Jane and Guildford Dudley were tried at Guildhall on November 13, 1553. Both were found guilty and sentenced to death. Even at this stage, Jane did not expect to die. Indeed, Mary Tudor probably had no intention of carrying out the sentence. It is thought that the civil disturbance known as Wyatt’s Rebellion changed her mind. Jane’s father, the Marquess of Dorset, Henry Grey, took part in this rebellion.

The success of Mary's alliance with Spain depended upon the stability of her kingdom. She was left with little choice other than to remove every trace of unrest. On February 7, 1554, Mary signed the death warrants of, "Guildford Dudley and his wife..." The execution was set to take place two days later.

On February 8, 1554, Jane was told to prepare for death the following morning. It was on this day that Dr. Feckenham, Mary's chaplain, visited her to offer religious counsel and the opportunity to convert to Catholicism before her death. Jane told him, “I am ready to face death patiently and in whatsoever manner it may please the Queen to appoint.�?She went on to say that she had no time for the “controversy�?between the two religions. Feckenham took her reference to lack of time literally. He believed that Jane may have felt the need to recant her beliefs but did not have enough time to do so. He informed Mary, who granted Jane and Guildford a reprieve of three days for their “spiritual enlightenment�? When Feckenham informed Jane, she was dismayed. “Alas, sir! I did not intend what I said to be reported to the Queen, nor would I have you think me covetous of a moment’s longer life. I am only solicitous for a better life in eternity and will gladly suffer death since it is Her Majesty's pleasure...let me make my peace with God.�?Feckenham was later to report that he was struck by Jane's gentleness and honor. He asked that she may allow him to accompany her to the scaffold, to which she consented.

It was decided that Guildford would be executed on Tower Hill and Jane within the confines of the Tower. On February 11, Guildford requested the right to meet with Jane. Mary consented, adding that she hoped it would be of some consolation to them both. When word was sent to Jane, she refused, replying that, “it would disturb the holy tranquility with which we have prepared ourselves for death�? Jane added that they must postpone their meeting until they “met in a better world�?

Around ten o'clock on the morning of February 12, Jane watched from her window as her husband was led from the Beauchamp Tower on his way to Tower Hill. She was still at the window when his body was thrown into a cart and brought back into the Tower, his head wrapped in bandages at his side. She wept openly at the sight, and was heard to utter his name and something about the “bitterness of death�?

Jane had spent the morning in prayer and writing letters of farewell. Shortly before eleven o'clock she was collected by the Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir John Brydges. Jane then made her way to the scaffold, clutching Brydges�?arm. Yeoman of the Guard surrounded the wooden structure that had been erected the day before. At the scaffold, Jane was met by Dr. Feckenham, along with several other Tower chaplains.

“God grant you all your desires and accept my own hearty thanks for all your attention to me. Although indeed, those attentions have tried me more than death can now terrify me,�?Jane addressed the chaplain. She then climbed the stairs and addressed the onlookers, “Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact, indeed, against the queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me; but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day.�?She then recited the fifty-first psalm, after which she told Feckenham, “God I beseech Him abundantly reward you for your kindness to me.�?/FONT>