that you wifi not" replied tho
girl. THE rightfui sovereign is Mary.
the daughter OF the only rightful wife
of the late King Henry The Duke OF
Northumberland will bring sorrow on
the poor girl. on whose head he In en-
deavoring to place crown, More
likely he will set an ak to her neck.
She liz too Young TO decide such n mat
ter for herself or she would refuse &c
be made the dupe OF her father-in
law"
NO one" replied Robert "can tell
where the crown will eventually rest,
If on the head of the Princess Mary.
gam UotiiliE. IL ou Tue usho VI &%duf
Jane. and | help to place 1t there, on,
wedding. instead of taking place
among rustics. will be celebrated with,
in a palace"
Say rather, In a dungeon
mo. no. sweetheart | have conf
dence in the duke. Think of the place
shall be able to offer you as one OF
the supporters OF the successful claim
ant"
Ambition proved stronger than the
pleadings of the girl, and the end OF
the matter was that Woodville went
Off to London TO report in person to
Lord Guilford Dudley, who had sent
for him. while the messenger went or
to enlist further recruits
Well had II been for the young mar
had be listened to the advice of his be