Edward VI

king of England, son of Henry VIII by his wife Jane Seymour, was born at Hampton Court, October 12,1537. He is mentioned here rather for the great events of his reign than for his personal qualities, though these were excellent. He was crowned in 1547, and his uncle, Edward Seymour, afterwards earl of Somerset, became Protector of the kingdom. "He was attached to the principles of the Reformation, and during his rule great strides were made towards the establishment of Protestantism in England. The images were removed from the churches; refractory Roman Catholic bishops were imprisoned; the laity were allowed the cup at the ceremony of the Lord's Supper; all ecclesiastical processes were ordered to run in the king's name; Henry's famous six articles (known as the Bloody Statute) were repealed; a new service-book, compiled by Cranmer and Ridley, assisted by eleven other divines, was drawn up, and ordered to be used, and is known as the First Prayer-book of Edward VI, SEE COMMON PRAYERBOOK; and the celibacy of the clergy ceased to be obligatory" (Chambers, Encyclopaedia, s.v.). The young king was in full sympathy with the Reformation; but his plans, and those of his counselors were arrested by his death, July 6,1553.