Queen Jane

Jane Grey was born in October 1537, the daughter of the Duke of Suffolk and Lady Frances, herself granddaughter of King Henry VII. When the young King Edward VI was dying in 1553, some Lords were afraid of his Catholic half-sister Mary, who should succeed him (according to Henry VIII´s will). They urged Edward to nominate Lady Jane as his successor, then she was married to Lord Guildford Dudley on 21 May 1553. On Edwards death on 10 July, she entered London as Queen Jane, but nine days later, due to pressure from the majority of the Lords and the people, who wanted Mary, Queen Jane was deposed. Jane and Guildford were the victims of ambitious parents, but as they were still regarded as a threat to Queen Mary I, both were convicted of high treason and beheaded on 12 February 1554.

The signatures below are as "Jane Grey" (using old secretary hand), "Jane Duddley" and "Jane the Quene". One can imagine, considering the short reign and marriage, how rare these signatures are.