Jane Seymour

I was born in Wolf Hall. I had eight siblings, but my favorite siblings were Edward and Thomas. I would always play with them at Wolf Hall and have many adventures. One day both of my brothers went off to college. I hated to see them go. The world was so lonely without them.

One day I became lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. I admired Katherine. I thought she was a saint in every way. When I heard that the king was trying to cast off Queen Katherine and make Anne Boleyn his queen, I wanted to pull all of Anne’s hair out. How could Anne do this to such a kind-hearted queen! From that day on I believed that Anne was a witch.

My father sent me back home when Anne married Henry VIII. When I was back home in Wolf Hall, I met Thomas’s best friend Henry Borough. Henry was so handsome, dashing, charming, and adventurous that I fell in love with him immediately. Henry and I flirted. This was the first time I had ever flirted before with men. Henry was in love with me and I with him. Then one day, Henry had to marry somebody else. I was so devastated. I promised myself that I would never marry again. “How come he didn’t marry me?” I asked. “He was already betrothed to somebody else, he couldn’t marry you,” said my brother Thomas. For days I didn’t sleep nor ate. I stayed in my room day and night.

One day my father sent me to become lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn. I didn’t want to serve Anne after what she did to Katherine, but at least it kept my thoughts ways from Henry. I was quiet. I did my work. I talked very little because I still hadn’t gotten over Henry. I witnessed the marriage problems between the tempestuous Anne and Henry. I couldn’t help but feel triumph when Henry threatened Anne. He should never have married her! He shouldn’t have divorced Katherine. That’s what he got for marrying a witch!

One day my father sent me home. My father said that the king was coming to our house to get away from Queen Anne. I had to entertain him and if the plan worked the king would divorce Anne and marry me! If the plan worked well I would be Queen of England! King Henry arrived at Wolf Hall. I was so meek and mild with him that he began to pay attention to me. After he left he told my father, “You have a beautiful, obedient, and meek daughter, John.” Then he left. Oh I hope the plan worked!

When I was back at court, my brothers pushed me into the King’s eye. I was for this of course because I wanted to be Queen of England and bring about Anne’s downfall. I would rid Henry and England of the evil Anne had brought them. I would be doing England and the king a favor.

One day in the garden, the king said to me, “Jane! I love you, Jane! You are so meek. I love that in a woman.” I decided to follow Anne’s influence. After all, that is how she got the king to marry her. “I’m sorry. You are already have a wife. I will be no man’s mistress. I’m saving all my love for my husband,” I said. “Ah, you have virtue. I love that in a woman. Jane, I will divorce Anne and marry you!”

I left him in the garden. While we were playing cards, Henry paid for all of my debts. He gave me costly gifts and gave my brothers a promotion at court. Within a few months I became sick. I went to the doctors and I was told I was pregnant. I told Henry this and he said he would do something about it! I couldn’t help but feel triumph! I had revenged Katherine by casting Anne off! I would be queen! I would be the best queen England ever had!

One day I heard that Anne was arrested for adultery and incest. Even though I wanted England to be rid of Anne, I still felt she didn’t deserve to die! Oh Anne forgive me! But the king and I were already planning to marry me, so I did my best to forget about Anne and think about my marriage. But I could not! On the day Anne was executed, I felt guilty! I had murdered innocent men! And above all, I had murdered Anne! I felt depressed; I couldn’t help it! I went to confession and confessed my sins because I felt so guilty!

Ten days later, I married Henry. I was Queen of England! I was so happy! I was destined to be Queen of England! My husband told me I wasn’t going to have a coronation until after our son was born. I shivered. If I failed then; I would be cast off like Katherine or maybe be beheaded like Anne! I waited for the birth of my child, praying to God to let it be a boy, If I was going to survive it had to be a boy. During this time, I canceled parties. Anne always had parties every weekend. And I made the court quiet and peaceful so that way Henry and I could have our rest. I invited Mary and Elizabeth to come to court. I provided Elizabeth with education since Mary already had hers. I loved my stepdaughters but I couldn’t help but favor Elizabeth over Mary. Elizabeth was smart and she taught me things I didn’t even know!

Finally the day of the birth of my child came. It was as if I was being tortured in the Tower of London. Finally, the pain stopped. “Ah, you have given birth to a boy,” the midwife said. A boy! Hooray! I was saved! “His name shall be Edward because today is St. Edward’s day,” I said. The king was thrilled that it was a boy. He was so happy that he was crying. When the king left, I studied Edward. He was weak and frail, but a boy no less. “Oh, Edward! You are my savior!” I cried. I was so relieved and so happy. I was free. I would be queen for the rest of my life. But my happiness didn’t last long. I began to fell ill. I went to my son’s christening, but I couldn’t stay for the festivities. I took a nap. I started to get worse. The physician said that there was nothing he could do. I knew that I would die soon.

On October 24, 1537, I confessed my sins to the priest. I closed my eyes and I thought about my life, my sorrows, my guilt, my triumphs…