Claire | February 10, 2015
On 10 February 1542, Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, was taken from Syon to the Tower of London by barge. Eustace Chapuys, the imperial ambassador at Henry VIII’s court, recorded Catherine’s journey: “Some days after, that is to say on the afternoon of the 10th, the Queen after some difficulty and resistance was […]
Claire | November 11, 2014
On this day in history, 11th November 1541, Henry VIII’s council sent Archbishop Thomas Cranmer a letter containing instructions to move Queen Catherine Howard from Hampton Court Palace to Syon House, formerly Syon Abbey. You can read more in my article Queen Catherine’s Move to Syon House. Also on this day in history… 1534 – […]
Claire | November 6, 2014
On Sunday 6th November 1541, Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, was abandoned by her husband at Hampton Court Palace, never to see him again. During the day, the King had “dined at a little place in the fields” near the palace “on pretext of hunting”, and then that night returned to London and met […]
Claire | November 2, 2014
On 2nd November 1541, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer left a letter for Henry VIII in the Holy Day Closet at Hampton Court Palace detailing Catherine Howard’s colourful past, and how she had “lived most corruptly and sensually”. Cranmer had been persuaded by Chancellor Audley and the Earl of Hertford to relate the story told by Mary […]
Claire | December 10, 2013
Today marks the anniversary of the executions of Thomas Culpeper, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, and Francis Dereham, secretary to Queen Catherine Howard, fifth wife of King Henry VIII. If you watched “The Tudors” series, you may be forgiven for believing that these men got their come-uppances, after all, Thomas Culpeper was a rapist and […]
Claire | November 19, 2013
On 19th November 1541, Eustace Chapuys, the Imperial ambassador, wrote to Emperor Charles V. His letter included what he’d heard about Queen Catherine Howard’s imprisonment: “The day before yesterday the admiral Fitz-William sent me word by one of my own secretaries, and yesterday the Lord Privy Seal confirmed the news, that this Queen had confessed […]
Claire | November 12, 2013
On 12th November 1541, Queen Catherine Howard was examined by members of the King’s Council following Francis Dereham’s claim that Thomas Culpeper had replaced him in the Queen’s affections after her marriage to Henry VIII. Here is the record of the examination. I have copied it as it is written in the records but if […]
Claire | November 7, 2013
On this day in 1541, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and the Duke of Norfolk went to Hampton Court Palace to interrogate Queen Catherine Howard, and to arrange that she should be confined to her chambers there. They did not confiscate Catherine’s keys to her apartments, so she could move between her chambers, but her jewels were […]
