Edward VI's Chronicle

Book excerpt: Edward VI was England's last boy king. He ascended to the throne at just nine years of age and was dead at fifteen.But what he lacked in time, he made up for in action. His six-year-long reign was defined by social unrest, economic hardship, war and factional strife. The Reformation of the Church was accelerated, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown on Edward's deathbed when he attempted to exclude his Catholic half-sister Mary from the line of succession.Like all great historical stories, these events can be read in many books. But it's also something of a rarity, for we have the opportunity to hear the story from Edward's own lips.Edward's Chronicle was a long-term project. Designed by his tutors as an educational exercise, he made regular contributions to it throughout his reign - detailing momentous events within his own court and across Europe.Both King and Chronicle matured as the years elapsed. It became increasingly sophisticated, touching on a wide range of themes - from administration, to finances, to diplomacy, to war, to religion - and remains one of the go-to sources for information on his life and times.Though inaccurate and naïve in places, it shows all the signs of a boy of great promise. And while his legacy is all too often overshadowed by the reigns of his imposing father, Henry VIII, and his accomplished half-sister, Elizabeth I, his impact on the English Church and society continues to be felt in the present day.Thanks to the Chronicle, his voice will never be silenced.