“You are not Queen yet, sister!” George teased her.
Just as we were entering the Castle, a Messenger from the King had arrived. It was a letter for Anne. We followed Anne inside and waited for her to finish reading it, eager to find out what the news was. “Well? What does he say?” Thomas asked.
Anne’s face broke into a great smile. “Campeggio is on his way!” She said delighted. Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio was coming from Rome to help decide on the divorce between the King and Queen Catherine. Thomas smiled and hugged her.
“The wheels are in motion now,” Thomas said to all of us. “We must stick together on this, through thick and thin. There’s no going back now. The King will find a way to divorce the Queen and will marry my daughter.” I sighed, disappointed. Thomas caught my glance. “Er, Jane. Do you have something to say that you would like to share with the rest of us?”
Elizabeth knew what I was thinking, but decided to keep quiet. George smiled, daring me to challenge his father. I took a deep breath and replied “Hasn’t this family been through enough already? You have lost a son-in-law. You have a daughter that has been discarded by the King and is rumoured to have had his child. Also, I nearly lost my own husband! The Sweat was a punishment from God, don’t you see? It’s a warning not to interfere! Must we incur his wrath again?”
George hugged me close to calm me down, Thomas was silent and Elinor was quite thoughtful at the mention of her brother’s death and God’s wrath. Thomas then spoke calmly “Jane, I understand your concerns. You are still close to Catherine and that is understandable as you have served her for some time. However, the King was never married to the Queen in the first place. Her marriage to Arthur was consummated, everyone knows that! Arthur even boasted so himself after the wedding night! The King did wrong in marrying his dead brother’s widow. It says so in Leviticus. A man who marries his dead brother’s widow will have a childless marriage.”
“Childless?” I replied shocked. “They have Mary – doesn’t she count?”
“No, she doesn’t. Is that what this country needs? A woman on the throne? We don’t need another civil war!” Thomas replied, spitting out the words. “Heaven forbid the thought! The King needs a son to stabilise this country and to carry on the bloodline. All they have had is a girl and infant deaths – their marriage may as well be childless!”
“According to Deuteronomy, a man must marry his dead brother’s widow if they had had no children.” I replied calmly and unflinching. “Therefore, the King’s marriage to the Queen is not invalid.”
Anne was slowly simmering with anger in the background and then, suddenly in an explosion of anger, slammed her hand against the oak table, shouting “Damn you Jane!! Go away and run to your lovely Queen!! Just remember that you are now one of us! You are a Boleyn! If you ever side with Catherine, you can say goodbye to your own marriage! It is all or nothing, you are either with us or against us, is that clear?!”
I jumped back, stunned by her rage. Thomas looked at me and quietly agreed with Anne. He looked at me, almost with sympathy urging me to acquiesce. George on the other hand was unresponsive. He was very used to Anne’s little tantrums. The storm had flown right over his head, but he squeezed my hand and hugged me with encouragement. I slowly nodded and responded calmly “I apologise for what I have said, Anne. You have my full support.”
Anne smiled back and the rest of the family celebrated with food and wine for the rest of the day, although the celebrations were slightly low-key out of respect for William Carey. In the evening, I needed a quiet moment outside just to think. I sat there in the gardens in the warm, summer evening. I couldn’t face it. The thought of going against my Queen. What would she think of me? How could I look her in the face every day while my family continue on a daily basis to pull away inch by inch at that rug beneath her feet? George found me in the gardens and sat down next to me. “If you ever become lady-in-waiting to my sister, there will certainly not be a dull moment!” He joked. I tried to laugh, but my head was in my hands. “Oh Jane! Look, you are a courtier. You should be used to deception. I know I am! I know the truth though, I know that you are faithful to Catherine and to be honest, I have nothing against that. Why should I? Catherine has been good to you all this time. This is a difficult situation. However, when it comes down to it, I also care about my sister and if Catherine ever threatens my sister’s position – or even life – in any way, I will stand by my sister. You have got to understand that.”
“Yes, I do understand. I care for both Catherine and Anne. I am torn between the two,” I replied.
“You have to remember also, this isn’t just about Anne. This is about the whole Boleyn family. We rise up with Anne and already we are all Catherine’s enemies. You are already her enemy. We need to stick together as a family. You and I need to stick together,” he said.
“I don’t think she would ever see me as an enemy,” I replied.
“No, I’m sure nothing would change her regard for you,” he agreed. “However, she is also a Politician. She will play the game and from now on, in public you are not her ally.”
“But I have to keep serving her,” I said uneasy.
“Yes, both you and Anne have to keep serving her like nothing is wrong,” he replied. “If it’s any consolation, if the King does eventually get his way, it will probably be not for long.”
I started thinking about how I would act the next time I would see Catherine. I wondered if she actually knew what was going on at all. Was she aware of this mayhem, or was she being kept in the dark? I know that the King had told her about the annulment plans. I wondered where my father was and if my family were still safe. I really needed father’s advice this moment.
That night, as I slept in George’s arms, I had that strange dream again. Anne and George continued to run to the dazzling, unearthly light at the centre of the maze, whilst Thomas held me back. As I fought Thomas, I could see at the corner of my eye a dark figure. He was male, but I couldn’t recognise him. It was certainly no one that I had been acquainted with before. Thomas slightly feared him, but turned towards him as he ushered Thomas away from Anne and George. Who was he? An angel of death? I woke up with a start, sweating. George too instantly woke up. “What’s wrong, Jane?” He asked.
I calmed down as I realised that thank goodness it was just a dream. “I’m fine, it’s nothing,” I replied. George rolled over and then, went back to sleep. I just lied there for the rest of the night, wide-awake, trying to figure out what on earth I had just dreamt of.
June 1529, Greenwich Palace.
I sat quietly as I always did next to Catherine in the chapel praying. It was the only peaceful place in the Palace these days. The courtiers in the halls and chambers were buzzing after Catherine had given the speech of her life at Bridewell Palace at the feet of the King, defending her marriage and protesting to take her case up with the Pope. Anne, Mary and I continued to serve her as normal. The King was trying to emphasise that his case was mainly out of concern over whether he had been right in marrying his dead brother’s widow. This was not about Anne, it was about his conscience. Catherine, however, knew that this was in fact all about Anne. She hid her feelings well and didn’t give too much away, but I had already guessed that she knew what was really going on.
In the chapel, she looked up and then, said quietly to me “Jane, I want you to know that I have nothing against you. I know that you are a woman and we women are tied to our husbands’ causes and their families. I understand that you are only doing your duty as a wife. You are loyal to your husband and your husband’s family as much as you have always been loyal to me. I will never forget the loyal service you have provided for me.”
I blinked back tears and tried not to cry at her heartfelt words. “It has been an honour to serve you,” I replied. I could sense come finality. Even though I was still serving Catherine, Anne’s influence was growing daily in the court – it would not be long before she would have her own court to rival Cath
erine’s. Both Mary and I would be expected to leave Catherine and serve Anne, like a rival Queen. It was best that I said my goodbyes to Catherine as soon as I could.
I then heard someone enter the chapel. It was my father. Catherine nodded to me smiling and allowing me to go to speak with my father. Both father and I bowed to Catherine and then exited the chapel. “Jane, how are things with you?” He asked.
“They are good thanks, father,” I replied, slightly confused. He stirred me into one of the alcoves of the long corridor which had not been covered by tapestry and we both sat down. He looked very concerned. “What is it, father?” I asked.
He was quietly reflecting for a moment, his attention caught by a nearby tapestry. I looked at it with him. It depicted the Old Testament story of King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther. King Ahasuerus had been encouraged by a wicked advisor to destroy the Jews, but Queen Esther intervened with a different point of view and saved the Jews. “When I arranged the marriage between yourself and George, I did it for the reasons that all fathers do – to arrange a good and advantageous match with our family. I fear though that I now have doubts over whether I had made the right decision.”
“Don’t say that father!” I replied shocked. “I love George. I am loyal to him. You could not have chosen a better husband for me!”
“I don’t doubt that. You are loyal to him, you love him and I’m sure in time, you will give him children. It’s just taking some time to bear his child, isn’t it?”
“I have had medical treatment. I am sure with perseverance and patience, I will be with child soon.”
“Are you sure that the problem is not with him? He does not have a condition does he? The problem cannot be you – you are from good stock. Your mother had five children, even though two of them tragically died very young.” We were quiet for a moment and he then said, lowering his voice to a whisper “I have heard rumours that Anne and George read heretical material. We are good Catholics and it frightens me that my own son-in-law maybe dabbling in heresy.” I didn’t answer him, but I knew what he was referring to. The talks Anne and George had now and then. It frightened me and I hope Wolsey never finds out. Then, as if suddenly reaching an epiphany, he said “That’s what it is! It is George’s faith! You are both being punished for this belief that he is following! That’s why you can’t have children!” I turned away holding my head in my hands. I couldn’t take any more of this suspicious talk. It was bad enough that the King of England was questioning the validity of his own marriage let alone my own father believing George and I were suffering some sort of punishment. “I apologise daughter, maybe it is all just rumour and things will right themselves soon! Come! I have something to show you!” He said putting an arm around me and guiding me to his rooms.
We reached his door. “Cover your eyes! I have surprise for you!” He said. I covered my eyes and stepped into the room. He guided me in. “Now open them!” He said. There in front of me was a sketch in a gold frame. It was of a young woman, her blonde hair visible underneath a French Hood and a hint of a smile on her face.
It was me.
However, then I remembered that same day it was sketched. “But Holbein didn’t finish drawing me! It was on the day that had I escaped the palace as the Sweating Sickness took hold!” I said to him confused.
“Ahh yes, that’s right and how frustrated Holbein was afterwards with an unfinished work. However, luckily for you – and him – your lovely sister-in-law Grace stepped in to help him finish it! You both look similar anyway and she sat while he finished the portrait.” I looked at him, still confused. Why would he want to do a portrait that was in fact of two different girls instead of one? “He needed to leave court, but I still insisted that he finish this work. I think it’s wonderful and if you won’t have it, I will happily and proudly hang this in my study!”
I smiled back at him “It’s lovely. You have it father – it is a gift.” We then turned as there was a knock at the door. Father opened the door to find Wolsey standing there. I curtseyed and Henry bowed to him. I began to feel irritation just at the sight of this man. I really couldn’t stand him anymore. He had caused so much grief to Anne, to myself and even Catherine didn’t trust him. I wish the King would divorce him. “Oh Henry! Jane! Nice to see you both! What a lovely portrait – do I know this woman?” He said joking. Henry laughed and I forced a smile. “Please forgive me, I need to get back to the Queen,” I then said before making my way out of the room.
“That is no problem at all, my lady. Please give my regards to Her Majesty. I don’t know how much longer we have left to serve her if your sister-in-law gets her way,” He said cheerily, but mildly irritated. He was still annoyed by the recent events at Bridewell Palace.
As I made my way out of the door, I nearly bumped into another man coming into the room. “I beg your pardon, my lady!” He said. He was a stocky man, clad in black clothes.
“Oh I don’t believe you two have met before!” Wolsey said. “This is my secretary, Thomas Cromwell.”
That moment, a sudden chilling realisation came to me. I had met this man before.
He was the man in my nightmares.
END OF PART II
Author’s note
“Tourmens de Mariage” (The Torments of Marriage) is Part 2 of “The Lady Rochford Saga”, telling the life story of Jane Boleyn (née Parker), Lady Rochford. Marriage is a huge theme in this book. It was central to the society that Jane lived in. It was used for political alliances and to unite important families. Marrying Jane into a good family would have been expected of her father. However, the subject of the wedding gift “Tourmens de Mariage”, a book which was a satire on marriage, has been often referred to as being proof that Jane and George had an unhappy marriage. This was because George later on gave the book to court musician Mark Smeaton, leading to conclusions being made by historians such as Retha Warnicke that George and Mark were lovers. However, this continues to be a great discussion point and I believe that the alleged meaning behind the giving of this book to Mark and how possibly the content of the book may have been interpreted has been blown out of proportion. In Part 2, we have seen the making and the breaking of marriage - they have all not been without their own trials and “torments”. The same would have been for Jane and George. I believe that their marriage would have been no different to any other marriage in this period. Jane may have been at first offended by George possessing something that could be construed as mocking their marriage, but then again, she may have also seen the funny side of it too.
We don’t actually know whether George and Jane did actually act as witnesses at Anne and Henry Percy’s betrothal, or even if there had been such a betrothal ceremony. I have suggested, however, in Part 2 that maybe there was a clandestine ceremony and given Anne was close to George and Jane, I believe that they would have been the likely candidates to act as witnesses.
It is a fact that George Boleyn did compose poetry. However, his talent for poetry has not been publicised very much. It is even possible that some of his work may have been attributed to fellow poet Thomas Wyatt. However, it is believed that he was definitely the writer of the poem “The Lover Complayneth the Unkindnes of his Love”.
There is an ongoing debate over the paternity of Mary Boleyn’s children. However, there is convincing evidence to suggest that the King was Catherine Carey’s father and William Carey was the father of Henry Carey. This is definitely an idea that I have based Part 2 on. However, this also does continue to be a major discussion point five centuries later.
Jane and George’s wedding day has been described as accurately as possible in Part 2. It is likely that the wedding would have taken place any time between November 1524, and early 1525. While writing Part 2, it did start to gradually occur to me how Jane and Queen Catherine had one main thing in common – they experienced the difficulty in conceiving a child. As this would have been Jane’s duty, it must have put a strain on her marriage to George. Together with witnessing how her own
Queen was being put aside by the King, I think it is very likely that like the rest of the women in England, she probably feared for her own marriage. After all, if the King could leave his wife because she couldn’t provide an heir, imagine how easy it could be for the King’s subjects. As a result, I do think it is plausible that Jane would have resorted to contemporary medical practices out of desperation. The medical techniques and ideas described in Part 2 are accurate to the Tudor period.
The identity of the lady in Hans Holbein’s sketch “The Lady Parker” has continued to divide opinion. It is plausible that it was Grace Newport, however, it is also equally possible that the lady was Jane herself. The identity of the lady has still not been established and still remains a mystery to this day. I would agree that the lady in the portrait could have been either Jane, or Grace.
The end of Part 2 not only marks the beginning of Part 3, but also marks the beginning of the most turbulent chapter in Jane’s life. It was to be this chapter that would help to cement Jane’s posthumous reputation as one of history’s most notorious women.
Bibliography
The following books have been very helpful in helping me to write “The Lady Rochford Saga”:
“A Brief History of the Tudor Age” – Jasper Ridley, Robinson, 2002.
“Anne Boleyn” – Joanna Denny, Portrait, 2004.
“Anne Boleyn – Fatal Attractions” – G.W. Bernard, Yale, 2010.
“Anne Boleyn – Henry VIII’s Obsession” – Elizabeth Norton, Amberley Publishing Plc, 2008.
“Catherine of Aragon – Henry’s Spanish Queen” – Giles Tremlett, Faber and Faber Ltd, 2011.
“George Boleyn – Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat” – Clare Cherry and Claire Ridgway, MadeGlobal Publishing, 2014.
The Lady Rochford Saga Part 2: Tourmens de Mariage Page 8