Just before his death Edward established Christ’s Hospital, or home for the support and education of fatherless children, and refounded and renewed the St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew hospitals for the sick in London.  Thus “he was the founder,” says Burnet, “of those houses which, by many great additions since that time, have risen to be amongst the noblest of Europe.”

Christ’s Hospital was, perhaps, the first Protestant charity school opened in England; many more were patterned on it.  It, and others like it, are known as “Blue-Coat Schools,” from the costume of the boys,—­a relic of the days of Edward VI.  This consists of a long, blue coat, like a monk’s gown, reaching to the ankles, girded with a broad leather belt, long, bright yellow stockings, and buckle shoes.  Most of the boys go bareheaded winter and summer.

An exciting game of football, played in the schoolyard in this peculiar medieval dress, used to seem strangely in contrast with the sights of modern London streets.  It was as though the spectator, by passing through a gateway, had gone back over three centuries of time.  Coleridge, Lamb, and other noted men of letters were educated there, and have left most interesting reminiscences of their school life, especially Lamb, in his delightful “Essays of Elia.”  Late in the nineteenth century this famous institution was removed to the country, and part of the site of the ancient school is now covered with a great business structure.

366.  Effect of Catholicism versus Protestantism.

Speaking of the Protestant Reformation, of which Edward VI may be taken as a representative, Macaulay remarks that “it is difficult to say whether England received most advantage from the Roman Catholic religion or from the Reformation.  For the union of the Saxon and Norman races, and the abolition of slavery, she is chiefly indebted to the influence which the priesthood in the Middle Ages exercised over the people” (S47); “for political and intellectual freedom, and for all the blessings which they have brought in their train, she owes the most to the great rebellion of the people against the priesthood.”

367.  Summary.

The establishment of the Protestant faith in England, and of a large number of Protestant charity schools known as Edward VI’s or “Blue-Coat Schools” may be regarded as the leading events of Edward’s brief reign of six years.

Mary—­1553-1558

368.  Lady Jane Grey claims the Crown.

On the death of King Edward, Lady Jane Grey, a descendant of Henry VII, and a relative of Edward VI, was persuaded by her father-in-lawe, the Duke of Northumberland, to assume the crown, which had been left to her by the will of the late King.

Edward’s object in naming Lady Jane was to secure a Protestant successor, since his elder sister, Mary, was a zealous Catholic, while from his younger sister, Elizabeth, he seems to have been estranged.  By birth, though not directly by Henry VIII’s will, Mary was without doubt the rightful heir.[1] Queen Mary received the support of the country, and Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Lord Dudley, were arrested and sent to the Tower of London.