7 November 1541 – Catherine Howard confined to her chambers

On 7th November 1541, following their investigation into claims about Catherine Howard’s sexual history, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and Catherine’s uncle, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, visited Hampton Court Palace to interrogate Catherine and to arrange that she should be confined to her chambers there. Catherine would be able to move between chambers in her royal apartments, but she would not be able to leave them. Her jewels were also seized so that they could be inventoried. Her time as queen was drawing to a close.

Realising that she was in big trouble, Catherine burst into tears and became hysterical. Cranmer recorded her state:

“I found her in such lamentation and heaviness, as I never saw no creature; so that it would have pitied any man’s heart in the world to have looked upon her: and in that vehement rage she continued, as they informed me which be about her, from my departure from her unto my return again…”

An interrogation was impossible while Catherine was in such a state, so Cranmer arranged to come back the following day. He could not help but pity the young queen.

Also on this day in history…

• 1485 – Richard III and his supporters were attainted at Henry VII’s first Parliament.

Update on Cor Rotto: A Novel of Catherine Carey

Just to let you know that the paperback of Cor Rotto is now available on Amazon. Click here for Amazon.com and click here for Amazon UK. It’s also available on Kindle.

Notes and Sources

• LP xvi. 1331, 1333
• The Remains of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Volume 1, p307-308