The Illegitimate Tudor

by James M Stuart

  ‘Then let’s leave this accursed city, Edward. Let’s go north, to York and your roots and get married there,’ she suggested her eyes wet with fresh tears.

  ‘They’ll murder us in our sleep!’ I said simply. ‘As they did with my family. When they discover I’m still alive, nothing will stop them, for I’m a threat to the king’s heir and the line of succession. I do not wish more deaths on my already troubled conscience.’ It was the first time I had said that aloud. I turned to face the moon again, turning back on her.

  Eleanor was moved by that and attempted to come closer to me as she realised why I felt threatened. ‘What happened to your family was not your fault, Edward; you must know that. As it was not your fault being born a king’s bastard.’

  ‘Yes, as it wasn’t your fault for Agnese’s death,’ I threw back her argument in her face. ‘We finally understand each other, Eleanor. I am a cursed man, and you should not have come with me to England. I condemned you and our unborn child.’

  *

  ‘Sir Edward, Sir Edward!’ a woman’s voice called me from behind. I was on my way to the courtroom, for the day had finally arrived; after almost a year of stalling, the legatine court was to assemble that morrow for the first time and hear the king’s case and his request to annul his marriage with Queen Catherine.

  ‘Lady Anne!’ I said in surprise. ‘How may I be of service?’ I asked courteously.

  ‘I should like to speak with you briefly before you attend the court,’ she whispered to me with her thin but provocative looking lips.

  ‘Very well, then!’ I said and waited for her to speak.

  ‘Not here! Anyone could eavesdrop!’ she said looking around apprehensively.

  ‘My lady, I’m in a hurry!’

  ‘’Tis important!’ she insisted and grabbed my arm softly to guide me into a dark chamber. ‘I would like to make a final plea to you, Sir Edward. As a son of Cardinal Campeggio. I beseech you to convince him to annul the king’s marriage so I could marry him freely. ’Tis my only wish, my heart’s desire, for I love the king.’

  You’d love to be Queen of England, that’s all! I thought but held my tongue.

  ‘When I’m queen…’ she continued, approaching me dangerously. ‘I’ll have you in high regards, and of course, you shall remain at court even after your father returns to Rome. You and I could be powerful, Sir Edward. If only we’d help each other…’

  ‘Certainly, my lady!’ I simply agreed with her.

  *

  All the important members of the court, including high lords, earls and dukes were assembled in the Priory of the Blackfriars. The place looked more like a courtroom than a priory, for it had been converted for the purposes of this hearing. It was a spacious room with a high ceiling and could comfortably fit double the amount of people that had gathered that day. Standings had been placed on the two sides of the room, with all the prominent members of the court and parliament seated there, whilst on the far end, on a long table, was the legatine representatives, Cardinal Campeggio, along with Cardinal Wolsey and other clergies of the Church of England. On its base and facing each other, were the two thrones where the king and the queen sat.

  The king stood up without waiting for an invitation and started with his speech and well-known arguments for the reason he was requesting his marriage to be annulled. I could see it in his expression that he considered the whole affair to be beneath him, for why should he ask the permission of anyone, even the pope, to remarry? After all, he was the King of England. At that moment, though, he had no choice but to try and persuade the legatine court.

  When the king had his say, Cardinal Campeggio stood up and called Queen Catherine to address the court, but she instead went to her knees and practically crawled until she reached the feet of the king. The court gasped. ‘What is she doing now, the foolish woman?’ said Thomas Boleyn, who was sitting next to me, in a mocking voice.

  ‘My lord husband, and good king, I beseech you! I wish nothing but justice to be delivered, but I have no true friends here in this place, for I am a stranger. For the love you say you bare me and in the name of God, I pray thee, tell me why you are doing this?’ She was grasping the king’s feet and was weeping. It was her last stand, her last opportunity to approach the king and beg for his mercy, but I was not sure that pity would have a significant effect on King Henry the Tyrant.

  ‘Catherine, stand up please! Show some dignity!’ the king said and tried to grab her from the arms and raise her on her feet, but she would not.

  ‘How have I offended you to deserve such poor treatment? Have I not always been a good and obedient wife to Your Majesty? I have never done you wrong and have always supported you in every decision whether I deemed it wise or not. Alas, you are surrounded by incompetent councillors that drive you towards directions which otherwise you would not go on your own…’

  ‘Catherine that’s enough!’ said the king more loudly now, but she carried on raising her voice.

  ‘Twenty years I have been your true wife and have given you many children, although God wished that none, but one should live. But I will say this, for all the world to hear: when I came to your bed, I was a virgin, an unspoiled maid who had not had a touch from another man. Your late brother and I never consummated our marriage. Whether that be true or not, I will leave it to you and your conscience to decide. I therefore humbly submit myself to your will and wishes and help me God that you will be lenient with me and listen to my case, for it is just!’

  She kissed the king’s feet, then his hand and she stood up. Without a second look to the legates, she left the court ignoring the calls to return to her seat, leaving everyone awestruck and the king looking murderous…

  *

  The month that followed the legatine court proceeded without the presence of Queen Catherine. King Henry was now focused on proving that his brother, Prince Arthur, had consummated his marriage with her. Many nobles were bribed as false witnesses to claim exactly that, and in early July 1529, the king seemed to be the favourite to win the case. However, the little opposition and support the queen possessed came out and caused much turbulence in the court, especially through the speech of the Bishop of Rochester, John Fisher. He condemned the king’s request for an annulment and claimed that this issue could not be resolved by any power, whether it be Earthly or Heavenly.

  At long last, on the twenty-third of July, Cardinal Campeggio seemed ready to deliver his verdict.

  ‘After due consideration,’ he started, and everyone in the court held their breaths, ‘I have concluded that this matter cannot be decided here in England, but must take place in Rome for His Holiness, Pope Clement the Seventh, to hear and determine. I, therefore, postpone this legatine court for the summer recess and send it to Rome where the final verdict will be given in due course.’

  The silence that proceeded was chilled, with everyone looking at the king. He rose from his throne and walked passed the standing without giving away his emotions. When he exited the priory, conversations outburst everywhere in the room.

  ‘And this, gentlemen, is the end of Wolsey,’ said the Duke of Suffolk.

  ‘Indeed, however, the king cannot marry my daughter yet!’ replied Thomas Boleyn, disappointed.

  ‘Everything will fall into place now that Wolsey’s power is in decline,’ the Duke of Norfolk said smiling. ‘’Tis not over yet, though. Wolsey must die, for as long as he lives he will always venture revenge against us.’

  That day was supposed to be my first step towards redemption. However, it felt nothing like it. I had to defend myself now, for as the supposed son of Cardinal Campeggio, the king would undoubtedly rage upon me. Indeed, not even an hour later, the king called for Wolsey, Suffolk and me to present ourselves in his privy chamber.

  ‘Away!’ he called to his servants and motioned us to approach. Everything in proximity was upside down, for as it seemed the king had unleashed his anger to his furniture.

  ‘Your Majesty, I promise you I did everyth
ing in my power to-’ Cardinal Wolsey was saying, but his pathetic excuses were cut through.

  ‘Apparently, you did NOT,’ said the king and grasped him from his collar, ‘and now Catherine seems to be the favourite to win this case. Well, that is if ever Cardinal Campeggio blesses us with his final verdict. Even in Rome,’ he said angered and eyed me.

  ‘What say you, Sir Edward?’ Wolsey asked me when the king had released him. ‘I thought you were on our side.’

  ‘His Majesty is aware of my feelings and intentions, Your Eminence,’ I replied. ‘However, I am not my father, and therefore cannot act on his behalf. If he decides in favour of Queen Catherine, then it is his doing and his alone.’

  The king looked ready to attack me for a moment, but then he directed his wrath towards Wolsey. ‘’Tis your fault Wolsey!’ the king blamed the cardinal. ‘You have been stalling this case for almost a year now. Why? What is your purpose? What do you wish to achieve, you foolish man?’

  ‘Your Majesty, I beg you,’ Wolsey said falling to his knees in front of the king. ‘I’m your most humble and obedient servant. Whatever you might have heard, it is false accusations or idle speculations, for I always work ever so hard to materialise your wishes, my good sovereign.’

  ‘You have failed me, Wolsey! You have failed me spectacularly!’

  Wolsey seemed speechless now, he hid his face in his hands and mumbled something: ‘Majesty, I wish only to serve you and deliver your commands.’

  ‘But you don’t!’ the king scolded him. ‘Get up! Show some dignity man!’ he added, but the cardinal remained curled on his feet. He then decided to ignore him, and thus he directed his attention to Suffolk and me. ‘Go and tell her!’ King Henry said and started pacing around nervously. ‘Tell her that if she doesn’t leave willingly, then I shall have to force her.’

  ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ Suffolk and I said in unison.

  ‘I WILL BANISH HER FROM COURT AND DEPOSE HER AS QUEEN! SHE WILL NOT SEE OUR DAUGHTER EVER AGAIN!’ he screamed. ‘YOU TELL HER!’ He now came face to face with me and yelled, his spit splashing my face.

  ‘I’M THE KING OF ENGLAND, AND I SHALL DO AS I PLEASE AND MARRY WHOM I WILL! And if the pope will not give me what I want,’ he continued, lowering his voice now, ‘then, I’ll take it myself! There’ll be NO papal authority in England, for I, as a king, must be answerable only to GOD!’

  It was as I had feared. The beast of a king was utterly loose now, and no one would be able to restrain him, not even the pope himself; and I, like a fool that I was, had put myself amid these potentially catastrophic for England events. What would Father Edmund say if he could see me right now? He would probably call me a heathen and then whip me until I was bloody, as he always did when I was disobedient. This was disobedience to God Himself, no doubt, and to the ancient order of the knights, for I had to humiliate a woman before the eyes of God, his own legitimate wife and Queen of England in order to satisfy his capricious will…

  When I stepped into Queen Catherine’s chamber, I saw her seated in the middle of the room. Her eyes were closed, and her hands capped together, holding a golden cross between them. She was murmuring something incomprehensible, no doubt a prayer. Her maids were gathered around her as ever and were busy knitting. ‘Madam!’ I pronounced myself and bowed before her.

  She opened her eyes and gazed at me, ‘Sir Edward!’ she exclaimed and smiled at me pleasantly. ‘What a surprise! How fare thee?’ Her voice was soft but seemed ready to crack.

  ‘Madam!’ said the Duke of Suffolk, who had just entered the room behind me. He removed his hat and waited for her to acknowledge him. The queen’s expression changed completely. She looked from one to the other puzzled.

  ‘I see you have discovered one of His Majesty’s greatest virtues, Sir Edward,’ the queen said enigmatically.

  ‘I beg your pardon, Madam?’ I said confused.

  ‘Persuasion!’ she explained simply. ‘What else could have brought you to the other side? You even oppose your father, who is a cardinal and surely a holy man.’

  ‘Cardinal Campeggio is comprised of many good things, Madam, but he is not a saint, of that I can assure you,’ I argued, not able to withhold myself.

  ‘I know he is, for he has vouched for my case, the same as Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More, although the latter does not speak it publicly, for he is afraid of the repercussions,’ she countered stubbornly.

  I gazed deep into her black eyes and pity overtook me. There never was a prouder woman on this Earth. Catherine of Aragon was not like Anne Boleyn, and thus deserved better treatment. However, the king does as the king wills. I would not risk opposing him, for I needed to be close to his person for my own purposes. My conscience had gotten even more cumbersome at this point, and I was sure now, that I would burn in the eternal fires of Hell for siding with a tyrant.

  ‘You must see reason, madam!’ I urged her. ‘The king is furious with the situation!’

  ‘Why? Because I would not let him marry the whore? Because I would not step aside and forfeit my rights as his lawful wife and queen for a woman that has slept with half the court of France and England alike?’ She was trembling now, but it was out of anger I figured.

  ‘His Majesty is prepared to allow you to withdraw with dignity to a country house, where you shall keep your servants and a respectable allowance that would sustain you and your household greatly,’ the Duke of Suffolk said in a very formal way.

  ‘You speak of dignity Mister Brandon?’ she asked her eyes watery.

  ‘I am a Duke, Madam!’ Suffolk said, apparently distressed that the queen had not used his proper title.

  ‘And I am still Queen of England, my Lord Suffolk!’ She stood up, her magnificent dress unveiled, black and deep blue; her fingers, wrist, neck and brow were all decorated with the queen’s jewels, all glowing red and gold. ‘You speak of dignity?’ she repeated. ‘What dignity is there for a queen to flee in the presence of a mistress? What dignity is there for a wife that wholly submits to her husband even though he seems to despise her? Either way, Your Grace, my dignity is lost. What I still possess is my humanity and my faith in God. These are the two things keeping me on my two feet and encourage me to hold my ground, for I am the king’s rightful wife! So, help me, God!’

  I sighed, as much as I admired her determination and devotion to her own cause, this was stretching in the realms of foolishness. To refuse the king so openly and with such resolution was beyond dangerous.

  ‘Even so, the king is a most gracious lord, and will allow you a few more days to consider his offer, before he proceeds with his alternative plan,’ I said solemnly. I hated myself at that moment, doing the bidding of a tyrant, humiliating the Queen of England herself. And for what? For my own personal gain. Oh God, forgive your sinful child, Edward, for he does what is necessary to redeem himself. ‘If you refuse, Madam, then the king will banish you from the court, strip you of your title as queen, and separate you from your daughter.’

  Queen Catherine looked as if that was the last thing she would expect to hear, and for a moment, I really thought that she was going to yield. ‘The king would not do that… Would he? Our daughter, Mary? He loves her, he truly does!’ She sat heavily on her chair again and started crying. ‘This is Wolsey’s doing, surely!’ she said. ‘Despite being a cardinal himself, he behaves like the Devil, for only he would keep a mother and a daughter apart.’

  ‘Madam, I would like to assure you that Cardinal Wolsey has nothing to do with this,’ I said to her, trying to make her understand that he was not the one responsible, but the king himself. ‘The cardinal no longer enjoys the favour of the king.’

  ‘Well, that is the most pleasant news I had in a long time,’ she said and grinned madly. ‘Pray, leave me now, my lords, for I must learn how to live without my child.’ She would not give up. She was the proudest and most stubborn woman I have ever had the honour to meet.

  *

  Cardinal Campeggio’s job in England was completed. He
had delayed the king’s Great Matter for more than a year and was now ready to return to Rome where it was sure he would continue to obstruct the king from his wishes with the helping hand of the pope.

  On the other hand, King Henry took his mistress on tour, visiting various towns and cities in the southern country, something that he would normally do with his queen. He was now sending a clear message to the people of England: he would do as he pleased. Campeggio was to meet the king in Grafton Manor to officially ask for his permission to leave, but I had no intention of leaving. It was my chance to request to remain at court. To my great surprise and relief, the king accepted without hesitation.

  ‘You may stay, Sir Edward. I confess I have taken a liking to you,’ the king said smiling. ‘Besides, you are now a knight of this realm and must defend your title.’

  ‘Majesty, I thank you! You are most gracious,’ I said bowing.

  ‘Indeed, I am! Eh, darling?’ he asked Lady Anne, who seemed to wear even more extravagant and no doubt expensive dresses every time I saw her.

  ‘Yes, dear!’ she answered dutifully.

  ‘You must come with us on the morrow, Sir Edward. We’re going hunting,’ the king suggested. ‘But mind you, we will leave at the crack of dawn. So, you must be out in the courtyard with a saddled horse.’

  ‘Certainly, Your Majesty!’

  My relief was beyond me. The king still wanted me in his company, whilst I could not have said the same for Cardinal Wolsey, who was also a guest in Grafton Manor that day but was not even given his own lodgings. The king seemed determined to undermine and shame him further when later that evening we all gathered for supper, and he enquired about his health. Lady Anne seemed furious, but I knew better. King Henry loved to play with his food before he devoured it, and Wolsey was no exception, this was just an act.

  Sure enough, the next morrow when we all left for hunting before the sun was properly up in the sky, the king sent the Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk to deliver his news to Wolsey. He was stripped from his post as Lord Chancellor and banished from court. At the following weeks, he was charged for more than forty offences. However, the king was merciful for his former First Minister and allowed him to remain an archbishop and return to his seat in York.