Of all the queens who were the consorts of Henry VIII., Katharine was the only one whose character for piety and wisdom is all that one could wish. Her influence over Lady Jane Grey was very great, and to her guidance we may ascribe much of Lady Jane's purity and nobleness of life.

CHAPTER V.

CORRESPONDENCE IN REFERENCE TO LADY JANE.-SHE GOES TO HER FATHER'S HOUSE. RETURNS TO THE CARE OF SEYMOUR. THE ADMIRAL ARRESTED.-LADY JANE RETURNS TO BRADGATE.-SEYMOUR BEHEADED.-LETTER OF ROGER ASCHAM TO LADY JANE.-PRESENTED AT COURT.-VISIT WITH THE PRINCESS MARY.-MARY PRESENTS HER WITH A GOLD NECKLACE.

THE death of Katharine Parr was a terrible shock to Lord Seymour; so keenly did he feel it, so overwhelmed was he with the affliction, that he resolved at once upon dismissing his household, and giving up the splendor which surrounded his housekeeping at Sudley Castle. His plans were all broken up by Katharine's death, and he scarcely knew how to proceed. He, however, shortly reconsidered his decision, and wrote to Lady Jane's father, earnestly requesting that she might remain at his house. The following is a copy of the letter.

"My lord,

"After my most hearty commend unto your

lordship, whereby my last letter unto the same written in a time when partly with the queen's highness' death I was so annoyed that I had small regard either to myself or my doings; and partly then thinking that my great loss must presently have constrained me to have broken up and dissolved my whole house, I offered unto your lordship to send my Lady Jane unto you, whensoever you would send for her, as to him whom I thought would be most tender to her. Forasmuch, as being since both better advised of myself, and having more deeply digested whereunto my power would extend, I find that indeed with God's help, I shall right well be able to continue my house together without diminishing any great part thereof. And therefore, putting my whole affiance and trust in God, have begun anew to establish my household, where shall remain not only the gentlewomen of the queen's highness' privy chamber, but also the maids which waited at large, and other women being about her grace in her life-time, with a hundred and twenty gentlemen and yeomen, continually abiding in house together; saving that now presently certain of the maids and gentlemen have desired to have leisure for a month

to see their friends, and then immediately return hither again. And therefore, doubting lest your lordship might think any unkindness that I should by my said letters take occasion to rid me of your daughter so soon after the queen's death; for the proof both of my hearty affection towards you, and good will towards her, I mind now to keep her, until I next speak with your lordship; which should have been within these three or four days, if it had not been that I must repair unto the court, as well to help certain of the queen's poor servants, with some of the things now fallen by her death, as also for my own affairs; unless I shall be advertised from your lordship of your express mind to the contrary. My lady, my mother, shall and will, I doubt not, be as dear unto her, as though she were her own daughter, and for my own part, I shall continue her half-father and more, and all that are in my house shall be as diligent about her as yourself would wish accordingly.

"THOMAS SEYMOUR."

But the marquis seems not to have been will ing that Lady Jane should remain, for two days after he wrote as follows to Seymour :

"My lord,

"My most hearty commendations unto your good lordship not forgotten. When it hath pleased you by your most gentle letters to offer me the abode of my daughter at your lordship's house, I do as well acknowledge your most friendly affection towards me and her herein, as also render unto you most deserved thanks for the same. Nevertheless, considering the state of my daughter and her tender years, wherein she shall hardly rule herself as yet without a guide, lest she should for lack of a bridle take too much heed, and conceive such opinion of herself that all good behavior as she heretofore hath learned, by the queen's and your most wholesome instructions, should either altogether be quenched in her, or, at the least, much diminished, I shall in most hearty wise require your lordship to commit her to the governance of her mother, by whom for the fear and duty she oweth her, she shall most easily be ruled and framed towards virtue, which I wish above all things to be most plentiful in her; and although your lordship's good mind concerning her honest and godly education is so great, that mine can be no more, yet weighing that you be destitute of such one