Henry VIII made a final revision to his last will and testament on 30 December 1546. It was signed using the "dry stamp", a device in use since 1545 and under the control of
Anthony Denny and
John Gates. It confirmed the line of succession as one living male and six living females. It began with Henry's three children,
Edward,
Mary and
Elizabeth, followed by the three daughters of
Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk, who was the second child and eldest daughter of Henry VIII's younger sister,
Princess Mary. Last in the line of succession was the daughter of
Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland, who was the third child and younger daughter of the king's younger sister,
Princess Mary. •
Edward •
Mary •
Elizabeth •
Jane •
Katherine •
Mary •
Margaret The will containing the line of succession was read, stamped and sealed on 30 December and placed in the custody of Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford. After Henry died on the night of 27–28 January 1547, the will was locked in a box to which only Hertford had the key, delaying its reading to Parliament by Henry’s principal secretary until Hertford returned the key after he had secured the person of Prince Edward, Henry’s son and heir. The document is still extant, but this fact was not generally known or accepted by the 1560s, when some believed it was lost, or had been destroyed. ==Executors==