Jane Seymour Third Wife of Hernry VIII & GIVEAWAY!

 

Jane Seymour was one of six surviving children of ten born to John and Margery Seymour. Jane grew up with her two sisters and three brothers. She loved doing needlework and didn't care much for books. She never learned Latin which opened up other doors of learning. What she loved was the outdoors and was quite good at horsemanship and gardens. 

By Hans Holbein the Younger - egE1bExAbnBDgg — Google Arts & Culture, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22189674

Around the age of 19, Jane came to court. In time she would serve as a lady-in-waiting for Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife and then Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife. Jane's two younger sisters have married. But ten years later, Jane, who was said to be mild of nature and soft spoken, had still not had a marriage secured for her. 

I'll pause here to say that I did read a different account of this story, one that has Jane the 'not so sweet and soft-spoken lady'. Though the story was the same as far as events, they portrayed her as being a master manipulator. From everything I have read I don't believe this to be true.

By now Jane is in her mid-twenties and considered an old maid. Yet even at that advanced age, Jane still caught the eye of Henry sometime during his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Henry sent a gift to Jane and she refused the gift. Again later, Henry sent Jane another gift to which Jane responded that she was a gentlewoman of fair an honourable lineage without reproach and she had nothing in the world but her honour, which she would not wound for a thousand deaths. This humble response only drew Henry to her more.

By Hans Holbein Workshop - https://www.flickr.com/photos/33317700@N07/3429728750/in/set-72157620149528073/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10436925

Anne is now pregnant with her second child. She was in distress, knowing that if she did not produce a male heir with this pregnancy her very life was at stake. She knew that there were growing numbers who had turned against her. 

                By After Hans Holbein the Younger - eAHC0d0WiemXSA — Google Arts & Culture, Public Domain,                                                                            https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21878559

Jane eventually accepts a locket from the king. One with his picture in it. Anne spots the locket and things turn very ugly, very quickly. It isn't long after this that at four months, Anne miscarries and loses the baby—a boy. That seals Anne's fate. 

Now the statement, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, certainly stands true for Jane. Chapuy said she was of middling stature and very pale and she was not of much beauty. Contrast that to Russel who said she was the fairest of all the King's wives.

Anne is executed and the following day Henry and Jane are betrothed and ten days later they were married. Jane was not the party animal of Anne. She was more conservative and didn't have the lavish entertainments. When she did attempt to interfere in national affairs, asking her husband for pardons for participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace, shortly after their marriage, Henry rejected it and reminded her of Anne's fate when she had meddled in his affairs.

Four months later, in September, as the plans for Jane's coronation was being planned to take place on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels the plague broke out, forcing the coronation to be postponed. But what they don't know is that her coronation would never take place.

By early spring Jane is pregnant, and I'm sure feeling some sense of relief. She has passed the first test. She's gotten pregnant. But now she must carry the child without miscarrying, give birth to a live baby, and the baby must be a boy to secure her position.

Everyone predicts this will be a son, and heir to the the throne. Henry believes it will be as well. Jane carries the child full-term and goes into labor on October 9th. She labored for three days and three nights and eventually gives birth to a healthy boy on October 12th. But Jane didn't bounce back from the birth of her son and her health continued to go down hill. Twelve days after the birth of her son, the Prince, Jane passes away. The king is heart-broken by the loss of his favorite wife. 

By Hans Holbein the Younger - fgGYFrGD2c5Etg at Google Cultural Institute maximum zoom level, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21996743

The woman who gave him the one thing no other wife could, a son, was gone. The country grieved the death of the queen just days after they celebrated the birth of an heir. Edward VI.

Edward, at the age of 9 became king upon his father's death on January 28th, 1447. The king was 55 when he died. Edward served as king for 6 years when he became ill. He had several small rebounds but was never able to beat his illness which today some historians believe it was tuberculosis. 

By Circle of William Scrots - Sotheby's London, 04 July 2012, Sale L12033, Lot 10; direct link: [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20165105

GIVEAWAY:

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CLICK HERE TO ENTER

A broken heart, a controlling father, and an intrusive Scot leave Charlotte Jackson reeling. Accused of stealing an heirloom pin, she must choose between an unwanted marriage and the ruin of her family name. With the futures of her three younger sisters at stake, as well as her own reputation, Charlotte must navigate through injustice to find forgiveness and true happiness.

Eager to find the traitor that caused the death of his brother, Duncan Mackenzie comes to America and attempts to fit in with Charleston society. But when the headstrong Charlotte catches his eye, Duncan takes on a second mission—acquiring the lass's hand. After being spurned several times, he uses unconventional ways of winning her heart.

Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of Sword of Forgiveness, Amazon's #1 seller for Historical Christian Romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina with their 4 horses, 3 dogs, 6 ducks, and miniature donkey.