ABSTRACT
Henry's death was concealed for a couple of days. There was nothing sinister about this, but certain matters had to be resolved before a public announcement could be made. Most particularly, the young King had to be in the right place when he was proclaimed, that is in London. He was in fact at Hatfield on 28th January and, when the Earl of Hertford arrived early the next morning, accompanied by Sir Anthony Browne, to escort him to the capital the boy thought at first that he had been summoned in connection with his forthcoming creation as Prince of Wales. 1 When he learned the truth, we are told that he wept copiously. How well he had ever known his father is uncertain, but such a reaction would have been expected. Elizabeth was at Enfield and was collected on the return journey. Her response to the news was similar. Mary's feeling may well have been a good deal more complicated, but we do not know just what they were. She later complained that she had been kept in the dark about her father's death and that may have been deliberate. She was by English law the next heir to the throne after Edward, but in the eyes of catholic Europe took precedence over him because she was legitimate. 2 For ten years she had given no hint of resistance to her father's will, but no one could be absolutely sure that she would not make a claim as soon as he was dead. In fact she seems to have had no such intention, but from the point of view of those who had to manage the transition to the new regime, it was important that Edward should be established before she was informed.
