Katherine Howard’s Execution: The Tragic End of a Young Life
Posted By Claire on February 13, 2012
Today’s post comes from historian Marilyn Roberts, author of “The Mowbray Legacy” and the forthcoming “Norfolk House”. You may remember her articles on the Howards from December. Thank you, Marilyn!
There has been a quiet spell, of sorts, since 22nd December 1541 when we left prominent members of the Howard family incarcerated in the Tower. Some had already been charged and imprisoned for life over their involvement in Queen Katherine’s transgressions, but some, including the old Duchess of Norfolk, are still languishing in some discomfort, and no little terror.
1st January
Marillac, the French Ambassador, writes that Lord William Howard is ‘the least charged’ and it is hoped he will be released soon, but his mother the Duchess, his sister Lady Bridgewater and the former Queen are yet to be judged by parliament through a Bill of Attainder.
16th January
Neatly slotted in among the list of rather mundane parliamentary business for the forthcoming session comes ‘For due process to be had in high treason in cases of lunacy or madness,’ which is highly significant, as Lady Rochford has suffered a nervous breakdown. Attainder will be condemnation without trial, and part of the purpose of the Bill is also to give parliamentary sanction to executions and imprisonments which have already taken place. Tucked away amongst the rest of the business we find the actual Bill of Attainder:
Katharine Howard whom the King took to wife is proved to have been not of pure and honest living before her marriage, and the fact that she has since taken to her service one Francis Dereham, the person with whom she used that vicious life before, and has taken as chamberer a woman who was privy to her naughty life before, is proof of her will to return to her old abominable life … and has met Culpeper in a secret and vile place… with only that bawd, the lady Jane Rocheford….
Some, including Lord Chancellor Audley, are uneasy that Katherine is not to be brought forward to defend herself, even if only to give the appearance of fair treatment, but when the delegation arrives at Syon to question her further she has no more to add except she hopes her family will not be made to suffer for her wrongdoings.
21st January
The Bill has its first reading.
8th February
Life-sized figure of Queen Katherine Howard, Gainsborough Old Hall. © Marilyn Roberts 2012
The Bill of Attainder has its second reading and within the next three days will have its third and final reading before becoming an Act of Parliament and passing into law. It is, of course, a foregone conclusion that there will be no opposition, the Act will be passed and Katherine Howard will lose her head. She has been under house arrest, in reduced circumstances but no real discomfort, since the middle of November, so how much does she know of what is going on outside? Does she know Culpeper and Dereham are already gone, that her old step-grandmother is in the Tower, or that her own days are truly numbered? Come to think of it, what do any of the accused know of the current circumstances and whereabouts of the others?
10th February
Katherine Howard is taken on her penultimate journey in this life: to the Tower. In no doubt now as to where she is going and what is to happen to her, she struggles and has to be forced into a small covered boat and is then escorted along the Thames with Southampton ahead in a large barge and Suffolk behind in a barge loaded with armed men. The King’s great friend Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, has a little granddaughter aged about four. She’s a bright little thing called Jane Grey.
11th February
The Bill of Attainder passes into law after its third reading; Henry cannot face the distasteful task of putting his name to what amounts to his own wife’s death warrant, but the execution is still to go ahead.
12th February
The former Queen Katherine is told to ‘prepare her soul’, as is her lady-in-waiting Lady Rochford. Jane Rochford has gone mad with worry since her arrest, but the new law allowing the execution of someone not of sound mind will be able to deal with that.
13th February
Marillac writes to Francis I and comments on the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk’s valuables and the precariousness of her position now that the Bill has become an Act of Parliament,
As to the old duchess of Norfolk, some say she shall die, others that she shall keep perpetual prison, like her son Lord William and daughter the Countess of Bridgewater. A few days will show. All her goods are already confiscated, and are of marvellous value, 400,000 or 500,000 cr [crowns]. Norfolk is greatly interested, since the greater part came to her through his late father; yet the times are such that he dare not show that the affair touches him, but approves all that is done.
In a post script to his letter the ambassador writes that he has just heard the Queen is dead, only eighteen months after her marriage. His source reports that she was followed immediately by Jane Rochford and both women made a suitably dignified exit, and are to be buried under the floor of the Tower Church of St. Peter-ad-Vincula close to the likewise decapitated bodies of Katherine’s cousins Anne and George Boleyn.
Ottwell Johnson was present at the scaffold this morning, and is mulling over what he will say in his next letter to his brother John in Calais. He will keep it brief. He will write that the Queen, after telling the onlookers that she felt justly condemned – having sinned against God in breaking all His commandments – had asked those present to pray for the preservation of the King. She made a good end, thinks Ottwell. There are whispers about town that the Queen spoke of her love for Master Thomas Culpeper, but witnesses say not.
Gainsborough Old Hall, Lincolnshire. Gainsborough Old Hall - Katherine stayed here with HenryVIII (and Thomas Culpeper). ©Marilyn Roberts 2012
Queen Katherine’s uncle of Norfolk, whose efforts had more than likely brought her to Court in the first place, is conveniently ill today, but his son was present as they snatched his cousin’s life away. Perhaps one day, in the not too distant future, his turn will come.
It looks as though the Dowager Duchess and her daughter will be allowed to live but face life imprisonment. Only time will tell whether the King will find it in his heart to release them – but things are not looking very promising.
You can read Marilyn’s previous articles at:-
- Katherine Howard, the Duchess and Norfolk House by Marilyn Roberts
- 470 Years Ago – Terror for the Howards at Christmas
RIP Queen Katherine Howard
Wow!! It really does make my heart ache reading it like that
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Just like Anne Boleyn, poor Kathryn had no chance to explain or defend herself in an honest and fair way in a real court of law, nor anyone to act as a lawyer in her behalf. Henry’s tears were all show – a grand display of self pity, but no real concern for a naive young girl thrown to the wolves of court.
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Baroness Von Reis Reply:
April 9th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Miladyblue,Once again i must agree with your reply,this Queen was but a child of 15 years when Henry was in the chase for her,to end her life in such a mannor must have been horrific!!I myself have never pityed Henry for the choices he made,it seemed to me that these women were used as brude mares,clearly he cared not for any female offsring,as he said I care not who I call bastards when I am dead.I really think, that any women that was to be with him,should have eyes wide open to this King,aswell as making her bad choices ,sealed her fate but I look at her age that really explaines much about her short life.She was to young and Henry much to old for this doomed child/Queen.She reminds me of The Lady Jane Grey and her very short life as a Queen 9 days.I must sayif you have not seen this movie it is well worth it fac not fic. I thx WilesWales on that find! Regards Baroness Von Reis
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I feel so sorry for Katherine Howard. She was young and not very bright, in love with at least two other men and along comes Henry VIII and wants to marry her – cut to fade…
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I have always felt that Katharine Howard was unjustly punished. Her uncle, her grandmother and others who put her in front of Henry knew what she had been doing. They used her for their own ends and means. I also can’t believe that Henry did not know that Katharine was sexually experienced, He just never acknowledged it because of his own ego and inadequacies.
Katharine was probably what we call light headed. She loved life and it loved her back.
There was no substance to her. She never had a chance in the political arena.
Of all the tragic figures in Tudor times, I feel that she didn’t deserve what she got. Of all his wives unlike KOA and AB as well as Anne of Cleves she was not intelligent nor did she have a strong character. She has always reminded me of a happy, cheerful young woman who loved life and wanted to experience it to the fullest. Unfortunately, life was not good to her in the end.
As for Jane Rochford, if she did actually take part in AB’s and George’s downfall then she actually got what she deserved. Funny, how some of the people that assisted in Anne’s and the Boleyn’s downfall, received their just punishment in the years that followed.
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I have to agree with Sherri on this one. We must remember that poor Katherine was only about 18 to 20 years old when all of htis occurred. Her uncle and grandmother forced her into this marriage, Henry was impotent, and she was told she must have a male heir to secure her position. So Lady Rochford intervened (not indireclty, but directly this time) in the manner to which history most knows her. As Anne, it has been reported, said at her trial, “We will all be judged, in time..” Thank you! WilesWales
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Poor child, not really equipt to be Queen to such a King.
Lovely to see the photo of Gainsbough Old Hall, beautiful place, lived but a few miles from it for many years, and visited often, well worth a visit.
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Oh it is heart-wrenching to read every time!
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I think it’s unfair that everyone characterizes Katherine as stupid, or air headed, or not particularly bright. I don’t think that is the case at all. Yes, she made some bad decisions, but that does not make her thick. She believed that she was in love (whether she actually was or not is another matter altogether), and haven’t we all done something stupid in the name of love?
As Starkey rightly pointed out in his book ‘Six Wives’, it appeared that Katherine would eventually grow into her role and become a rather good Queen. However, she was never given the chance to do so. Looking at the ages that Henry’s wives were when he married them, to me anyway, says an awful lot about the difference between Katherine and the other wives. CoA was 23 (and raised to be a Queen), AB was 31 (if you believe the 1501 birthdate, 25 if you believe 1507) and had been involved with Henry for over 6 years at that point, JS was 29, AoC was 24 (and raised in a very conservative and strict household) and CP was 31.
Katherine was between 15 and 20, raised under extremely loose supervision and not expected to really make all that much of herself. To me, personally, her mistakes do not speak to stupidity, but to a girl that didn’t know any better.
I admire Katherine a great deal, she was thrust into the limelight out of nowhere and she did the best she knew how. Yes, she made a grave mistake that cost her everything, but when the time came, she was dignified and made a good end. I think those last few days of her life speak more to the kind of woman Katherine was going to become than anything else. I think it is a shame, because I believe that she would have eventually made a wonderful Queen.
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Claire Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 12:56 am
Hi Kim,
Have you read my article Catherine Howard – Material Girl?. I don’t think she was stupid either. I think she was reckless, but who isn’t when they are in love? But I think she had made a good start as queen and had shown herself to be kind and considerate. I personally feel that she was used by Culpeper, a manipulative older man.
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Great article. I have a question about these lines: “Suffolk behind in a barge loaded with armed men. The King’s great friend Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, has a little granddaughter aged about four. She’s a bright little thing called Jane Grey.”
Do these sentences regarding the “10th Feb” paragraph mean that Charles Suffolk attended Catherine’s trip to the Tower, and he brought Jane Grey with him? It sounded like she was in the barge with him. Curious.
thanks
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Claire Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 6:46 am
I think Marilyn is just making the point that Suffolk’s granddaughter would, ironically, suffer the same fate as Catherine Howard. She would not have been in the barge with him.
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Marilyn R Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Thanks, Claire.
Yes, what I meant was that life for these people was liable to take a vicious twist. Brandon’s own granddaughter, Queen Jane, was beheaded twelve years and two days after he took Queen Katherine to the Tower.
JS,
Thanks for pointing out that what I had put could be misconstrued – I’ll do something about that before the book manuscript goes to the proof-reader.
Marilyn
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Lina Reply:
March 7th, 2012 at 11:29 am
Hi Marilyn!
Do you have a date for your book? Looking forward to it
Hi Lina,
Thank you for your interest.
I’m finishing off ‘The Bare Bones of Queen Victoria’s Family Trees’ , which we suddenly realised needs to come out in time for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, so that will be out in about six weeks’ time, but it has messed-up the schedule a bit.
‘Norfolk House’ is just about done but there has been major refurbishment at the medieval manor in Lincolnshire that I believe was built to the same style, so I’m waiting for the scaffolding to come down so I can take the final photos. I hope to be in print with this by July at the latest, but I’ll let Claire know when anything moves.
Best wishes,
Marilyn.
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Claire,I agree Queen Katherine was most likely forced into marriage with the King,at a very young age I heard she was 15 years when the King was in the chase for this girl.No she wasnot stupid just very young,as we all make mistakes one time or another.I do however wonder why these ladys didnot learn fron this Kings past? The court was full of the Kings informents,nothing got away from Henry, even if you didnot wrong him,if he wanted you gone you ,were gone so tragic. Regards Baroness Von Reis
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Claire, How is her name spelled Katherine/Catherine/Kathryn?????? Does anyone no the true spelling of this Queens name???? Regards Baroness Von Reis
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Marilyn R Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 4:34 am
I have tended to spell it ‘Katheryn’, which is how she signed the letter to Culpeper, but for search engine purposes I am advised to spell it ‘Katherine’.
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