Catherine Howard’s execution – What happened?

| February 27, 2021

Catherine Howard’s execution – What happened?

A big thank you to Naomi for her question regarding the executions of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. In Showtime’s “The Tudors” series, it shows Jane Boleyn being executed first, but was that really the case? I look at what really happened on 13th February 1542 and also […]

13 February 1542 – A tragic day for a queen and her lady

| February 13, 2018

13 February 1542 – A tragic day for a queen and her lady

On this day in history, Monday 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard, fifth wife and queen of King Henry VIII, and her lady, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, were executed at the Tower of London after being found guilty of treason by attainder. An eye-witness, London merchant Otwell Johnson recorded that the two women “made the moost […]

13 February 1542 – Lady Rochford and Queen Catherine Howard died repentant

| February 13, 2017

13 February 1542 – Lady Rochford and Queen Catherine Howard died repentant

On this day in history, 13th February 1542, Queen Catherine Howard and her lady-in-waiting, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, “died repentaunt” at the executioner’s hands within the confines of the Tower of London. Catherine Howard was the fifth wife of King Henry VIII, having married him on 28th July 1540, and Lady Rochford was the widow […]

13 February 1542 – Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford make the most godly and Christian’s end

| February 13, 2016

13 February 1542 – Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford make the most godly and Christian’s end

On 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, and her lady, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, were executed by beheading within the confines of the Tower of London. Chronicler Edward Hall recorded: “And so on the thirtene daie, these twoo ladies were behedded on the Grene, within the Tower with an axe, and […]

13 February 1542 – Executions of Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Rochford

| February 13, 2015

13 February 1542 – Executions of Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Rochford

On this day in history, 13 February 1542, Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, and Lady Jane Rochford, wife of the late George Boleyn, were executed at the Tower of London. We have an eye-witness account of their executions from a letter written by London merchant Otwell Johnson. “[…] And for news from hence, […]

13 February 1542 – Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, What they Did and Didn’t Say

| February 13, 2014

13 February 1542 – Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, What they Did and Didn’t Say

Today marks the anniversary of the executions of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, one of Catherine’s ladies. The two women had been found guilty of treason by bill of attainder, Catherine for not having a “pure and honest living before her marriage” and wanting “to return to her […]

The Executions of Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford: An Eye Witness Account

| February 13, 2013

The Executions of Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford: An Eye Witness Account

On 15th February 1542, Otwell Johnson, a London merchant who David Loades describes as “the clothier and victualler whose customers had included many members of the queen’s household”, wrote to his brother regarding the executions of the Queen and Lady Rochford on 13th February. His is the only eye witness account we have and here […]

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