Grey Jane - Lady Jane Grey: My Story

Today I kept my promise to Edward and began my diary. He has sent me a beautiful book to write it in. It is bound in red velvet and has a gold clasp and key. I will lock it every night, and hang the key under my bodice. I am trying to find a safe place to keep it in. My sister Katherine is very nosy and I do not want her to find it.

I am calling it the chronicle of Lady Jane Grey. Edward has begun a chronicle too. He told me about it when I last saw him, at Court. My tutor Master Cheke told me I should write a diary, he said. He says it will be good for my writing and help me to write my thoughts clearly.

I have never written a diary, I told him.

Then you must, he said. I command you to! We both burst out laughing. The courtiers who were in the chamber Edward is seldom on his own looked at us curiously. Edward doesnt laugh often. But he is my favourite cousin. He likes to study as much as me. I wish I saw him more often. We are the same age, but I will be ten first!

I had almost forgotten my promise when a messenger galloped up to the house this morning and my nurse summoned me. She told me I was wanted below. A package had arrived for me. I was excited and ran downstairs. The messenger had ridden all the way from London to bring it to me, and that is a very long way several days hard ride from my home, Bradgate Park, in Leicestershire.

The messenger bowed and said, Are you the Lady Jane Grey?

I am, I told him.

Then this is for you, he said. With a flourish he handed me the package.

Who is it from? I said turning it over in my hands. It was wrapped in fine cloth and felt hard like a book.

That I cannot say, he said. I was told to tell you that it comes from the Court. And I was to put it into no other hands but yours.

You see! Who else could it be from but my cousin? I understand him and he understands me. I am so pleased with my book. I will try and write neatly in it and not blot the pages. It will be a great comfort to me I am sure, for I can say in it whatever I like. Mother says I am too apt to say what I think and it is not always what she wants to hear. I will write down important things too so that when I am old and forgetful like my nurse, I can look back and remember how I felt when I was nearly ten.