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Lessons 2&3

EDWARD V1 – A MAN AFTER GOD’S HEART

Edward V1 was only nine when he became king in 1547 after
his father, King Henry V111. He was known as the ‘boy-king’. He had been
taught by Protestant tutors since the age of six. Amazingly, these men

had avoided persecution for their beliefs; King Henry V111 had passed a
law intended to rid the country of Protestant beliefs before Edward was

one year old. By the time Edward was five, his father, recognising the
increase in Bible reading, tried to restrict it to the upper classes.

However, Edward believed in God and prayed daily to him. He believed

that everyone could have direct access to God through prayer. He was a
very intelligent boy with a keen and enquiring faith in Jesus Christ. He

wanted justice for people who had done wrong in the land.

Edward was a keen athlete and at the age of thirteen appointed himself
Master of Sports at Court, organising royal competitions himself. Edward

was too young to rule the country so the Duke of Somerset, followed by
the Duke of Northumberland, was in charge of state affairs. From an

early age Edward received copies of government papers and took a keen
interest in them.

Many were saved from persecution and death because of Edward’s faith

which was made known throughout the court. He sponsored preachers to
travel around the countryside and he helped the poor. Edward used

money wisely and showed no signs of extravagance like his father.

Many who had looked down on Edward came to respect him and admired
his qualities. Sadly, soon after his fifteenth birthday, having survived

smallpox and measles, he died from consumption. Edward’s dying prayer
was recorded:-

‘Lord God, deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life and take me among Thy
chosen. Howbeit, not my will but Thy will be done. Lord, I commit my spirit to Thee.
Oh Lord, Thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with Thee, yet for Thy

chosen’s sake send me life and health that I may serve Thee. O my Lord God, bless
Thy people and save Thine inheritance. O Lord God, save Thy chosen people in
England. O my Lord God, defend this realm from papistry and maintain the true
religion, that I and my people may praise Thy holy Name, for Thy Son Jesus Christ’s
sake.’

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