The Co-Freemasonic Order of The Blazing Star
The Co-Freemasonic Order of The Blazing Star is an independent order of freemasonry based in the South West of England that admits men and women equally. It sees its main emphasis as cultivating the spiritual and esoteric aspects of freemasonry, and offers a true initiatory system of training and development of the 33 degrees of 'The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite' for the benefit of humanity and the world. It currently operates an ancient Irish working in the craft degrees.
In November 1997 a group of senior masons formed an independent Supreme Council to revitalize and regenerate Masonic ritual and practice with an explicit emphasis on symbolic, esoteric and spiritual teachings, initiatory training, and the 'inner' workings forming the basis of the ritual work.
To distinguish the new order from other Masonic bodies, the name 'Order of the Blazing Star' was taken. The Blazing Star is a universal symbol, and is found in most Masonic rituals.
The principals, rituals, and traditions are still based on those of the Grand Scottish Constitutions of 1786, revised and agreed by the national Supreme Councils of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite at Lausanne in 1876.
In May 2007 the Supreme Council decided the name of the order should more closely reflect its heritage and work and thus 'The Co-Freemasonic Order of the Blazing Star' was established. Of course, C0-Freemasonry is not recognized by any of the major Masonic Grand Lodges and inter-visitation or other Masonic interaction is not permitted.
A Landmark of Freemasonry agreed by all masculine Grand Lodges is that the initiation of women is forbidden and members take a binding obligation not to countenance the initiation of women. Certain Grand Lodges of Co-Freemasonry also follow the lead of the Grand Orient de France in removing references to the Supreme Being from their rituals and initiating atheists; this is further point of separation from typical Masonic Lodges which hold belief in a Supreme Being to be a Landmark requirement.
Notwithstanding the prohibition of interaction in a ritual context, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the oldest of the Grand Lodges, while not recognizing Co-Freemasonry, states that it does hold informal discussions from time to time with Women's and Co-Masonic Grand Lodges on issues of mutual concern, and that Brethren are therefore free to explain to non-Mason, if asked, that Freemasonry is not confined to men (even though this Grand Lodge does not itself admit women).
The Grand Orient de France also does not initiate women, but does recognize Masonic bodies that do. Thus, it allows visitation by women from those bodies.
And so, my friends...this is why I can and AM a Co-Freemason....incidentally, my Grand Lodge is that of The American Federation of Human Rights/American Co-Masonry. I am proud to be a Fellowcraft. ..and of course, working towards becoming a Master Mason with the help and teaching of my brethren.
If you would like to learn more..please visit: www.co-masonry.org And thank you for your indulgence.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Did you know? (Part 3)
The Order of Universal Co-Freemasonry in Great Britain and the British Dependencies was founded by Annie Besant and officers of the Supreme Council of the French Maconnerie Mixte (known today as The International Order of Co-Freemasonry, Le Droit Humain) on September 28, 1902, with the consecration of Lodge Human Duty No. 6 in London. Besant remained head of the Order until her death in 1933.
The English working, influenced by the Theosophy of its leading members, restored certain Masonic practices not required in the French working, notably that its members hold a belief in God or a Supreme Being. The permission received from France to reinstate this in the English workings is known as the 'Annie Besant Concord," and in 1904 a new English ritual was printed, which firmly established this requirement as central to the work.
The revised ritual was called the 'Dharma Ritual,' also known as the 'Besant-Leadbeater' and more recently as the 'Lauderdale' working. The Dharma Ritual also attempted to restore prominence to esoteric and mystical aspects that its Theosophically-minded authors felt were the heart of Freemasonry, so that it became a spiritual organization; Co-Freemasonry of this Order was therefore sometimes called 'Occult Freemasonry."
The Honorable Order of American Co-Masonry
In 1903 the first Co-Masonic Lodge in the USA was instituted under Le Droit Humain by the French professor Muzzarelli in New York. He founded the first Alpha Lodge in Charleroi, Pennsylvania and more than 50 others within four years before leaving the United States of America in 1908.
In 1909 delegates of twenty of these Lodges founded the American Federation of Human Rights in St. Louis. By 1924, nearly 100 Lodges had been started under the guidance of Louis Goaziou, the Most Puissant Grand Commander, Representative of the Supreme Council in Paris.
Defection of Lodges from Le Droit Humain
Between the mid-1990's and early 2000's a large number of lodges defected from Le Droit Humain, which they charged with infringing upon their constitutional rights.
On January 2, 2001, Le Droit Humain formerly expelled four senior members of the British Federation over these disagreements. Following these expulsions, about 70 members resigned.
The defecting lodges reformed as the American Federation of Human Rights, the Honorable Order of American Co-Masonry, the Eastern Order of International Co-Freemasonry, and a number of smaller orders.
Other lodges, including those in Australia and South Africa and some US lodges, opted to remain affiliated with the Supreme Council of International Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain, and continue to exist as the British, Australian, and American Federations of the order, governed by the Representative of the Supreme Council in France, known as the Most Puissant Grand Commander, who holds the 33rd and highest degree of the Order.
The American Federation of Human Rights / American Co-Masonry
In December 1993, when demands from the Supreme Council in Parish conflicted with the International Constitution and the National Constitution of the American Federation of Le Droit Humain, which mandated independence in internal affairs and adherence to United States law, a large part of the membership decided to withdraw from Le Droit Humain.
On April 11, 1994, the Supreme Council of American Co-Masonry, The American Federation of Human Rights, was reformed by members of the Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-Third Degree. Also known as American Co-Masonry, this now-independent obedience, which has its headquarters in Larkspur, Colorado, has since become the largest Co-Masonic organization in the United States.
The Eastern Order of International C0-Freemasonry in 2001, following growing concerns over erosions to the Annie Besant Concord by the administration in Paris, many member lodges of the Eastern Federation resigned from Le Droit Humain, severing all ties, and reconstituted new governing bodies.
Lodges in India, New Zealand, part of the US, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Spain reformed as the Eastern Order of International C0-Freemasonry; lodges in the UK reformed as the Grand Lodge of Freemasonry for Men and Women.
The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons
The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons is a virtual Grand Lodge for men and women operating over the internet. The Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons were initially chartered by the Grand Orient de France on May 14, 1928.
On November 17, 1976 Grand Master Juliet Ashley established the Sovereign and Independent Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons as an independent Masonic organization. This order's name was changed to "International Sovereign and Independent Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons" at its meeting in Washington, DC on June 22, 1977.
At that meeting the Grand Lodge also established Acacia Lodge #1 A: A:. & E:. F:. as the first Lodge of Master Masons under the new jurisdiction. From 1992 the Grand Lodge ceased to operate within a physical temple, and from 2003 they began rewriting the rituals for self-initiation and lodge initiation using one or more initiating officers.
They have offered internet initiations for Entered Apprentices since 2004. [The order confers Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees, as well as York Rite and Scottish Rite degrees and several other advanced rites. Degrees are practiced in their regular and ancient form, and are accompanied by esoteric teachings.
Part 4 coming shortly.....stay tuned.
The English working, influenced by the Theosophy of its leading members, restored certain Masonic practices not required in the French working, notably that its members hold a belief in God or a Supreme Being. The permission received from France to reinstate this in the English workings is known as the 'Annie Besant Concord," and in 1904 a new English ritual was printed, which firmly established this requirement as central to the work.
The revised ritual was called the 'Dharma Ritual,' also known as the 'Besant-Leadbeater' and more recently as the 'Lauderdale' working. The Dharma Ritual also attempted to restore prominence to esoteric and mystical aspects that its Theosophically-minded authors felt were the heart of Freemasonry, so that it became a spiritual organization; Co-Freemasonry of this Order was therefore sometimes called 'Occult Freemasonry."
The Honorable Order of American Co-Masonry
In 1903 the first Co-Masonic Lodge in the USA was instituted under Le Droit Humain by the French professor Muzzarelli in New York. He founded the first Alpha Lodge in Charleroi, Pennsylvania and more than 50 others within four years before leaving the United States of America in 1908.
In 1909 delegates of twenty of these Lodges founded the American Federation of Human Rights in St. Louis. By 1924, nearly 100 Lodges had been started under the guidance of Louis Goaziou, the Most Puissant Grand Commander, Representative of the Supreme Council in Paris.
Defection of Lodges from Le Droit Humain
Between the mid-1990's and early 2000's a large number of lodges defected from Le Droit Humain, which they charged with infringing upon their constitutional rights.
On January 2, 2001, Le Droit Humain formerly expelled four senior members of the British Federation over these disagreements. Following these expulsions, about 70 members resigned.
The defecting lodges reformed as the American Federation of Human Rights, the Honorable Order of American Co-Masonry, the Eastern Order of International Co-Freemasonry, and a number of smaller orders.
Other lodges, including those in Australia and South Africa and some US lodges, opted to remain affiliated with the Supreme Council of International Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain, and continue to exist as the British, Australian, and American Federations of the order, governed by the Representative of the Supreme Council in France, known as the Most Puissant Grand Commander, who holds the 33rd and highest degree of the Order.
The American Federation of Human Rights / American Co-Masonry
In December 1993, when demands from the Supreme Council in Parish conflicted with the International Constitution and the National Constitution of the American Federation of Le Droit Humain, which mandated independence in internal affairs and adherence to United States law, a large part of the membership decided to withdraw from Le Droit Humain.
On April 11, 1994, the Supreme Council of American Co-Masonry, The American Federation of Human Rights, was reformed by members of the Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-Third Degree. Also known as American Co-Masonry, this now-independent obedience, which has its headquarters in Larkspur, Colorado, has since become the largest Co-Masonic organization in the United States.
The Eastern Order of International C0-Freemasonry in 2001, following growing concerns over erosions to the Annie Besant Concord by the administration in Paris, many member lodges of the Eastern Federation resigned from Le Droit Humain, severing all ties, and reconstituted new governing bodies.
Lodges in India, New Zealand, part of the US, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Spain reformed as the Eastern Order of International C0-Freemasonry; lodges in the UK reformed as the Grand Lodge of Freemasonry for Men and Women.
The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons
The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons is a virtual Grand Lodge for men and women operating over the internet. The Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons were initially chartered by the Grand Orient de France on May 14, 1928.
On November 17, 1976 Grand Master Juliet Ashley established the Sovereign and Independent Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons as an independent Masonic organization. This order's name was changed to "International Sovereign and Independent Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons" at its meeting in Washington, DC on June 22, 1977.
At that meeting the Grand Lodge also established Acacia Lodge #1 A: A:. & E:. F:. as the first Lodge of Master Masons under the new jurisdiction. From 1992 the Grand Lodge ceased to operate within a physical temple, and from 2003 they began rewriting the rituals for self-initiation and lodge initiation using one or more initiating officers.
They have offered internet initiations for Entered Apprentices since 2004. [The order confers Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees, as well as York Rite and Scottish Rite degrees and several other advanced rites. Degrees are practiced in their regular and ancient form, and are accompanied by esoteric teachings.
Part 4 coming shortly.....stay tuned.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Did you know? (Part 2)
(...continued from yesterday)
The order is administered by the Supreme Council, which has its headquarters in Paris. Within the International Constitution, however, member Federations have the freedom of self-governance. International Co-Freemasonry was founded in France in the late nineteenth century, during a period of strong feminist and women's suffrage campaigning. It is the only true international Masonic Order and has members from over 60 countries worldwide.
French Masonry had long attempted to include women, the Grand Orient de France having allowed Rites of Adoption as early as 1774 by which Lodges could "adopt" sisters, wives, and daughters of Freemasons, imparting to them the mysteries of several degrees. In 1879, following differences among members of the Supreme Council of France, twelve lodges withdrew from the Grand Orient de France and founded the Grande Loge Symbolique de France. One of these Lodges, Les Libres Penseurs (The Free Thinkers) in Pecq, reserved in its charter the right to initiate women as Freemasons, proclaiming the essential equality of man and woman.
On January 14, 1882, Maria Deraismes, a well-known humanitarian, feminist author, lecturer and politician, was initiated into Les Libres Penseurs. The Right Worshipful Master, bro. Houbron, 18*, justified this act as having the highest interests of humanity at heart, and as being a perfectly logical application of the principle of 'A Free Mason in a Free Lodge.' The Lodge was soon suspended for this "impropriety."
In 1890 the Lodge La Jerusalem Ecossaise, also of the Grande Loge Symbolique de France, petitioned other Lodges for the establishment of a new order of Freemasonry that would accept both men and women. This time La Jerusalem Lodge did not propose to initiate women itself, but to create a new order working in parallel. The main proponent of this was Dr. Georges Martin, a French senator, advocate of equal rights for women, and also a member of Les Libres Penseurs.
On March 14, 1893, Deraismes, Martin and several other male Freemasons founded La Respectable Loge, Le Droit Humain, Maconnerie Mixte (Worshipful Lodge, Human Rights, Co-Masonry) in Paris. They initiated, passed and raised sixteen prominent French women. Shortly after, on April 4 of the same year, the first Grand Lodge of Co-Freemasonry was established, the Grande Loge Symbolilque Ecossaise Mixte de France (Grand Lodge of Mixed Scottish Rite Freemasonry of France), which would later become known as the International Order of Co-Freemasonry "Le Droit Humain."
This was a radical departure from most other forms of Freemasonry, for not only did the new order not require belief in a Supreme Being (the Grand Orient de France had discarded this requirement in 1877) - it opened its doors to all of humanity who were "...just upright and free, of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals."
The Eastern Federation Several prominent members of the Theosophical Society joined Co-Freemasonry, including Annie Besant, George Arundale, Charles W. Leadbeater, C. Jinarajadasa and Henry Steele Olcott. Henceforth, wherever they took Theosophy, they also introduced Co-Freemasonry.
Stay tuned for more....in Part 3.
The order is administered by the Supreme Council, which has its headquarters in Paris. Within the International Constitution, however, member Federations have the freedom of self-governance. International Co-Freemasonry was founded in France in the late nineteenth century, during a period of strong feminist and women's suffrage campaigning. It is the only true international Masonic Order and has members from over 60 countries worldwide.
French Masonry had long attempted to include women, the Grand Orient de France having allowed Rites of Adoption as early as 1774 by which Lodges could "adopt" sisters, wives, and daughters of Freemasons, imparting to them the mysteries of several degrees. In 1879, following differences among members of the Supreme Council of France, twelve lodges withdrew from the Grand Orient de France and founded the Grande Loge Symbolique de France. One of these Lodges, Les Libres Penseurs (The Free Thinkers) in Pecq, reserved in its charter the right to initiate women as Freemasons, proclaiming the essential equality of man and woman.
On January 14, 1882, Maria Deraismes, a well-known humanitarian, feminist author, lecturer and politician, was initiated into Les Libres Penseurs. The Right Worshipful Master, bro. Houbron, 18*, justified this act as having the highest interests of humanity at heart, and as being a perfectly logical application of the principle of 'A Free Mason in a Free Lodge.' The Lodge was soon suspended for this "impropriety."
In 1890 the Lodge La Jerusalem Ecossaise, also of the Grande Loge Symbolique de France, petitioned other Lodges for the establishment of a new order of Freemasonry that would accept both men and women. This time La Jerusalem Lodge did not propose to initiate women itself, but to create a new order working in parallel. The main proponent of this was Dr. Georges Martin, a French senator, advocate of equal rights for women, and also a member of Les Libres Penseurs.
On March 14, 1893, Deraismes, Martin and several other male Freemasons founded La Respectable Loge, Le Droit Humain, Maconnerie Mixte (Worshipful Lodge, Human Rights, Co-Masonry) in Paris. They initiated, passed and raised sixteen prominent French women. Shortly after, on April 4 of the same year, the first Grand Lodge of Co-Freemasonry was established, the Grande Loge Symbolilque Ecossaise Mixte de France (Grand Lodge of Mixed Scottish Rite Freemasonry of France), which would later become known as the International Order of Co-Freemasonry "Le Droit Humain."
This was a radical departure from most other forms of Freemasonry, for not only did the new order not require belief in a Supreme Being (the Grand Orient de France had discarded this requirement in 1877) - it opened its doors to all of humanity who were "...just upright and free, of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals."
The Eastern Federation Several prominent members of the Theosophical Society joined Co-Freemasonry, including Annie Besant, George Arundale, Charles W. Leadbeater, C. Jinarajadasa and Henry Steele Olcott. Henceforth, wherever they took Theosophy, they also introduced Co-Freemasonry.
Stay tuned for more....in Part 3.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Did you know? (Part 1)
..that I am a Freemason? And yes, I am a girl! Thanks for noticing.
"But how can YOU be a Freemason?" is a question I get asked quite frequently.
Well, for those that ask, my answer to you is "because I can..." And here's why...
Maria Deraismes, born August 17, 1828; died February 6, 1894. She was a french author and major pioneering force for women's rights. Born in Paris, Maria grew up in Pontoise in the city's northwest outskirts.
From a prosperous middle class family, she was well educated and raised in a literary environment that led to her authoring several literary works but soon developed a reputation as a very capable communicator. She became active in promoting women's rights and, in 1866, joine the Societe de le revendication des droits de la femme, a feminist organization advancing the cause of education for women.
In 1869, she founded L'Association pour le droit femmes with Leon Richer. Following the ouster of Napoleon III, she understood the new politics of the day meant a more moderate approach under the Third Republic in order for feminism to survive and not be marginalized by the new breed of male power brokers emerging at the time. Deraismes work brought her recognition in Great Britain and an influence upon American activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton who met her in Paris in 1882 following Deraismes breakthrough membership in the Freemasons.
A year later, she and Georges Martin organized the first Masonic lodge in the world to allow both men and women as members. Maria Deraismes was initiated on January 14, 1882 into Lodge "Les Libres Penseurs" of Pecq, a small village to the west of Paris. She was the first female Freemason, symbolizing initiatory equality. Eleven years later, on April 4, 1893, Maria Deraismes and Georges Martin, a well known mason, created in Paris the first co-masonic Lodge. Out of this co-masonic Lodge came the birth of the Grande Lodge Symbolique Ecossaise "Le Droit Humain," establishing the equality of men and women, out of which, later, came the birth of the International Order of Co-Masonry "LE DROIT HUMAIN."
With other support of Suffragettes such as Hubertine Auclert, Maria Seraismes worked to achieve political emancipation for women, standing as a symbolic candidate in the elections of 1885. On her death in 1894, Maria Derismes was interred in the Cimetiere de Montmartre. Her complete writings were published in 1895 and much information on her work can be found at the Bibliotheque Marguerite Durand in Paris. To honor her memory, a street in Paris was named for her and a statue was erected in a small park. The town square in St. Nazaire was also named in her honor.
The International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain is a global Masonic Order, membership of which is available to men and women on equal terms, regardless of nationality, religion or ethnicity.
The Order is founded on the ancient teachings and traditions of Freemasonry, using Masonic ritual and symbolism as its tools in the search for truth. On the individual level, the Order aims "to promote the progress of individual worth, without the imposition of dogma, or exacting the abandonment of cultural or religious ideas."
On a collective level it works "to unite men and women who agree on a humanist spirituality whilst respecting individual and cultural differences." In contrast with out Masonic organizations, which operate in national or state jurisdiction only. Le Droit Humain is a global fraternity with many Federations and Jurisdictions worldwide, each of which work the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite from the 1st to the 33rd degree.
...stay tuned for Part 2....and for more information on Co-Masonry click here.
"But how can YOU be a Freemason?" is a question I get asked quite frequently.
Well, for those that ask, my answer to you is "because I can..." And here's why...
Maria Deraismes, born August 17, 1828; died February 6, 1894. She was a french author and major pioneering force for women's rights. Born in Paris, Maria grew up in Pontoise in the city's northwest outskirts.From a prosperous middle class family, she was well educated and raised in a literary environment that led to her authoring several literary works but soon developed a reputation as a very capable communicator. She became active in promoting women's rights and, in 1866, joine the Societe de le revendication des droits de la femme, a feminist organization advancing the cause of education for women.
In 1869, she founded L'Association pour le droit femmes with Leon Richer. Following the ouster of Napoleon III, she understood the new politics of the day meant a more moderate approach under the Third Republic in order for feminism to survive and not be marginalized by the new breed of male power brokers emerging at the time. Deraismes work brought her recognition in Great Britain and an influence upon American activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton who met her in Paris in 1882 following Deraismes breakthrough membership in the Freemasons.
A year later, she and Georges Martin organized the first Masonic lodge in the world to allow both men and women as members. Maria Deraismes was initiated on January 14, 1882 into Lodge "Les Libres Penseurs" of Pecq, a small village to the west of Paris. She was the first female Freemason, symbolizing initiatory equality. Eleven years later, on April 4, 1893, Maria Deraismes and Georges Martin, a well known mason, created in Paris the first co-masonic Lodge. Out of this co-masonic Lodge came the birth of the Grande Lodge Symbolique Ecossaise "Le Droit Humain," establishing the equality of men and women, out of which, later, came the birth of the International Order of Co-Masonry "LE DROIT HUMAIN."
With other support of Suffragettes such as Hubertine Auclert, Maria Seraismes worked to achieve political emancipation for women, standing as a symbolic candidate in the elections of 1885. On her death in 1894, Maria Derismes was interred in the Cimetiere de Montmartre. Her complete writings were published in 1895 and much information on her work can be found at the Bibliotheque Marguerite Durand in Paris. To honor her memory, a street in Paris was named for her and a statue was erected in a small park. The town square in St. Nazaire was also named in her honor.
The International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain is a global Masonic Order, membership of which is available to men and women on equal terms, regardless of nationality, religion or ethnicity.
The Order is founded on the ancient teachings and traditions of Freemasonry, using Masonic ritual and symbolism as its tools in the search for truth. On the individual level, the Order aims "to promote the progress of individual worth, without the imposition of dogma, or exacting the abandonment of cultural or religious ideas."
On a collective level it works "to unite men and women who agree on a humanist spirituality whilst respecting individual and cultural differences." In contrast with out Masonic organizations, which operate in national or state jurisdiction only. Le Droit Humain is a global fraternity with many Federations and Jurisdictions worldwide, each of which work the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite from the 1st to the 33rd degree.
...stay tuned for Part 2....and for more information on Co-Masonry click here.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Today in HERstory
The year...1554The place...England
The woman's name...Lady Jane Grey
And a year after claiming the throne of England, for nine days, she is beheaded for treason.
Lady Jane Grey, eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk and great-niece of Henry VIII, was born October of 1527 only shortly after her cousin Edward VI. Jane spent most of her childhood in her family's home in Leicestershire, learning Greek, Latin, French, and Hebrew from tutors. Her education was started at an early age as was the custom for children of nobility. She was also brought up strictly Protestant.
At the age of nine, Jane was sent to the court of Katherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of Henry VIII. (It was also a custom for nobility to put their daughters under the guardianship of notable ladies to learn proper social etiquette.) Katherine was very much a motherly figure to Jane as she was to Jane's cousins Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. When Katherine died in 1547 after complications from childbirth, Jane was chief mourner at her funeral. After the death of Henry VIII, Katherine had married Thomas Seymour. After Katherine's death, Seymour made promises to Jane's parents that he would ensure her marriage to then King Edward VI, who was only nine at the time of his accession. However, this plan was cut short when Seymour's ambitious nature cost him his head.
This was not the end of plots to raise Jane to the queenship. John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland and chief councillor to the King, made plans to marry his son Guildford to Jane. Dudley would have surely been punished by Edward's staunchly Catholic sister Mary for his anti-Catholic policies and would have lost a great deal of power if Elizabeth were to acceed. His only hope laid with Jane, the technical fourth in line to the throne. Dudley befriended Jane's parents and she and Guildford were married on May 21, 1553. By this time it was clear that the King was sick and would probably not survive into adulthood.
Two months after Jane and Guildford were married, Edward VI was pronounced dead on July 10, 1533 and Jane's supporters, headed by John Dudley, proclaimed her Queen. Jane was reluctant to accept the crown forced upon her by her ambitious father-in-law who she hated. She later spoke of him "Woe worth him! He hath brought me and our stock in most miserable calamity and misery by his exceeding ambition." She hadn't even heard of Edward's death before she was summoned to Sion House where nobles fell to the ground, kissed her hands and paid homage to her as their sovereign. Her grief over the death of her cousin coupled with the shock of her new position prompted Jane to write later that the moment left her "stupified." Nevertheless, she made her way to the Tower of London in a ceremonious procession wearing the Tudor colors and raised shoes to give her height. Little did she know that she would never leave it.
Dudley was indeed a shrewd man and Jane had good reason to hate him. Jane believed that Mary was the rightful heir, but Dudley wouldn't hear of it. He sent a letter to Mary after the death of her brother stating that the King (implying he was still alive) wished to see her. His intentions were to take Mary prisoner when she entered the city and lock her in the Tower of London. Unfortunately for Dudley, Mary discovered the truth about Edward's death and Jane's accession, and continued her travel to London gaining support along the way. She entered the city in a triumphant procession accompanied by sister Elizabeth and any support left for Jane collapsed.
Meanwhile, Jane was still housed in the Tower with her own problems to deal with. Her husband, Guildford, was demanding that he be named King and Jane continuously denied him. (Jane probably saw that this was John Dudley's plan all along.) This led to many internal conflicts with Jane's kin. Guildford's mother adamantly berated Jane for her unwaivering resolve and got into loud fights with Jane's father. Jane's council was abandoning her one by one in hopes of saving their lives and the people were refusing to arm against Mary in support of Jane. Nine days after she was proclaimed Queen, Jane was deposed in favor of Mary.
John Dudley was beheaded at Tower Hill on August 2, 1553 and Jane's father was also arrested. Jane and Guildford were imprisoned in the Tower on charges of high treason. After much reluctance, Mary signed the death warrants of her kin. Jane said goodbye to Guildford from her Tower window as he was being led to his death on the morning of February 12, 1554. She saw his headless body later that day being brought from the execution.
That same day, Jane was executed herself in a more private affair on Tower Green. The confusion of the past year of her life took its toll on the young girl who blindly scrambled to find the block to put her head upon, until a bystander led her hands to it. Before she was beheaded, Jane politely asked the executioner if he would take off her head before she laid it down. He answered her "No madame" and cut off her head.
Jane Grey went down in history as the Nine Day Queen, a poor girl used and victimized as a result of the ambitions of her parents and in-laws.
Just goes to show...be careful what you wish for. And be careful whom you trust. For it could be YOUR head on the chopping block.
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