THE LADY ROCHFORD SAGA
PART II: TOURMENS DE MARIAGE
Danielle Marchant
First Published in Great Britain by Danielle Marchant, 2015.
Copyright © Danielle Marchant, 2015.
No reproduction without permission. All rights reserved.
The right of Danielle Marchant to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Front cover: “New Love ” © Laurence Marchant
For my friends, family and for everyone’s fantastic, continuous support at “The Lady Rochford Saga” - www.facebook.com/TheLadyRochfordSaga . Special thanks to my friend Alba for helping with Spanish translation.
In memory of my grandfather, Antonio Felice.
Prologue
Jane Boleyn
21st June 1529 – Bridewell Palace, London.
“Catherine, Queen of England, come into the court!” shouted the crier in the Great Chamber. How had events got to this? It was totally unprecedented. A King and Queen being called into court and to be tried by two Cardinals representing the Pope? Who would have thought that events would climax to this day? I wished I had been there though to see my Queen, from what I heard later, give the performance of her life after entering the court and being welcomed by cheers. I have had to watch from afar though. The Queen I had served had so fantastically fought in her corner for her marriage. I understand that now, being a married woman myself. My future lies with the Boleyn family and whatever happens to the Queen, I need to witness it from afar and not get involved.
“I love my wife, the Queen” The King began to say. “However, there is something troubling me. I can’t ignore what my conscience is telling me. I ask myself everyday ‘Should I have married my own brother, Arthur’s widow?’
“Your Majesty, could you please confirm to this court who had instigated this divorce?” Cardinal Wolsey asked. The Cardinal was one of two chairs of this court along with Campeggio.
“Your Eminence, I confirm with the public as witnesses that it was not you. You are excused of this. In fact, you have been against me in all of this!” The King replied. The King and the Cardinal had already rehearsed this bit over and over again to demonstrate to the public that this was not Wolsey’s doing and that Wolsey as a judge in this court was not impartial, contrary to claims made by Catherine.
Then, Catherine made her response. She approached the King who was on the right side of the court, sitting in a chair of rich tissue, under a gold canopy. Wolsey and Campeggio sat on elegant, cushioned, cloth-of-Gold seats, on a raised tribune covered in carpets and tapestries. Catherine sat on the left side of the courtroom with the Bishops, who had a ringside seat in this battle between their two masters - the King and the Pope.
Catherine walked across the room, past the bishops, towards her husband and then, knelt at his feet. She showed herself totally submissive and respectful to her husband and then, made an appeal, not just to Henry, but to the entire court. “Sir, I beg you, for the love we once shared and for the love of God, let me have justice! Please have some pity and compassion for me. I am a poor woman. A stranger from another land. I have very few friends and even less, helpful guidance.”
“Madam, please get up!” The King urged her. She ignored him, stayed on her knees and carried on speaking.
“Are you not the ‘Head of Justice’?! You have a responsibility to treat me fairly! I, being your wife, who has done everything in these past twenty years to please you! How have I offended you? What have I done to deserve this?
I have been a true, humble and obedient wife, accommodating to your will and pleasure. I have never said, or have done anything on the contrary. I have always turned a blind eye to your affairs and I have always been pleasant to those that you liked, only for your sake, whether they were my friends, or my enemies.
I have been a true wife to you for these past twenty years. I gave you many children, but God took them back. How was that my fault? I was a true maid when you married me. You are the best and only witness to that truth.
If there be any just cause by the law that you have against me, either of dishonesty, or any other impediment to banish me away from you, I will happily leave in my great shame and dishonour. If there is none, then I beg you most humbly to let me stay.”
“Madam, I beg you, please get up and stop this!” The King insisted again, before burying his head in his hands, but once again she stubbornly ignored him and continued to speak.
“The King, your own father, was deemed by many as a wise man, they even called him ‘The Second Solomon’. Your father and my father, Ferdinand, had wise counsellors about them, whose judgement was just as great as the counsellors of both realms today. They both believed then that the marriage between you and I was good and lawful. Therefore, it is a wonder to me to hear what new inventions are now invented against me – who never intended anything, but honesty – that cause me to stand to the order and judgement of this new court. In this court, you will do me much wrong if cruelty is your intention. I understand that the men here to defend you owe their loyalty to you first. They are your subjects, taken out of your own council beforehand and dare not to argue against you. Therefore, I beg you for the love of God, who is the just judge, to spare me of this court until I have further advice from Spain. If you would not even allow me this, then to God I commit my cause! I wish to defend my honour and conscience by referring my case to the Pope!”
There was a hushed silence in the court and all eyes were on the King. He then, after a few moments, slowly nodded, giving permission for his wife to refer her case to the Pope. He had no choice, but to agree in front of the public. Catherine in response gave a small smile and made a low curtsey. She then got up, but instead of returning to her seat, she walked straight towards the door at the side of her receiver general, Griffin Richards. The court was in shock. The crier shouted “Catherine, Queen of England, come into the court!”
“Madam, they would like you to return,” Griffins said to her.
“On, on!” Catherine replied. “It makes no difference to me. This is not a fair court and I refuse to waste any more time in it! Go on!” Catherine left the court and didn’t come back.
Jane Parker
May 1522, Greenwich Palace
Since her arrival at court, my sister-in-law-to-be Anne had caused quite a stir. She was so unlike all of the other ladies hidden in their heavy, Spanish-style gowns and headdresses. Anne introduced the court to French fashion, such as the French Hood. Even I found myself copying her style. I was starting to find the Spanish style uncomfortable and restrictive.
“Apparently, the Queen wears a Hair Shirt underneath her clothes!” Anne told me as we walked through the gardens. “Can you imagine how uncomfortable that must be? I saw it as we helped to dress her this morning.”
“But why would she want to wear that?” I asked.
“Maybe the prayers aren’t enough. She has gone one step further in her quest to conceive a son. Although, between you and me, I’m wondering if she is actually capable anymore of doing so.”
“Really? Do you believe her courses have stopped?”
“I believe so! One of the other ladies told me that it is very possible that she has reached that stage of womanhood.” Anne replied.
“Poor Catherine!” I said. “What will the King do now if he can’t get a son off Catherine?”
“Well, there is always my sister,” Anne said jokingly.
“If Mary does conceive, her baby will be illegitimate, just like Elizabeth Blount’s!”
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“Yes, but apparently the King is recognising little illegitimate Henry Fitzroy and making preparations to make him the Earl of Richmond. Imagine that! That royal bastard taking precedence over the Princess Mary!” It was a sobering thought. The King must be so desperate to secure the future of the Tudor dynasty.
“And how are your marriage plans with Butler?” I asked Anne.
“What marriage?” Anne replied, looking slightly confused. “I don’t think this will be going ahead anymore. And anyway, even if it was, I refuse to get involved. I want to make my own marriage, not marry whoever everyone else wants me to marry, especially the Cardinal!” Not the Cardinal again. Is there anything he is not involved with, now even making and breaking the marriage matches of the land. Anne then started to smile to herself.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Oh nothing!” She began to giggle and blush.
“You have found someone else haven’t you?” I asked her.
“Well, maybe. Actually, he finds me all the time. Always searching me out in the court. We do get on very well.” Anne replied.
“Does he have a name?” I asked.
“Yes, Henry Percy!” Anne replied. Oh yes, Henry, the Duke of Northumberland’s son. It was hard not to notice the chemistry between the two. He was always searching Anne out. I think he is besotted with her and it appears, so is she with him.
“Is it wise to indulge in this though, Anne? I believe that he may have already been matched to another?” I warned her.
“Oh don’t spoil it Jane!” Anne shouted. “If there is, he can un-match with her. I want to be with him and if I can help it, that will happen!” I stopped to admire the beautiful rose garden and sat down on a space. It was such a hot and sunny afternoon with blue, cloudless skies and I was starting to feel overwhelmed by the sun’s rays. Anne sat down beside me and a welcoming, cool breeze blew our way. “And how are your wedding plans, Jane?” Anne asked.
“It’s all in father’s hands. He needs to settle my jointure,” I replied. “He is also busy with my brother’s match with Grace. The wedding will be taking place very soon!” My brother Henry was set to marry Grace Newport, daughter of John Newport who was a landowner at Furneux Pelham and Stapleford.
That night I tried to get to sleep, but it was so uncomfortable. I was alone in the dark. I suddenly heard the door open. It was Mary, creeping in slowly. Mary naturally shared a room with her husband, but she was out most nights, most definitely with the King. Their affair was definitely common knowledge, although people didn’t talk about it openly. It formed part of the whispers around the court. Catherine was aware, although in Mary’s presence, she was never resentful to her. She was very polite and treated her just as well as any of the rest of her ladies-in-waiting.
Often Mary would come back to my room afterwards. Maybe she couldn’t face leaving the King’s bed, only to return back to her husband’s. Usually by this time of the night, I would be asleep. Seeing me still awake, she came in quietly and sat down on the edge of the bed. I sat up and lit the bedside candle. “How is the King?” I asked her.
“He is well” She replied.
“Does he not share his bed with the Queen – his wife – anymore?”
“Yes, he does occasionally. He doesn’t believe that it would achieve anything though. The last time that she conceived was four years ago and it was a daughter stillborn.”
“So, is he trying to get a son off you now?” I ask sardonically. I couldn’t help myself. I liked Mary of course, but part of me really felt for Catherine.
“Oh, don’t be silly Jane! Even if I was with child, it would be illegitimate, like Bessie Blount’s!” She replied.
“It hasn’t stopped him from considering making the boy Earl of Richmond though,” I said.
“You’re all the same!” She suddenly said, her voice rising. “You, my father, my brother, my sister! You all judge me and look down on me like I am stupid and cannot think for myself! You think I’m an embarrassment to the family! I am not stupid! I may not be as good as my sister academically, but I know so much more than her about life. I know the ways of this world and one day, I will prove that to all of you!”
I go to her and put my arms on her shoulders to calm her down. “Mary, I don’t think of you in that way,” I say softly. “I just think you’re selling yourself a bit short. The King is just using you.”
“The King shows me more warmth than my own husband!” Mary replies, then, bites her lip to stop herself saying anymore. “Could I have said ‘No’ to the King? Of course not! In the same way that I could not refuse King Francis!”
“You obviously care about him, I can tell. Just make sure that this is not all at your expense. He will get tired of you as he did with Bessie Blount.”
She sits quiet for a minute, and then says “Can I stay in this room until the morning? I don’t want to go back and wake William up.”
The next day, I made my way to the Great Hall, but stopped when I heard some giggling in the distance. I turned and saw at the other end of the passageway Anne. I quickly hid behind a great Oak chair and spied on her, as I saw her standing in front of a tapestry, laughing and sharing a joke with Henry Percy. Anne was glowing with happiness. Henry himself looked besotted and couldn’t take his eyes off her. He then offered his arm and she took it and walked with him in the other direction heading towards the gardens. Another besotted Boleyn girl gambling with her reputation. I would normally be happy for a couple such as Anne and Henry, but this was different. Percy was to be married to Mary Talbot and such a marriage was an affair of state. To be more precise, it was an affair involving Cardinal Wolsey and knowing him as it was, he had a say in the marriages of the great families of the land. He could make and break them and I knew deep down then that if it was up to him, he would not allow Anne to marry Henry Percy. This romance was going to end in tears.
I then started to head towards them, but then felt a hand on my shoulder and quickly calmed down. I recognised that touch. It was George. “What are you doing Jane?” He whispered. He pulled me up towards him into an embrace and kissed me. This was a rare moment for us to be alone as since our engagement, we had to have a chaperone for decency’s sake. “I wish you would spy on me a bit more often in my rooms” He then said.
“Oh, I do try to, my love, more than you realise” I replied. His smiled down on me and then, his gaze went towards Anne.
“Oh, well, that’s not really a secret with Anne!” George said. “Everyone knows about Anne and Henry Percy, except for possibly Percy’s father and the Cardinal.”
“I have tried to warn her. It will end it tears.”
“Jane, you can’t reason with my sister. She will always do as she pleases.”
We then, both made out way back to the Queen’s chambers. I let him get there first so that we both didn’t arrive at the same time. There was an air of excitement when I arrived. The Queen’s nephew, Charles V, was to visit England the next month. Alongside the Queen were the King, Wolsey and the Spanish Ambassador. The Queen chatted to the Spanish Ambassador. “I believe that it is my daughter’s destiny to marry one of Europe’s greatest Princes and I cannot think of a better choice than my own nephew Charles.” Six-year-old Mary had been previously engaged to the dauphin of France, but after the deterioration of Anglo-French relations, by the summer of 1521, Mary’s engagement had been broken off. A secret treaty was made between England and Spain in August by Wolsey. Wolsey indeed seemed to enjoy his role as intermediary between France and Spain. Henry may have been less powerful than both France and Spain, but his weight was enough to tilt the balance of power in Europe.
“Yes, Your Majesty, the emperor was delighted when I told him of Mary’s Valentine’s Day gesture!” The ambassador replied. On Valentine’s Day earlier this year, Catherine had allowed little Mary to wear a gold, jewelled brooch bearing the emperor’s name, declaring to the world that Charles – sixteen years her senior – was Mary’s Valentine.
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��It is my greatest desire to see my nephew.” Catherine said.
As the rest of the court chatted amongst themselves, I noticed Anne sneak into the chamber quietly unnoticed. She made her way to me and then, took me by my arm into a corner. “Jane, can you keep a secret?” She asked me. I nodded in reply. “Well, I can hardly call it a ‘secret’ anymore. Don’t think I didn’t see you – and also, shockingly alone with you, George – spying on me! I am going to get betrothed to Henry Percy tomorrow morning and I want you and George to be witnesses.” Before I had a chance to protest, she put a finger to my lips and said “Hush Jane! It will not do to argue with me! I have made my decision and no one is going to stop me!” I looked up and saw George across the room. He smiled back and shrugged. Anne following my gaze then said “Yes, he already knows. I have asked him and he has agreed. He took less persuading, unlike you!”
“Ok, Anne” I replied reluctantly. “I will do it!”
“Good girl!” Anne replied. We both then joined the rest of the court who watched musicians entertain the King, the Queen and the Ambassador.
Both George and I made our way to the Palace chapel. Dawn had not even broke yet and we had to be quick before the Queen woke for her morning prayers. We met Anne and Henry Percy at the chapel doors. Anne grinned excitedly as she saw us coming and then lightly knocked on the chapel door. The priest, who was hurriedly putting on his garment, opened the door and quietly let us all in.
It was a short ceremony and was not the actual marriage. This was a contract before the marriage was to take place. As the vows were said, I felt George hold my hand as we both reflected on our pending nuptials. Then, it was all over and we quietly made our way out of the chapel. We followed Anne and Henry out, who were both now blissfully happy and relieved. “Well, I don’t know where you two are going now, but I have good reason to believe that my husband and I can now be husband and wife and need some time alone.” They both walked off and left George and I standing there. George watched them as they both disappeared and then, looked at me. I started to laugh and then said “No, George, I think that I better get back to the Queen before she wakes up. We are both probably in enough trouble as it is.” George smiling back, reluctantly nodded, walked me back to my rooms and left me there alone.
The Lady Rochford Saga Part 2: Tourmens de Mariage Page 1