He turned up later on the other side of the Thames preaching about God’s judgment in burning a repository filled with heretical documents. He claimed that the evil works within were what brought about its destruction and he blessed God for the miracle that no one was harmed. He praised the fire, damned the King and Queen publicly, and called for the people once more to raise arms against the crown’s heresy. During his brazen rhetoric, he called for the King and Queen’s death, treason by itself. His arguments were very persuasive and after several speeches, he now had a loyal following around 40-50 people.
Kritchen openly preached class warfare and that the Catholic commons should overthrow the heretic Protestant ruling class. At one point, he would unintentionally find one of those very nobles hearing every word. The Earl of Cumberland happened to be leaving the market when he stumbled upon the crowd and heard Kritchen’s preaching. He listened to the whole speech and saw that the layman could work the crowd like a fiddle. When his preaching started, there was only some mumbling and a few people present. By the end of his nearly twenty minute rant he had a crowd of over twenty who were angry and shouting “down with the crown! Down with the crown!”
As Kritchen stepped down from the box he was using as a makeshift podium, Cumberland slipped out of view and headed for court. When denied access to the Queen, he went back home, writing her an urgent dispatch describing to her Kritchen’s latest activities. The court was back in residence at Hampton Palace and it would not take long for his dispatch to reach her. Less than two weeks later Cumberland was called to appear before Anne to brief her on his letter. Anne paced back and forth nervously. She asked if Cumberland thought Kritchen could turn violent and then went on as the Earl sat through a barrage of questions. At the meeting’s end, she tasked him with reporting on Kritchen’s speeches, his daily routine, pamphlets he had written, and any additional details of note. He was to send her a bi-weekly report of his actions and would receive further instructions in the future.
While Kritchen was preaching one day, the Earl paid a visit to Alice, claiming to be a believer of her father’s teachings and asking to know more about the man himself. Alice recited her family’s history in detail, including the events that led her father to take up public speaking. Clifford thanked her for her help, provided her twenty ducats, and left to report what he’d learned to the Queen. By the time he arrived at court, Anne told him that Kritchen would at long last be arrested and that the Earl’s services as spy were no longer needed. She did tell him that the final service she would require of him would be to testify for the crown and provide evidence of Kritchen’s crimes. Since the Earl had witnessed treasonous speech himself, he made the perfect witness to bring about Kritchen’s destruction.
Kritchen would be arrested by royal guards while in the midst of a particularly seditious call for the King to be overthrown and the country returned to Catholicism. The same day of his arrest, the magistrate had him moved, per Henry’s express command, to the Tower, where the King personally interrogated him. Henry questioned him relentlessly for hours about his motives, his statements, the number of his regular followers, his connections at court and abroad, and finally about his death threats towards himself and the Queen.
Kritchen proudly admitted setting the book depository ablaze and insisted that he meant every vile word of his speeches, but that he had not yet come around to planning the details of the King and Queen’s execution. He went on to berate the King, as one would a child, about the ills he had inflicted upon his own people. This only further enraged an already angry King. Henry stormed out of the room repeating “kill him!” several times. Before he left the Tower to draw up the execution papers, he ordered that Kritchen’s daughter be brought to the Tower as well, so that she could be questioned and watch her father die. Later that evening Henry drew up the execution warrant; Kritchen would die at the stake.
When Alice arrived at the Tower it was under cover of darkness. Having been kept unaware as to where she was being sent and where her father was, she became hysterical upon recognizing the imposing edifice she was being brought into. Crying uncontrollably, she fainted several times before reaching her cell. Constable Kingston finally told her why she was being held, which news was met with only more sobbing. Feeling sorry for the poor child, the Constable and his wife lodged the girl in one of the more spacious cells, and she was even permitted to dine with them that evening. However, Henry expressly forbade her from seeing or saying goodbye to her father, and commanded that she be made to watch his burning from her cell. Alice had not slept all night, and she did not touch a bite of her food.
Since Henry had continued consolidating power unto himself, he no longer needed Parliament’s approval to execute suspected traitors, and since Kritchen’s Acts had been so public and blatant, the King decided to forgo the customary show trial. Instead, the King ordered Kritchen taken to the stake by 6 A.M. the following day, as his daughter Alice watched the King’s henchmen stock the area with kindling, larger blocks of wood, and twine. Kritchen’s final words were to thank his majesty for helping him achieve his objective of being martyred for Christ and the church, proclaimed his love for his daughters and his persistent faith in the one true church. He was then tied to the stake and set alight. The burning lasted 13 excruciating minutes before the condemned grew silent and still.
When Henry was told of Kritchen’s last words he was outraged. Implying that the King had been manipulated into doing a traitor and heretic’s bidding, and the several references to the “true church” demanded that Henry make further example of the rabble rouser. Even though both Kritchen’s daughters had sworn to both the Oath of Supremacy and Succession, Henry well knew there were lying traitors about his kingdom. Now he was faced with the likelihood that the daughters believed as had their father. He sought Anne’s advice as to their fate.
Her advice was simple and direct: “they should join their father.” She then went about her business, as if she had merely selected a type of fabric for a dress. Alice was burned less than 3 hours later, on the same stake as her father, and Ellen was sent for from her estate and burned about a week later. These would be the second and third times in Henry’s reign that a woman’s execution would be sanctioned by the state. Now truly no subject was safe. The entire Kritchen family had been destroyed. In Reginald’s will he bequeathed all his religious papers, including drafts of his speeches, papal relics, and Bibles, to Cardinal Reignold Pole for “staying true to the righteous faith.” Six months later, out of enormous guilt for his unintended role in the execution of the daughters, the Earl of Cumberland committed suicide, leaving a note stating that he had sold his soul to condemn that of another, and he would burn for it.
11.3 An English Renaissance
Nearing 50, Anne realized that for all her efforts and all Henry’s success in solidifying his power, the English court had dramatically lost its appeal; she would seek to bring glamour and support for the arts to the English court in Henry’s last years. The ever-evolving Italian courts were patrons to the best painters, sculptors, musicians, and literary geniuses of the period. The Queen wanted a court reminiscent of France in her younger years and that would require significant sums of money. Exclusive artists, musicians and literary talents of the day from all over Europe, and some from the Indies and even Asia, were brought in to entertain their majesties.
Anne also ordered three new tapestries to be completed by 1555, a relatively fast order considering that these beautiful weavings could take nearly a decade each to create. During this period, tapestries were among the most impressive representations of a court’s wealth. Kings fought over them because their value was enormous. The more tapestries a King had, the more powerful they were viewed in the eyes of not only their court but the rest of Europe. Tapestries still existing at Hampton Court belonging to Henry VIII are valued at over 40 million per weaving in today’s current prices. She also arranged for Hans Holbein the Younge
r to paint her and her children together in the Hampton Court Gardens, a painting that unfortunately has been lost to us.
Her desire to improve the image of the English court extended as well to food. She imported exotic wines from Italy, France, and exclusive vineyards in Austria. She became more involved in the cuisine served at court functions and reduced the number of meals from over 30 per event down to a mere 5. She reasoned that the reduced portions would allow the kitchen staff to be less stressed and to be able to feed the entire court for a lot longer period. She also worked with the head cook to modify her favorite sweetbreads recipe and demanded it be served to her alongside her other meals. She also ordered, after advice from her medical consultants from abroad, that the kitchens, basements (in which food was stored), and chimneys be cleaned thoroughly at least once a month, with the expenses taken from the King’s household fund. This measure led to a significant decline in the amount of food-borne illness at court.
Also improving England’s reputation in the arts was the work of literary artists such as the reformer John Bale, Bishop of Ossory. Bale wrote tragedy and morality plays with the central theme of religious obedience to God. All of his works were angled to be compatible with reformist views, often belittling the Catholic community and papal doctrine. His works included highly popular books and plays such as “The Three Laws of Nature, Moses and Christ, corrupted by the Sodomytes, Pharisees and Papystes most Wicked” and Kynge John, which came out in 1548 as the first attempt to transform literary plays into historical dramatic pieces. His plays were a valuable public relations tool for the reformist cause and Bale took enormous pride in his works. Kynge John was a play where the protagonist faces a struggle in breaking free of Rome to tell God’s rightful truth. Bale even recognizes King Henry VIII in one of his verses, proclaiming that the good King Henry saved the English people and brought them into a new land, comparing it to a land of milk and honey. The King praised his work and ordered a fully bound illuminated copy for his library and for the play to be performed for his birthday.
Anne’s improvements to court extended to physical renovations as well. She called in the finest architects from Denmark to completely redesign the court space, expanding how many members it could hold, creating a formal stage for entertainment, and increasing the lighting by designing more easily replaced candles. She also had the royal tailor, with Henry’s blessing, re-upholster a new royal throne. The cushions on the seat of state had not been replaced since Henry VII’s reign and were beginning to wear. Henry designed the replacements for his and Anne’s chairs, down to detailing the appearance of the “HR” logo with a Tudor rose located squarely in the middle of the pattern, sewn into velvet fabric with diamonds sewn around the edges of the pillows. The cushions were held in place against the back of the chair by a string of pearls. The architect recommended moving the position of the state chairs to allow the greatest amount of light to fall upon the fabric and the jewels that now ordained it.
The Throne Room was completely outfitted by early 1547 at an enormous cost, equivalent to some $6 million in 2011 US dollars. Heedless of cost, it was vital for both Henry and Anne to showcase their God given rights as monarchs. The only way to do this was by continuously enhancing their estates to show just how glorious their status was. Henry wanted his court to outshine the courts of France and Italy. Both countries had been well known for their lavish furnishings, marble floorings, large number of tapestries, and extensive use of rare jewels. It was all very impressive and Henry and Anne sought to not only recreate that opulence in the English court, but to surpass their counterparts. Anne worked closely with Thomas Howard, the Lord Treasurer, on how to execute obtaining these materials. The renovations were anticipated to be shown either late 1547 or early 1548 for New Year’s celebrations.
11.4 The Beginning of the End
The couple went on their final royal progress in the summer of 1549, visiting Cardiff in Wales. Henry’s increasingly failing health made the trip slower than expected and it took them and the entire court nearly three months to make the journey, stopping at countless towns along the way to provide the people a glimpse of their majesties. Along the way the couple also tarried to visit with various nobles and even attend public plays put on in their honor by the people. In one of her final letters, Anne wrote to Elizabeth in French about the progress and her father’s health, assuring her not to worry and that all was well. This letter in particular is insightful as to Anne’s state of mind about her daughter; possibly seeing her as stronger than her brother and more fit for rule. Interestingly enough, the letter also contained a prophetic warning about the need to guard against ill advisers; she knew all too well how she had been handled in the past. The Queen also wrote to Prince Henry, with her letter to the Prince being far more personal, perhaps suggesting a desire to forge a deeper bond with him:
“My dearest child, you are but young man now, yet one day you shall grow to manhood and be prepared to rule over the Kingdom that will be yours. Be strong and be bold, my heart, you are your father’s son. You will become a great King and you must learn great piety, dignity, and faith in God’s plan that you be placed upon the throne of England. You make both your father and your mother proud every day. Be well my son as you must, your loving mother, Queen Anne.”
After a long, hot and uneventful summer progress, the couple headed back to Hampton Court, reaching it about the end of October. Henry decided to recall Parliament and call a session of the Privy Council in November to discuss further reforms needed to in kingdom. Winter would bring with it a series of Parliamentary laws recognizing several new religious statutes, humanitarian Acts, and statues regarding sanitation and medicinal grants.
The educational reforms were also progressing apace, with the trial classes held in London proving to be a resounding success. Initially, much grumbling and frustration was because the teaching materials—delayed by Kritchen’s fire—were ready late. The children also resented having to attend, with some families altogether fleeing London so that their children would not have to be a part of these lessons. However, for those who stayed, the children (both boys and girls) were able to reach basic literacy, starting with their own names, in less than six weeks; an astonishing feat considering that many adults at the time were unable to do the same.
Latimer was impressed with the progress of the courses and sent for their majesties to attend a session of the child and teenage lessons to see for themselves. In anticipation of their visit, Latimer taught the children to sign a hymn praising their majesties and thanking them for being able to attend. The hymn was very clever in its wording, it rhymed and the children performed a small dance at the end.
From what little we know the Queen began experiencing severe cramps in autumn 1549, followed by dizzy spells and sometimes fainting. Her physician’s exams determined little. She began to bleed, although slightly past her time of menopause, which her doctors thought strange. With no remedy apparent, she turned to the midwife who had so delicately helped her carry her pregnancies to term. The midwife told the Queen that she was experiencing a shutting down of her feminine organs, and it was best to take meadow seed and pray for absolution against the wickedness that was plaguing her.
Soon after, Anne sought out Cranmer to toll the bell of his church 20 times in prayer and to hold a special vigil for her, but she remained unwell. Along with her cramps, bleeding, and dizziness, Anne came to suffer from frequent migraines and arthritis that made it difficult to read, sew, and plant in her garden; all her favorite activities. Henry checked on her and monitored her progress closely with her physicians, comforting her as much as he could. For the first two days after her examination by the doctors he stayed by her bedside refusing to leave. On the third day he came down ill himself so the doctors removed him to his own chamber. Thankfully, the Queen’s symptoms subsided and she recovered over the next weeks, although she would from time to time continue to suffer painful migraines. Over
the next year, it was the King whose health would be the grave concern.
During Christmastide celebrations in 1549, Henry publicly surprised Anne by toasting to his Queen’s grace and skill in renovating their court, boasting that, thanks to the Queen, they enjoyed the most splendid court in Europe, and affirming yet again her hold upon the crown. He then went even further and dropped to his knee to give a glowing statement of praise for how much she had meant to him over all of these years together, and to thank her for her gifts of their children. The Queen cried and made a speech of gratitude in return, thanking the King for his immense kindness and showing genuine affection towards him. The joy would not last long.
The King’s councilors were secretly preparing for the possible succession. While the Act of Succession in 1547 still stood, revisions were made providing financially for the Queen and her heirs. Henry was by no means a frugal monarch and by this time his crown was in debt by over an estimated 213,788 pounds annually. The growing cost of the court, primarily at Anne’s insistence, was taking its toll on the country’s economy. With money again becoming an issue, even before the worsening of Henry’s health, it became necessary to renew discussions of marrying off the heirs.
Had the Queen Lived: Page 36