On this day in history, 20th February 1547, King Edward VI was crowned King at Westminster Abbey, following the death of his father Henry VIII on 28th January 1547.
You can read all about the coronation procession and the coronation itself in my article The Coronation of Edward VI, but here is a contempoary account of the coronation celebrations from Windor Herald and chronicler Charles Wriothesley:
“The nynetenth daie of Februarie the Kinges Majestie rode from the Towre to Westminster through the cittie of London, which was rychly hanged with riche cloathes and divers pageantes, the conduites running wyne, the craftes standing in their raills, and the aldermen, the lord major riding in a crymosin velvett gowne with a rych collar of goulde, with a mase in his hand, afore the King; and, when his Majestie came where the aldermen stode, the Recorder made a proposition to his Majestie, and after the Chamberlaine gave his Majestie a purse of cloath of gould for a present from the cittie, which he thanckfullie tooke.
This month of Februarie was levied amongest the citizens of London for the Kinges coronation a benevolence after the manner of a xvth and a half.
The twentith daie of Februarie, being the Soundaie Quinquagesima, the Kinges Majestie Edward the Sixth, of the age of nyne yeares and three monthes, was crowned King of this realme of Englande, France, and Irelande, within the church of Westminster, with great honor and solemnitie, and a great feast keept that daie in Westminster Hall which was rychlie hanged, his Majestie sitting all dynner with his crowne on his head; and, after the second course served, Sir Edward Dymmocke, knight, came ridinge into the hall in clene white complete harneis, rychlie gilded, and his horse rychlie trapped, and cast his gauntlett to wage battell against all men that wold not take him for right King of this realme, and then the King dranke to him and gave him a cupp of golde; and after dynner the King made many knightes, and then he changed his apparell, and so rode from thence to Westminster Place.
The 21st daie was great justes with runninge at the tilt, and the Justes. 22th daie was fighting and turninge at the barriors, where was many noble feates donne.”
Also on this day in history: Following her birth on 18th February 1516, the future Mary I, was baptised on 20th February 1516 in the Church of the Observant Friars at Greenwich. The little princess was carried to the font by the Countess of Surrey and her godparents were Catherine Courtenay, Countess of Devon and daughter of Edward IV; Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence; the Duchess of Norfolk and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
Notes and Sources
- A Chronicle of England During the Reigns of the Tudors from AD 1485-1559, Volume 2, Charles Wriothesley, p182-183
There is just something about Edward VI and his mother Jane Seymour – I have never been able to warm up to those two.
Crowned at age 9 and deceased at age 15 Edward never had to endure the hardship his half-sister Elizabeth experienced by the time she was crowned at age 25. Fate seems to have intervened to provide the country with a rock-solid sovereign rather a boy brought about and surely groomed by the Seymour family.
He was described as showing no emotion when his favourite uncle Thomas Seymour was beheaded his mother didn’t appear to show any compassion for Anne Boleyn who was beheaded to make way for her, although I feel sorry for Edward who was after all only young when he was crowned and therefore didn’t have any say in ruling the country, it was his uncles who did that, and he did suffer terribly when he died I think had he lived he may have been every bit as ruthless as his father, there’s something in his gaze when he looks out at you in his portrait, he’s adopted his fathers stance and his face isn’t smiling and in fact shows no emotion whatsoever, it’s hard to say and we can only contemplate but had he lived into adulthood who knows what King he may have become?
From what I have read recently. Edward was quite bright and took a very active interest in reforming the Church. I don’t want to offend anyone, but the erasing of the beautiful artwork across England’s Church’s was one of the worst vandalisms ever self-inflicted.
Be he died in such agony I can only pity him.