The date is June 1553. Edward is only a teenager and he is dying. The Duke of Northumberland has requested the services of a solicitor so that he can dictate a will.

All the individuals mentioned in his will are real, including all the job titles for his staff. He did indeed own the private writing desk described and the contents were also real. The horoscope from Cardano was also real. And wrong.

Edward did indeed keep a diary (his Chronicle) and really did have that many jewel encrusted objects and valuables. The Three Brothers is indeed a famous jewel which has a history of its own.  But he did really own it as well as all those clothes. He did own all the astronomy instruments mentioned (and spelt correctly!)

He loved reading and really did give Sir Thomas Gresham money to set up his own college, which still offers free lectures to this day (check them out!) as well as owning the specific books mentioned. He was responsible for the Book of Common Prayer hence its mention.

He was very close to his step mother Catherine Parr. And Elizabeth really did make him shirts herself!  The rule about Elizabeth and Mary getting money if they married is absolutely true. And we really did get new wedding vows as part of the changes he brought about. The line to Mary about avoiding foreign dances was true and that she liked artichokes.

The funeral was exactly as he describes it.  The changes to the rules of succession are also true - he avoided Elizabeth and Mary and set up Lady Jane Grey who had just married the son of his protector. Hmm, co-incidence?

The five people next door are real and were there when he died. He did owe Wroth 10 yards of velvet from a wager. The story about the increased need for security is true. The words Andrew reads at the end from a will are actually the wording from his Father Henry VIII's will.

If you want to find out more about Edward, check out the sources and places below:

Edward VI: The Lost King of England - Chris Skidmore

Penguin Monarchs Series: Edward VI - Stephen Alford

Tudor Church Militant: Edward VI and the Protestant Reformation - Diarmaid MacCulloch

The English Monarchs Series: Edward VI - Jennifer Loach