beration: that when these three
princesses were excluded by such solid reasons, the succession devolved
on the marchioness of Dorset, elder daughter of the French queen and the
duke of Suffolk: that the next heir of the marchioness was the lady Jane
Gray, a lady of the most amiable character, accomplished by the best
education, both in literature and religion, and every way worthy of a
crown; and that even if her title by blood were doubtful, which there
was no just reason to pretend, the king was possessed of the same
power that his father enjoyed, and might leave her the crown by letters
patent. These reasonings made impression on the young prince; and
above all, his zealous attachment to the Protestant religion made him
apprehend the consequences if so bigoted a Catholic as his sister Mary
should succeed to the throne. And though he bore a tender affection to
the lady Elizabeth, who was liable to no such objection means were found
to persuade him that he could not exclude the one sister, on account of
illegitimacy, without giving also an exclusion to the other.

[Illustration: 1-424-jane_grey.jpg LADY JANE GREY]

Northumberland, finding that his arguments were likely to operate on the
king, began to prepare the other parts of his scheme. Two sons of
the duke of Suffolk by a second venter having died this season of the
sweating sickness, that title was extinct; and Northumberland engaged
the king to bestow it on the marquis of Dorset. By means of this favor,
and of others which he conferred upon him, he persuaded the new duke
of Suffolk and the duchess, to give their daughter, the lady Jane,
in marriage to his fourth son, the Lord Guildford Dudley. In order to
fortify himself by further alliances, he negotiated a marriage between
the lady Catharine Gray, second daughter of Suffolk, and Lord Herbert,
eldest son of the earl of Pembroke. He also married his own daughter to
Lord Hastings, eldest son of the earl of Huntingdon.[*] These marriages
were solemnized with great pomp and festivity; and the people, who hated
Northumberland, could not forbear expressing their indignation at seeing
such public demonstrations of joy during the languishing state of the
young prince's health.

* Heylin, p. 199. Stowe, p. 609.

Edward had been seized in the foregoing year, first with the measles,
then with the small-pox; but having perfectly recovered from both these
distempers, the nation entertained hopes that they would only