Page:Entertaining life & death of the amiable Lady Jane Gray (1).pdf/11

 The Duke of Northumbeland endeavoured for some time to keep the, death of King Edward (which happened, on the 6th of July, 1553,) secret; but on Monday the tenth of July, in the forenoon, he repaired, together with the Duke of Suffolk, whom he had brought into his views, to Durham house, where Lady Jane resided with her husband, as part of Northumberland’s family. There, the Duke of Suffolk, with much solemnity, explained to his daughter the disposition the late King had made of his Crown by letters patent; the clear sense the Privy Council had of her right; and the consent of the Magistrates and Citizens of London; and, in conclusion, himself and Northumberland fell on their knees, and paid their homage to her as Queen of England. The poor Lady, somewhat astonished at their behaviour and discourse, but in no respect moved by their reasons, or in the least elevated, by such unexpected honours, answered them, “That the laws of the kingdom, and natural right, standing for the King’s sisters, she would beware of burthening her weak conscience with a yoke which did belong to them;