Thomas Wyatt had led a foolhardy rebellion against Mary to put Elizabeth on the throne in her stead. His reason had been the unpopular Spanish marriage, but he had failed and Catherine spent many nights worrying for her cousin who was being questioned about her involvement.
Lady Elizabeth had grown too smart to be caught up in a plot. Much to Mary’s dissatisfaction, no concrete evidence could be discovered and she was set free from the Tower, though she remained under house arrest.
So Catherine was sure that all would be well.
But then one night, as her husband slipped into her bed, he pulled her into his arms and held her for a long time, stroking her hair.
“Dearest, I found a ship to take us to Germany. It is time, the Spanish are coming and a cardinal from Rome following in their tracks.”
Catherine felt hot tears pouring down her face. “Not yet. Not yet.”
“At the end of spring. Anne is nearly a year old she will be fine.”
It wasn’t only worry for her youngest child that made Catherine hesitate though. All she had ever known was here in England — she didn’t want to leave. But in the end, they did flee like criminals from their own country in the middle of the night. Though they were hardly stealthy with their ten children in tow and the crying protests. Her children had not learned fear and to be silent. In a way, they had been blessed.
As their hired ship set sail with other fleeing exiles, the Spanish boats were pulling into the harbor.
Catherine kept her eyes focused on the English coastline, wishing to imprint it in her memory forever. She clutched a note in her hand from her cousin Lady Elizabeth wishing her a safe journey and one day a safe return. She knew that it would not be possible unless Elizabeth survived to inherit her father’s crown.
The culmination of all Howard ambitions would be achieved then.
The thought of a girl achieving them made her smile. It seemed to have been the women of her family that had made the family’s fortunes. She would pray every night for her return to England — she would see Elizabeth crowned.
The seas had been surprisingly calm, and they settled down in Frankfurt in December.
First they rented a small townhome in the merchant quarters of the city. They enjoyed their English neighbors, though they found communicating with their German counterparts hard. Catherine had forgotten a lot of the German she had learned and she sat with Francis as he learned with a tutor.
It was unclear how long they would be here. It was important they assimilate.
Her children now had a German nursemaid as well as an English one, and it made her cry when little Anne’s first words were in German not English. She couldn’t help but think they were losing themselves in this new country.
Once Francis’ German improved, he found work as a translator, as they could not survive on the income from the sale of their houses forever.
They rarely talked of England. The news from London was bleak. The Queen, in an effort to stamp out heresy in her Kingdom, was burning heretics with a vengeance. Even her father had not been so zealous.
It had become a secret they kept from their children whenever the elder children asked when they were going home. The response was always the same: one day soon.
Then Francis was invited to join other English exiles in Strasburg. John Jewel and Peter Martyr were influential men in the region and keen to gather more supporters around them.
Catherine was not surprised that they were to move yet again.
“I promise we shall have an even bigger house.”
But she shifted away from him. “And what will they have you do?”
“I shall help them research and publish manuscripts on theology.”
Catherine frowned. “You are hardly a scholar. Please, don’t tell me you wish to become a priest now.”
“No, but I would like to have Godly work to do. They are being more than generous to take me on as a secretary.” Seeing she was unconvinced, he added, “And they receive frequent news from England. We shall be kept up to date.”
She sighed, exasperated. “I shall follow you wherever you go but don’t expect me to be happy about it.”
He kissed her brow. “Sweetheart, you don’t know how grateful I am that you are my wife. I promise I will make it up to you. One day soon we shall settle down again in a home of our own.”
“And you won’t leave me?”
“I will try not to.” At her frown, he kissed her again, this time on the lips. “What if I promised you to retire early and spend endless days in the country with you?”
“I can live with that.”
So it was in Strasburg that they heard the Queen was pregnant yet again. The last child had failed to materialize, but she must have been certain this time to announce it so publicly.
Catherine was surprised when Francis told her he had hired another tutor for their children and that she should order more clothing made in the latest fashions for the whole family.
“Can we afford the expense?”
“They need to have a proper education.” His eyes alight with pleasure. Catherine knew he was up to something.
“What is it?”
“I don’t think it will be long now before we are recalled to England.” It had been nearly four years since they had left. Catherine had started losing hope.
“But the Queen might have a child now, and then Elizabeth will never take the throne.”
Francis shook his head. “I have it on good authority from Master Jewel that the Queen is not with child but is ill. There won’t be long to wait now.”
“That could just be speculation.”
“Shall we place a wager on it?”
“Five pounds.”
“Done,” he shook her hand with a grin.
“Robert, apologize to your sister this instance.” Catherine had Robert by his ear. “And where has Edward run off to?”
Lizzy was crying at her side.
“I’m sorry I stole your doll.” He muttered under his breath and squeaked when Catherine gripped him harder. “I’m really sorry, please don’t cry.”
Catherine released him. Lizzy rubbed her eyes and nodded.
“If you don’t learn to behave yourself, I’ll have your father lock you in the brig without your supper. Now where is Edward?”
“He said he wanted to go see if the Captain would let him steer the ship.”
Catherine clicked her tongue with displeasure. “Take Lizzy to Mary. I swear the Captain will have us thrown overboard, we are causing him so many problems.”
She marched over towards the quarter deck only to find Edward being led away by Francis.
“Go to your room.” She saw him urging him away. He scampered off, happy to oblige in order to escape her wrath.
“Our children are hooligans.” He took her arm and led her to the prow of the ship.
“You must forgive them. They’ve been cooped up on board for several days.”
They watched the water lap at the side of the boat as it carried them forward. They took comfort in each other’s company.
Catherine’s eyes were fixed on the horizon, so she was one of the first to spy the first hint of land.
“Land Ho!” Someone shouted and there was a cheer from the sailors on deck.
“I never thought this day would come.”
He gave her shoulders a squeeze, and she felt her husband brush a tender hand over her yet again growing belly.
She thought of the new challenges and political turmoil awaiting them, but they were home. Come what may, they would serve their country and new Queen.
“For England and St. George, onward!” She repeated the old battle cry.
Afterword
Catherine Knollys would go on to serve as a lady at the court of her cousin Queen Elizabeth I for many years. Though never acknowledged as a half-sister, she was favored by the Queen and her husband was rewarded with titles and lands. Thirteen of her fourteen children with Francis survived infancy. Unf
ortunately, she died at the relatively young age of forty-five; Francis never remarried.
As Anne Boleyn’s niece, she lived what must have been a tumultuous life, witnessing the reigns of nearly all the Tudor monarchs.
Her brother Henry/Harry Carey had sixteen children with Anne Morgan. He served as a Member of Parliament and was eventually created Baron Hunsdon by his cousin Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen would also rely on him as a Captain-General, and he led the army in her defense several times. Henry also served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household. He died at the ripe old age of seventy.
Lettice Knollys was perhaps the most famous of Catherine’s daughters. She grew to have a striking resemblance to Queen Elizabeth. She was first married to Walter Devereux, Viscount Hereford, but their marriage was tempestuous and she was even accused of hastening his death (she was having an affair). Then in secret, she married the Queen’s favorite, Robert Dudley, causing the Queen, out of jealousy, to banish her from court. At one time, it was thought that Robert Dudley might marry the Queen herself.
The Lady Carey Page 19