three years later had him charged with treason and executed. The throng that looked on at his death showed their sympathy with the fallen and well meaning Protector by dipping their handkerchiefs in his blood, as that of a martyr.
Warwick now became Protector, and like Somerset he favoured the Protestants. Gardiner and Bonner, two Roman Catholic bishops, were imprisoned, and Ponet and Ridley, two Protestants, were appointed in their places. Roman Catholics were persecuted because they would not attend the new form of public worship, although we do not hear of any being put to death.
3. Last Days of Edward VI.—There is, however, one bright spot in the dark picture of this time. A great interest was beginning to be felt in education. In this reign eighteen grammar schools were founded, and the Blue Coat School was started by Edward himself in 1553, for orphans and foundlings.
Edward’s reign lasted only six years. Always a delicate lad, his friends saw that as the years passed consumption had seized him, and that his reign would soon be over. Warwick, (now Duke of Northumberland), and Cranmer, dreaded the successsion of Mary, Edward’s sister. Mary was so strict a Roman Catholic that she had been kept under watch for some time in Hertfordshire. With Mary on the throne, the Roman Catholic religion would be restored, and Northumberland’s power would be gone. To prevent this, Northumberland persuaded Edward to leave the crown to Lady Jane Grey, the granddaughter of Mary, Henry VIII.’s sister. Lady Jane, although only a girl of sixteen, had been married to Guildford Dudley, Northumberland’s son, a short time before, and as she was a strong Protestant, Northumberland hoped through her to continue to rule. In July of 1553 Edward died.
4, Mary.—Immediately on Edward’s death Northumberland and his friends offered the crown to Lady Jane Grey, who accepted it very reluctantly. Steps were taken to seize Mary, but, warned by secret friends, she escaped to the Duke of Norfolk. The people were much displeased at the plot to put Mary aside, and joined her in great numbers. Soon she was strong enough to move on to London, where she received a hearty welcome. So strong was the feeling in her favour, that Northumberland, who had gone to Cambridge, thought it prudent to throw up his cap for her. This
