The lady in the tower : the fall of Anne Boleyn.

by Alison Weir.

PROLOGUE.

The Solemn Joust.

May Day was one of the traditional highlights of the English royal court"s spring calendar, and was customarily celebrated as a high festival. The May Day of 1536 was no exception, being marked by a great tournament, or "solemn joust," which was held in the tiltyard at Greenwich, the beautiful riverside palace much favored by King Henry VIII, who had been born there in 1491. It was a warm day, and pennants fluttered in the breeze as the courtiers crowded into their seats to watch the contest.1 At the appointed time, the King took his place at the front of the royal stand, which stood between the twin towers of the tiltyard, in front of the recently built banquet hall. He was not yet the bloated and diseased colossus of his later years, but a muscular and vigorous man of forty-five, over six feet tall, At the appointed time, the King took his place at the front of the royal stand, which stood between the twin towers of the tiltyard, in front of the recently built banquet hall. He was not yet the bloated and diseased colossus of his later years, but a muscular and vigorous man of forty-five, over six feet tall,2 red-bearded and magnificently dressed: "a perfect model of manly beauty," "his head imperial and bald." red-bearded and magnificently dressed: "a perfect model of manly beauty," "his head imperial and bald."3 His queen of three years, Anne Boleyn, seated herself beside him. One of the most notorious women in Christendom, she was ten years younger than her husband, very graceful, very French-she had spent some years at the French court-and stylishly attired, but "not the handsomest woman in the world": her skin was swarthy, her bosom "not much raised," and she had a double nail on one of her fingers; her long brown hair was her crowning glory, and her other claim to beauty was her eyes, which were "black and beautiful" and "invited to conversation."4 It was outwardly a happy occasion-May Day was traditionally the time for courtly revelry-and there was little sign of any gathering storm. Henry "made no show" of being angry or in turmoil, "and gave himself up to enjoyment."5 He watched as the contestants ran their chivalrous courses, lances couched, armor gleaming. At this "great jousting," the Queen"s brother, George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, was the leading challenger and "showed his skill in breaking lances and vaulting on horseback," while Sir Henry Norris, one of the King"s most trusted friends and household officers, led the defenders, "presenting himself well-armed." When Norris"s mount became uncontrollable, "refused the lists, and turned away as if conscious of the impending calamity to his master," the King presented him with his own horse. He watched as the contestants ran their chivalrous courses, lances couched, armor gleaming. At this "great jousting," the Queen"s brother, George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, was the leading challenger and "showed his skill in breaking lances and vaulting on horseback," while Sir Henry Norris, one of the King"s most trusted friends and household officers, led the defenders, "presenting himself well-armed." When Norris"s mount became uncontrollable, "refused the lists, and turned away as if conscious of the impending calamity to his master," the King presented him with his own horse.6 In the jousting, the poet-courtier Thomas Wyatt "did better than the others," although Norris, Sir Francis Weston, and Sir William Brereton all "did great feats of arms, and the King showed them great kindness. The Queen looked on from a high place, and often conveyed sweet looks to encourage the combatants, who knew nothing of their danger." In the jousting, the poet-courtier Thomas Wyatt "did better than the others," although Norris, Sir Francis Weston, and Sir William Brereton all "did great feats of arms, and the King showed them great kindness. The Queen looked on from a high place, and often conveyed sweet looks to encourage the combatants, who knew nothing of their danger."7 Fifty years later, Nicholas Sander, a hostile Catholic historian, would claim that "the Queen dropping her handkerchief, one of her gallants [traditionally a.s.sumed to have been Henry Norris] took it up and wiped his face with it," and that Henry VIII, observing this and seething with jealousy, construed the gesture as evidence of intimacy between them, and rising "in a hurry," left the stand; but there is no mention of this incident in contemporary sources such as the reliable chronicle of Charles Wriothesley, Windsor Herald. In the late seventeenth century, Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, who painstakingly researched Anne Boleyn"s fall in order to refute the claims of Sander, would conclude that the handkerchief incident never happened, since "this circ.u.mstance is not spoken of by [Sir John] Spelman, a judge of that time who wrote an account of the whole transaction with his own hand in his commonplace book."

Halfway through the jousts a message was pa.s.sed to Henry VIII, and suddenly, to everyone"s astonishment, especially the Queen"s, "the King departed to Westminster, having not above six persons with him,"8 leaving Anne to preside alone over what remained of the tournament. "Of which sudden departing, many men mused, but most chiefly the Queen." leaving Anne to preside alone over what remained of the tournament. "Of which sudden departing, many men mused, but most chiefly the Queen."9 She must have felt bewildered and fearful at the very least, because for some days now, the King had been distant or simmering with rage, and she had very good reasons to suspect that something ominous had happened-and that it concerned herself. She must have felt bewildered and fearful at the very least, because for some days now, the King had been distant or simmering with rage, and she had very good reasons to suspect that something ominous had happened-and that it concerned herself.

She was the Queen of England, and she should have been in an invincible position, yet she was painfully aware that she had disappointed Henry in the most important thing that mattered. She could not have failed to realize that his long-cherished pa.s.sion for her had died and that his amorous interest now had another focus, but she clearly also knew that there was more to this present situation than mere infidelity. For months now the court had been abuzz with speculation that the King might take another wife. But that was not all.

A week before the tournament, Anne"s brother-one of the most powerful men at court-had been publicly slighted. That could have been explained in a number of ways, but many saw it as a slur upon herself. Since then, her father, a member of the King"s Council and privy to state secrets, who could have told her much that would frighten her, may have said something that gave her cause for alarm. She had perhaps guessed that members of her household were being covertly and systematically questioned. How she found out is a matter for speculation, but there can be no doubt that she knew something was going on. Just four days earlier she had sought out her chaplain and begged him to look to the care of her daughter should anything happen to her, the Queen. Plainly, she was aware of some undefined, impending danger.

She knew too that, only yesterday, her tongue, never very guarded, had run away with her and that she had spoken rashly, even treasonously, overstepping the conventional bounds of courtly banter between queen and servant, man and woman, and also that her words had been overheard. She was fretting about that, and had gone so far as to take steps to protect her good name. But it was too late. Others were putting their own construction on what she had said, and it was d.a.m.ning.

Anne seems to have feared that the King had been told of her compromising words. On the day-or the morning-before the tournament, she had made a dramatic, emotional appeal to him, only to be angrily rebuffed. Then late that evening, come the startling announcement that a planned-and important-royal journey had been postponed.

The signs had not been good, but the exact nature of the forces that menaced Anne was almost certainly a mystery to her. So she surely could not have predicted, when the King got up and walked out of the royal stand on that portentous May Day, it would be the last time she"d ever set eyes on him, and that she herself and those gallant contestants in the jousts were about to be annihilated in one of the most astonishing and brutal coups in English history.

CHAPTER 1.

Occurrences That Presaged Evil.

Three months earlier, on the morning of January 29, 1536,1 in the Queen"s apartments at Greenwich Palace, Anne Boleyn, who was Henry VIII"s second wife, had aborted-"with much peril of her life" in the Queen"s apartments at Greenwich Palace, Anne Boleyn, who was Henry VIII"s second wife, had aborted-"with much peril of her life"2-a stillborn fetus "that had the appearance of a male child of fifteen weeks growth."3 The Imperial amba.s.sador, Eustache Chapuys, called it "an abortion which seemed to be a male child which she had not borne three-and-a-half months," The Imperial amba.s.sador, Eustache Chapuys, called it "an abortion which seemed to be a male child which she had not borne three-and-a-half months,"4 while Sander refers to it as "a shapeless ma.s.s of flesh." The infant must therefore have been conceived around October 17. while Sander refers to it as "a shapeless ma.s.s of flesh." The infant must therefore have been conceived around October 17.

This was Anne"s fourth pregnancy, and the only living child she had so far produced was a girl, Elizabeth, born on September 7, 1533; the arrival of a daughter had been a cataclysmic disappointment, for at that time it was unthinkable that a woman might rule successfully, as Elizabeth later did, and the King had long been desperate for a son to succeed him on the throne. Such a blessing would also have been a sign from G.o.d that he had been right to put away his first wife and marry Anne. Now, to the King"s "great distress,"5 that son had been born dead. It seemed an omen. She had, famously, "miscarried of her savior." that son had been born dead. It seemed an omen. She had, famously, "miscarried of her savior."6 Henry had donned black that day, out of respect for his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, whose body was being buried in Peterborough Abbey with all the honors due to the Dowager Princess of Wales, for she was the widow of his brother Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales. Having had his own marriage to her declared null and void in 1533, on the grounds that he could never lawfully have been wed to his brother"s wife, Henry would not now acknowledge her to have been Queen of England. Nevertheless, he observed the day of her burial with "solemn obsequies, with all his servants and himself attending them dressed in mourning."7 He did not antic.i.p.ate that, before the day was out, he would be mourning the loss of his son with "great disappointment and sorrow." He did not antic.i.p.ate that, before the day was out, he would be mourning the loss of his son with "great disappointment and sorrow."8 Henry VIII"s need for a male heir had become increasingly urgent in the twenty-seven years that had pa.s.sed since 1509, when he married Katherine.9 Of her six pregnancies, there was only one surviving child, Mary. By 1526 the King had fallen headily in love with Katherine"s maid-of-honor, Anne Boleyn, and after six years of waiting in vain for the Pope to grant the annulment of his marriage that he so pa.s.sionately desired, so he could make Anne his wife, he defied the Catholic Church, severed the English Church from Rome, and had the sympathetic Thomas Cranmer, his newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, declare his union with the virtuous Katherine invalid. All this he did in order to marry Anne and beget a son on her. Of her six pregnancies, there was only one surviving child, Mary. By 1526 the King had fallen headily in love with Katherine"s maid-of-honor, Anne Boleyn, and after six years of waiting in vain for the Pope to grant the annulment of his marriage that he so pa.s.sionately desired, so he could make Anne his wife, he defied the Catholic Church, severed the English Church from Rome, and had the sympathetic Thomas Cranmer, his newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, declare his union with the virtuous Katherine invalid. All this he did in order to marry Anne and beget a son on her.

It had not been the happiest marriage. The roseate view of Anne"s apologist, George Wyatt reads touchingly: "They lived and loved, tokens of increasing love perpetually increasing between them. Her mind brought him forth the rich treasures of love of piety, love of truth, love of learning; her body yielded him the fruits of marriage, inestimable pledges of her faith and loyal love." Yet while some of this is true, in the three years since their secret wedding in a turret room in Whitehall Palace, Henry VIII had not shown himself to be the kindest of husbands.

In marrying Anne for love, he had defied the convention that kings wed for political and dynastic reasons. The only precedent was the example of his grandfather, Edward IV, who in 1464 had taken to wife Elizabeth Wydeville, the object of his amorous interest, after she refused to sleep with him. But this left Anne vulnerable, because the foundation of her influence rested only on the King"s mercurial affections.10 His "blind and wretched pa.s.sion"11 had rapidly subsided, and from the time of Anne"s first pregnancy, following true to previous form, he had taken mistresses, telling her to "shut her eyes and endure as more worthy persons had done"-a cruel and humiliating comparison with the forbearing and dignified Katherine of Aragon-and that "she ought to know that he could at any time lower her as much as he had raised her." had rapidly subsided, and from the time of Anne"s first pregnancy, following true to previous form, he had taken mistresses, telling her to "shut her eyes and endure as more worthy persons had done"-a cruel and humiliating comparison with the forbearing and dignified Katherine of Aragon-and that "she ought to know that he could at any time lower her as much as he had raised her."12 And this to the woman whom he had frenziedly pursued for at least seven years, and for whom he had risked excommunication and war; the woman who had been the great love of his life and was the mother of his heir. And this to the woman whom he had frenziedly pursued for at least seven years, and for whom he had risked excommunication and war; the woman who had been the great love of his life and was the mother of his heir.

"The King cannot leave her for an hour," Chapuys had written of Anne in 1532. "He accompanies her everywhere," a Venetian envoy had recorded at that time,13 and was so amorous of her that he gladly fulfilled all her desires and "preferred all that were of [her] blood." and was so amorous of her that he gladly fulfilled all her desires and "preferred all that were of [her] blood."14 Similarly, a French amba.s.sador, Jean du Bellay, had reported that the King"s pa.s.sion was such that only G.o.d could abate his madness. That was hardly surprising, since the evidence suggests he did not sleep with Anne for six or seven frustrating years. It has been suggested that it was Henry who, having enjoyed a s.e.xual relationship with Anne during the early stages of their affair, resolved to abstain as soon as he had decided upon making her his wife, since the scandal of an unplanned pregnancy would have ruined all hope of the Pope granting an annulment. Similarly, a French amba.s.sador, Jean du Bellay, had reported that the King"s pa.s.sion was such that only G.o.d could abate his madness. That was hardly surprising, since the evidence suggests he did not sleep with Anne for six or seven frustrating years. It has been suggested that it was Henry who, having enjoyed a s.e.xual relationship with Anne during the early stages of their affair, resolved to abstain as soon as he had decided upon making her his wife, since the scandal of an unplanned pregnancy would have ruined all hope of the Pope granting an annulment.15 The theory that the couple were lovers before 1528 rests on the wording of the papal bull for which the King applied that year. Because Anne"s sister Mary had once been his mistress, he needed-in the event of his marriage to Katherine being dissolved-a dispensation to marry within the prohibited degrees of affinity, which was duly granted; and he also asked for permission to marry a woman with whom he had already had intercourse.16 He must have been referring throughout to Anne, whom he had long since determined to make his wife. But the wording of this bull does not necessarily imply that he had already slept with her: he was looking to the future and hopefully to making Anne his mistress in antic.i.p.ation of their marriage. He was covering every contingency. Moreover, his seventeen surviving love letters to Anne strongly suggest that the more traditional a.s.sumption is likely correct, and that it was she who kept He must have been referring throughout to Anne, whom he had long since determined to make his wife. But the wording of this bull does not necessarily imply that he had already slept with her: he was looking to the future and hopefully to making Anne his mistress in antic.i.p.ation of their marriage. He was covering every contingency. Moreover, his seventeen surviving love letters to Anne strongly suggest that the more traditional a.s.sumption is likely correct, and that it was she who kept him him at arm"s length for all that time, only to yield when marriage was within her sights. at arm"s length for all that time, only to yield when marriage was within her sights.

Despite all the years of waiting and longing, there had been "much coldness and grumbling" between the couple since their marriage,17 for Anne, once won, had perhaps been a disappointment. She was not born to be a queen, nor educated to that end. She found it difficult, if not impossible, to make the transition from a mistress with the upper hand to a compliant and deferential wife, which was what the King, once married, now expected of her. Years of frustration, of holding Henry off while waiting for a favorable papal decision that never came, had taken their toll on her as well as the King, and made her haughty, overbearing, shrewish, and volatile, qualities that were then frowned upon in wives, who were expected to be meek and submissive, not defiant and outspoken. And Henry VIII was nothing if not a conventional husband. for Anne, once won, had perhaps been a disappointment. She was not born to be a queen, nor educated to that end. She found it difficult, if not impossible, to make the transition from a mistress with the upper hand to a compliant and deferential wife, which was what the King, once married, now expected of her. Years of frustration, of holding Henry off while waiting for a favorable papal decision that never came, had taken their toll on her as well as the King, and made her haughty, overbearing, shrewish, and volatile, qualities that were then frowned upon in wives, who were expected to be meek and submissive, not defiant and outspoken. And Henry VIII was nothing if not a conventional husband.18 George Wyatt observed that, rather than upbraiding him for his infidelities, Anne would have done better to follow "the general liberty and custom" of the age by suffering in dignified silence. George Wyatt observed that, rather than upbraiding him for his infidelities, Anne would have done better to follow "the general liberty and custom" of the age by suffering in dignified silence.

These days, Anne was no longer the captivating twenty-something who had first caught the King"s eye, but (according to Chapuys) a "thin old woman" of thirty-five, a description borne out by a portrait of her done by an unknown artist around this time, which once hung at Nidd Hall in Yorkshire; one courtier even thought her "extremely ugly."19 She was unpopular, and she had made many enemies in the court and the royal household through her overbearing behavior and offensive remarks. She was unpopular, and she had made many enemies in the court and the royal household through her overbearing behavior and offensive remarks.

Nor had her much-vaunted virtue, employed as a tactical weapon in holding off the King"s advances, been genuine. We may set aside Sander"s malicious a.s.sertion that Anne"s father sent her to France at the age of thirteen after finding her in bed with his butler and his chaplain, but she did go to the notoriously licentious French court at an impressionable age. "Rarely, or ever, did any maid or wife leave that court chaste," observed the sixteenth-century French historian, the Seigneur de Brantome, and in 1533, the year of Anne"s marriage to Henry VIII, King Francis I of France confided to Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, her uncle, "how little virtuously [she] had always lived."20 Given the promiscuity of Anne"s brother George and her sister Mary, and the suspect reputation of their mother, Elizabeth Howard, as well as the fact that their father was ready to profit by his daughters" liaisons with the King, it would be unsurprising if Anne herself had remained chaste until her marriage at the age of about thirty-two. In 1536 a disillusioned Henry told Chapuys in confidence that his wife had been "corrupted" in France, and that he had only realized this after their marriage. Given the promiscuity of Anne"s brother George and her sister Mary, and the suspect reputation of their mother, Elizabeth Howard, as well as the fact that their father was ready to profit by his daughters" liaisons with the King, it would be unsurprising if Anne herself had remained chaste until her marriage at the age of about thirty-two. In 1536 a disillusioned Henry told Chapuys in confidence that his wife had been "corrupted" in France, and that he had only realized this after their marriage.21 Anne, however, would stand up one day in court and protest that she had maintained her honor and her chast.i.ty all her life long, "as much as ever queen did."22 But that chast.i.ty may have been merely technical, for there are many ways of giving and receiving s.e.xual pleasure without actual penetration. Henry VIII, perhaps not the most imaginative of men when it came to s.e.x, and evidently a bit of a prude, was clearly shocked to discover that Anne already had some experience before he slept with her, and his disenchantment had probably been festering ever since. But that chast.i.ty may have been merely technical, for there are many ways of giving and receiving s.e.xual pleasure without actual penetration. Henry VIII, perhaps not the most imaginative of men when it came to s.e.x, and evidently a bit of a prude, was clearly shocked to discover that Anne already had some experience before he slept with her, and his disenchantment had probably been festering ever since.23 It would explain the rapid erosion of his great pa.s.sion for her, his straying from her bed within months of their marriage, and his keeping her under constant scrutiny. He believed she had lied to him, thought her capable of sustained duplicity, and may also have been suspicious of her naturally coquettish behavior with the men in her circle. It would explain the rapid erosion of his great pa.s.sion for her, his straying from her bed within months of their marriage, and his keeping her under constant scrutiny. He believed she had lied to him, thought her capable of sustained duplicity, and may also have been suspicious of her naturally coquettish behavior with the men in her circle.

On the surface, however, he had maintained solidarity with Anne. He could not afford to lose face after his long and controversial struggle to make her his wife, nor would he admit he had been wrong in marrying her. He took the unprecedented step of having her crowned with St. Edward"s crown as if she were a queen regnant, crushed opposition to her elevation, slept with her often enough to conceive four children in three years, gave her rich gifts, looked after the interests of her family, and in 1534 named her regent and "absolute governess of her children and kingdom" in the event of his death. That year he pushed through an Act of Parliament that settled the royal succession on his children by "his most dear and entirely beloved wife, Queen Anne," and made it high treason to slander or deny "the lawful matrimony" between them.24 The conventional expressions of devotion in the Act of Succession concealed the fact that Henry was already "tired to satiety" of his wife.25 The French amba.s.sador, Antoine de Castelnau, Bishop of Tarbes, reported in October 1535 that "his regard for the Queen is less than it was and diminishes every day." The French amba.s.sador, Antoine de Castelnau, Bishop of Tarbes, reported in October 1535 that "his regard for the Queen is less than it was and diminishes every day."26 According to a French poem written by the diplomat Lancelot de Carles in June 1536, "the King daily cooled in his affection." He was seen to be unfaithful, suspicious, and increasingly distant toward Anne, and her influence had been correspondingly eroded. According to a French poem written by the diplomat Lancelot de Carles in June 1536, "the King daily cooled in his affection." He was seen to be unfaithful, suspicious, and increasingly distant toward Anne, and her influence had been correspondingly eroded.27 Nevertheless, every quarrel or estrangement between them had so far ended in reconciliation, leading many, even Chapuys, to conclude that the King still remained to a degree in thrall to his wife. "When the Lady wants something, there is no one who dares contradict her, not even the King himself, because when he does not want to do what she wishes, she behaves like someone in a frenzy." Nevertheless, every quarrel or estrangement between them had so far ended in reconciliation, leading many, even Chapuys, to conclude that the King still remained to a degree in thrall to his wife. "When the Lady wants something, there is no one who dares contradict her, not even the King himself, because when he does not want to do what she wishes, she behaves like someone in a frenzy."28 The Queen"s subsequent pregnancies had failed to produce the longed-for son. After the birth of the Princess Elizabeth in September 1533, Chapuys had written of the King, "G.o.d has forgotten him entirely." Anne quickly conceived again, but, in the summer of 1534, had borne probably a stillborn son at full term. So humiliating was this loss that no announcement of the birth was made, and the veil of secrecy surrounding the tragedy ensured that not even the s.e.x of the infant was recorded, although we may infer from Chapuys"s reference in 1536 to Anne"s "utter inability to bear male children" that it was a boy.29 In the autumn of 1534, Anne thought she was pregnant again, but her hopes were premature. "The Lady is not to have a child after all," observed Chapuys gleefully. He would never refer to Anne as queen; for him, Katherine, the aunt of his master, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, was Henry"s rightful consort, and he could only regard Anne Boleyn as "the Lady" or "the Concubine," or even "the English Messalina or Agrippina." In the autumn of 1534, Anne thought she was pregnant again, but her hopes were premature. "The Lady is not to have a child after all," observed Chapuys gleefully. He would never refer to Anne as queen; for him, Katherine, the aunt of his master, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, was Henry"s rightful consort, and he could only regard Anne Boleyn as "the Lady" or "the Concubine," or even "the English Messalina or Agrippina."30 Anne"s third pregnancy ended in another stillbirth around June 1535.31 To Henry, who was perhaps already despairing of her bearing him a son, To Henry, who was perhaps already despairing of her bearing him a son,32 it might have seemed that she was merely repeating the disastrous pattern of Katherine of Aragon"s obstetric history: before reaching the menopause at thirty-eight, Katherine had borne six children-three of them sons-in eight years, yet the only one to survive early infancy was Mary, born in 1516. Now, after four pregnancies, Anne too had just the one surviving daughter. it might have seemed that she was merely repeating the disastrous pattern of Katherine of Aragon"s obstetric history: before reaching the menopause at thirty-eight, Katherine had borne six children-three of them sons-in eight years, yet the only one to survive early infancy was Mary, born in 1516. Now, after four pregnancies, Anne too had just the one surviving daughter.

Daughters were of no use to the King. It was seen as against the laws of G.o.d and Nature for a woman to hold dominion over men, and so far England"s only example of a female ruler had been the Empress Matilda, who briefly emerged triumphant from her civil war with King Stephen in 1141 and seized London. Yet so haughty and autocratic was she that the citizens speedily sent her packing, never to regain control of the kingdom. The whole disastrous episode merely served to underline the prevailing male view that women were not fit to rule. England had yet to experience an Elizabeth or a Victoria, so there was no evidence that could overturn that thinking. Thus, even though he was the father of a daughter, Henry VIII had felt justified in claiming that his marriage to Katherine was invalid because the divine penalty for marrying his brother"s widow was childlessness. Without a son, he was effectively childless.

This was not just a chauvinistic conceit, but a very pressing issue. A king such as Henry, who ruled as well as reigned, and led armies into battle, needed an heir. The Wars of the Roses, that prolonged dynastic conflict between the royal Houses of Lancaster and York, were still within living memory, and sixteenth-century perceptions of them were alarming, even if overstated. There were those who regarded the Tudors-who had ruled since 1485, when Henry"s father, Henry VII, had defeated Richard III, the last Plantagenet king-as a usurping dynasty, and there was no shortage of potential Yorkist (or "White Rose") claimants to challenge the succession of Princess Elizabeth, should Henry die without a son. "The King was apprehensive that, after his own decease, civil wars would break out, and that the crown would again be transferred to the family of the White Rose if he left no heir behind him."33 The specter of a b.l.o.o.d.y conflict loomed large in the King"s mind, and he had done his best to ruthlessly eradicate or neutralize anyone with pretensions to the throne. But there could be little doubt that, were he to die and leave no son to succeed him, the kingdom would soon descend into dynastic turmoil and even war. The specter of a b.l.o.o.d.y conflict loomed large in the King"s mind, and he had done his best to ruthlessly eradicate or neutralize anyone with pretensions to the throne. But there could be little doubt that, were he to die and leave no son to succeed him, the kingdom would soon descend into dynastic turmoil and even war.

Henry-and his contemporaries-must sincerely have wondered if, in withholding the blessing of a son, G.o.d was manifesting the same divine displeasure that had blighted the King"s first marriage, when it became clear to Henry that he had offended the Deity by marrying his brother"s widow. Now it seemed that he had offended again in some way, by marrying Anne.

The writing was on the wall, and Anne had known it for some time. It fueled her insecurity. When she attempted in September 1534, unsuccessfully, to banish from court "a handsome young lady" on whom Henry"s eye had lighted, he had crushingly told her that "she had good reason to be content with what he had done for her, for were he to begin again, he would certainly not do as much, and that she ought to consider where she came from."34 In February 1535 she had become distracted and near-hysterical when, conversing with the Admiral of France at a banquet, she watched Henry flirting with a lady of the court; and that same month, she even went so far as to maneuver her husband into seducing one of her cousins, "Madge" (Mary) Shelton, in the hope that Madge would at least be sympathetic to her and unlikely to ally herself with Chapuys and his friends against her. In February 1535 she had become distracted and near-hysterical when, conversing with the Admiral of France at a banquet, she watched Henry flirting with a lady of the court; and that same month, she even went so far as to maneuver her husband into seducing one of her cousins, "Madge" (Mary) Shelton, in the hope that Madge would at least be sympathetic to her and unlikely to ally herself with Chapuys and his friends against her.35 Yet still the Queen was racked with jealousy. Her mood ricocheted between anger, despair, hope, and grief, and these were often ill-concealed beneath a facade of gaiety. She argued with the King in public, was said to have ridiculed his clothes and his poetry in private, and sometimes appeared bored in his company.36 But she was treading a dangerous course: before the former Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, was executed for treason in 1535, he is said to have spoken of Anne-believed by many to have been the cause of his death-to his daughter, Margaret Roper, who visited him in the Tower of London with bitter tales of the Queen"s "dancing and sporting." "Alas," More sighed, "it pitieth me to think into what misery she will shortly come. Those dances of hers might spurn off our heads like footb.a.l.l.s, but it will not be long ere her head will dance the like dance." But she was treading a dangerous course: before the former Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, was executed for treason in 1535, he is said to have spoken of Anne-believed by many to have been the cause of his death-to his daughter, Margaret Roper, who visited him in the Tower of London with bitter tales of the Queen"s "dancing and sporting." "Alas," More sighed, "it pitieth me to think into what misery she will shortly come. Those dances of hers might spurn off our heads like footb.a.l.l.s, but it will not be long ere her head will dance the like dance."37 His grim prophecy may have been made up by his biographer-William Roper, his son-in-law-with the benefit of hindsight, but it was soon to be fulfilled.

It was perhaps during a royal progress to the West Country in the autumn of 1535 that Henry"s amorous eye lighted upon Jane Seymour, one of Anne"s maids-of-honor, possibly when, without the Queen, he visited the Seymours" family home, Wulfhall in Somerset, in early September. He had known Jane for some years, for she was at court in the service of both his wives38 and received New Year"s gifts; it may be that he had fancied her for some time already, or their affair began prior to the progress, although there is no evidence for that. In early October the Bishop of Tarbes, having heard gossip or observed Henry and Jane together, observed that the King"s love for Anne "diminishes every day because he has new amours." and received New Year"s gifts; it may be that he had fancied her for some time already, or their affair began prior to the progress, although there is no evidence for that. In early October the Bishop of Tarbes, having heard gossip or observed Henry and Jane together, observed that the King"s love for Anne "diminishes every day because he has new amours."39 Jane Seymour was then about twenty-eight, and still unwed because her father had not the means to provide her with a rich dower. According to Chapuys"s later description, "she is of middle stature and no great beauty, so fair that one would call her rather pale than otherwise."40 She was Anne"s opposite in nearly every way. She was Anne"s opposite in nearly every way.41 Where Anne was slender and dark, Jane was plump and insipidly fair; Where Anne was slender and dark, Jane was plump and insipidly fair;42 where Anne was witty and feisty, Jane was studiedly humble and demure; and where Anne was flirtatious by nature, Jane made a great show of her meekness and virtue. where Anne was witty and feisty, Jane was studiedly humble and demure; and where Anne was flirtatious by nature, Jane made a great show of her meekness and virtue.

Jane"s kinsman, Sir Francis Bryan, no friend to Anne, had some time since secured her placement at court as maid-of-honor to the Queen,43 and it has been suggested that this was arranged in the autumn of 1535 in order to capitalize on the King"s interest, and it has been suggested that this was arranged in the autumn of 1535 in order to capitalize on the King"s interest,44 but that cannot be correct, because Jane must have been in post by January 1534, when, alongside other ladies of Anne"s household, she received a New Year"s gift from the King. but that cannot be correct, because Jane must have been in post by January 1534, when, alongside other ladies of Anne"s household, she received a New Year"s gift from the King.45 Jane Seymour was to make no secret of the fact that she was sympathetic to the cause of the former Queen Katherine and bore "great good will and respect" to the Lady Mary.46 As a maid-of-honor to Katherine, she would have been a witness to the trials that courageous lady suffered; she had probably been dismayed when the King exiled Katherine and Mary from court in 1531, and could only have deplored his refusal to allow them to see each other thereafter. As a maid-of-honor to Katherine, she would have been a witness to the trials that courageous lady suffered; she had probably been dismayed when the King exiled Katherine and Mary from court in 1531, and could only have deplored his refusal to allow them to see each other thereafter.

If George Wyatt is to be believed, Anne"s enemies seized every opportunity to thrust Jane in Henry"s path: "She waxing great again and not so fit for dalliance, the time was taken to steal the King"s affection from her, when most of all she was to have been cherished. And he once showing to bend from her, many that least ought shrank from her also, and some leant on the other side." By the time Anne realized that she was pregnant with her fourth child, probably in December 1535, the King, while outwardly solicitous, "shrank from her" in private.

By January his affair with Jane was well established, and Anne had become so violently jealous that the royal couple were barely communicating. In late February 1536, Chapuys was to state-perhaps with some exaggeration-that Henry had not spoken to her ten times in the past three months.47 "Unkindness grew," observed George Wyatt, who believed that this led to Anne being "brought abed before her time." He was certainly correct in a.s.serting that, from the first signs of Henry"s amorous intentions, Anne"s enemies saw Jane as a means of discountenancing or dislodging her. "Unkindness grew," observed George Wyatt, who believed that this led to Anne being "brought abed before her time." He was certainly correct in a.s.serting that, from the first signs of Henry"s amorous intentions, Anne"s enemies saw Jane as a means of discountenancing or dislodging her.

The King of France, Francis I, had always been a friend to Anne, but by 1535, Henry"s relations with the French had grown cool, especially after Francis refused to consider Princess Elizabeth as a bride for his son. In December 1535, Henry learned that Katherine of Aragon was dying; aware that her death would remove a significant barrier to a rapprochement with Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, both of which were ruled by the Emperor Charles V-Katherine"s nephew and advocate and Francis"s great rival-he had made a point of receiving Chapuys at Greenwich with calculated courtesy, clapping an arm about the amba.s.sador"s neck and walking up and down with him thus for some time "in the presence of all the courtiers." In January, Chapuys reported that the King was "praising him to the skies."48 It seemed obvious which way the political wind might be blowing. It seemed obvious which way the political wind might be blowing.

But Henry was keeping his options open. In one sphere above all others, Anne Boleyn still had the power to influence him, and that was in the cause of Church reform. Anne was a pa.s.sionate and sincere evangelical, the owner of a library of radical reformist literature, and she was sympathetic to radical and even Lutheran ideas; Chapuys believed her to be "the cause and princ.i.p.al nurse" of all heresy in England.49 Perhaps seeing herself as a Renaissance Queen Esther, she had encouraged Henry to read controversial anticlerical books like Simon Fish"s Perhaps seeing herself as a Renaissance Queen Esther, she had encouraged Henry to read controversial anticlerical books like Simon Fish"s Supplication for the Beggars Supplication for the Beggars (1531), and reportedly introduced him to William Tyndale"s heretical (1531), and reportedly introduced him to William Tyndale"s heretical The Obedience of a Christian Man. The Obedience of a Christian Man.50 She herself possessed a copy of Tyndale"s illegal translation of the New Testament. During her years of ascendancy, not a single heretic had been burned in England, and no fewer than ten evangelical bishops were appointed to vacant seats. Her radical stance had earned her many enemies, but while Chapuys accused her of being "more Lutheran than Luther himself," Anne was a reformist, not a convert to the Protestant faith-that would have been a step too far for Henry-and she was to die a devout Catholic. She herself possessed a copy of Tyndale"s illegal translation of the New Testament. During her years of ascendancy, not a single heretic had been burned in England, and no fewer than ten evangelical bishops were appointed to vacant seats. Her radical stance had earned her many enemies, but while Chapuys accused her of being "more Lutheran than Luther himself," Anne was a reformist, not a convert to the Protestant faith-that would have been a step too far for Henry-and she was to die a devout Catholic.

Henry VIII"s a.s.sumption of the royal supremacy over the Church had left him politically isolated in a Europe dominated by those two mighty rival Catholic powers, France and the Empire. He was therefore toying with the idea of an alliance with the Lutheran princes of Germany. According to Alexander Aless, a Scots Protestant theologian and doctor of medicine, who, in August 1535, had taken up residence in London and won the friendship of Archbishop Cranmer and the King"s Princ.i.p.al Secretary, Thomas Cromwell, it was Anne who persuaded Henry, late in 1535, to send a delegation to Wittenberg in Saxony. There, in 1517, Martin Luther had set in motion the Reformation by pinning his ninety-five theses against indulgences and other doctrines to the door of the Schlosskirche. The purpose of the delegation was to seek the friendship and support of the German princes, although the reformer Philip Melanchthon, summoned to Wittenberg by no less a person than Martin Luther himself, was to report on January 22: "The English have not begun to deliberate with our party about anything. They are too fond of quibbling." However, they were willing, in their official capacity, to show courtesy to Luther, who "received them affectionately."51 Thus it was by no means certain at this time that the King was ready to forge a more conservative alliance with the Emperor. In France, it was being said that Henry even "wished to join the Lutherans, binding himself to live in his kingdom according to their usages, and to defend them against everyone, if they would have bound themselves equally to defend him." But the King had no intention of going that far. In fact, the discussions at Wittenberg seem to have centered on the rights and wrongs of the divorce.52 Katherine of Aragon died, professing her love for Henry and styling herself queen to the last, on January 7, 1536, in her lonely exile at Kimbolton Castle in Huntingdonshire. "Now I am indeed a queen!" Anne crowed in triumph, on hearing of her rival"s pa.s.sing, and she had "worn yellow for the mourning."53 It is a misconception that yellow was the color of Spanish royal mourning: Anne"s choice of garb was no less than a calculated insult to the memory of the woman she had supplanted. It is a misconception that yellow was the color of Spanish royal mourning: Anne"s choice of garb was no less than a calculated insult to the memory of the woman she had supplanted.

Although Katherine"s last letter made him weep,54 the King was "like one transported with joy" and expressed relief at her death, praising G.o.d for freeing his realm from the threat of war with the Emperor. Also provocatively resplendent in yellow, he was seen jubilantly parading the two-year-old Elizabeth about the court and into chapel "with trumpets and other great triumphs." the King was "like one transported with joy" and expressed relief at her death, praising G.o.d for freeing his realm from the threat of war with the Emperor. Also provocatively resplendent in yellow, he was seen jubilantly parading the two-year-old Elizabeth about the court and into chapel "with trumpets and other great triumphs."55 Anne joined in the celebrations, but her rejoicing perhaps masked anxiety. Chapuys did not give much credence to whoever told him, some days prior to January 29, "that notwithstanding the joy shown by the Concubine at the news of the good Queen"s death, she had frequently wept, fearing that they might do with her as with the good Queen."56 The amba.s.sador was right to be skeptical, as Henry would hardly have contemplated ridding himself of Anne when he was hoping that she would soon deliver a son. But Anne must have realized that with Katherine dead, the legions of people who had never recognized her own marriage to Henry now regarded him as a widower who was free to take another wife. And Henry was highly suggestible, as she well knew; his pa.s.sion had cooled, and she had failed so far to bear that vital male heir, despite all he"d done, and the great upheavals he had initiated, to marry her. She must have been aware that much depended on the embryonic life in her womb. She could not fail Henry another time. The amba.s.sador was right to be skeptical, as Henry would hardly have contemplated ridding himself of Anne when he was hoping that she would soon deliver a son. But Anne must have realized that with Katherine dead, the legions of people who had never recognized her own marriage to Henry now regarded him as a widower who was free to take another wife. And Henry was highly suggestible, as she well knew; his pa.s.sion had cooled, and she had failed so far to bear that vital male heir, despite all he"d done, and the great upheavals he had initiated, to marry her. She must have been aware that much depended on the embryonic life in her womb. She could not fail Henry another time.

While Katherine lived, he would not have contemplated putting Anne away, for that would have been tantamount to admitting that he was wrong to marry her and that Katherine was his true wife, to whom the greater part of Christendom would press him to return. As far back as early 1535 he had privately inquired if his second marriage were annulled, whether his first would thereby be considered valid, and he"d asked Master Secretary Cromwell whether it would be possible to set Anne aside without returning to Katherine.57 His rejoicing at Katherine"s death may thus have been for more than one reason, His rejoicing at Katherine"s death may thus have been for more than one reason,58 although that is unlikely, given that Anne was then pregnant. But now, with Katherine dead, all that stood between the Queen and disaster was her unborn child. although that is unlikely, given that Anne was then pregnant. But now, with Katherine dead, all that stood between the Queen and disaster was her unborn child.

Days later Anne "met with diverse ominous occurrences that presaged evil." First, there was "a fire in her chamber."59 This may have called to mind the uncannily prescient prophecy of the Abbot of Garadon, made in 1533, that by 1539: This may have called to mind the uncannily prescient prophecy of the Abbot of Garadon, made in 1533, that by 1539: When the Tower is white, and another place green, Then shall be burned two or three bishops and a queen, And after all this be pa.s.sed we shall have a merry world.60 This prediction had been publicly recited by her detractors, while Anne herself voiced the hope that Katherine was the Queen in question, not herself61-and it had now so nearly come true. She was unharmed, but probably badly shaken. It was Katherine who had been meant to suffer martyrdom, not herself. Anne may also have remembered a book containing another prophecy, left in her apartments for her to find in 1532, open at a page bearing an ill.u.s.tration of her with her head cut off. She can have been in no doubt that there were those who sought her downfall, and that only the King"s protection stood between her and her enemies, who would not hesitate to move in on her and destroy her, given the chance.

Then, as if Anne"s ever-present fears were not enough to contend with, she received a nasty shock. She was not present when, on January 24, "the King, being mounted on a great horse to run at the lists" at Greenwich, "fell so heavily that everyone thought it a miracle he was not killed." Chapuys, who was at court at the time, adds only that he "sustained no injury."62 and therefore the report written on February 12 by the Bishop of Faenza, the Papal Nuncio in France, that Henry "was thought to be dead for two hours," and therefore the report written on February 12 by the Bishop of Faenza, the Papal Nuncio in France, that Henry "was thought to be dead for two hours,"63 and that of Dr. Pedro Ortiz, the Emperor"s amba.s.sador in Rome (March 6), that "the French King said that the King of England had fallen from his horse and had been two hours without speaking" and that of Dr. Pedro Ortiz, the Emperor"s amba.s.sador in Rome (March 6), that "the French King said that the King of England had fallen from his horse and had been two hours without speaking"64 are both probably unfounded and perhaps reflect European gossip. Otherwise, Chapuys, who was close to events, would surely have mentioned these details. Nevertheless, according to Lancelot de Carles, it was thought at the time that the King"s fall "would prove fatal." are both probably unfounded and perhaps reflect European gossip. Otherwise, Chapuys, who was close to events, would surely have mentioned these details. Nevertheless, according to Lancelot de Carles, it was thought at the time that the King"s fall "would prove fatal."

Anne was informed of what had happened by her maternal uncle, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Chapuys says he broke the news gently so as not to alarm her, and that she received it with composure,65 yet it may be that her dawning realization that the King could have been killed forcibly brought home to her the fearful prospect of a future without him there to protect her from her many enemies in a hostile world, in which the specter of dynastic war loomed large. It was said that she "took such a fright withal that it caused her to fall in travail, and so was delivered afore her full time" five days later. yet it may be that her dawning realization that the King could have been killed forcibly brought home to her the fearful prospect of a future without him there to protect her from her many enemies in a hostile world, in which the specter of dynastic war loomed large. It was said that she "took such a fright withal that it caused her to fall in travail, and so was delivered afore her full time" five days later.66 This latest calamity-"a great discomfort to all this realm"-left Henry understandably devastated and unable to hide his "great distress,"67 and Anne in "greater and most extreme grief." George Wyatt, who says that she had become "a woman full of sorrow," wrote that when "the King came to her, bewailing and complaining to her the loss of his boy, some words were heard [to] break out of the inward feeling of her heart"s dolors, laying the fault upon unkindness, which the King more than was cause (her case at this time considered) took more hardly than otherwise he would if he had not been somewhat too much overcome with grief, or not so much alienate." and Anne in "greater and most extreme grief." George Wyatt, who says that she had become "a woman full of sorrow," wrote that when "the King came to her, bewailing and complaining to her the loss of his boy, some words were heard [to] break out of the inward feeling of her heart"s dolors, laying the fault upon unkindness, which the King more than was cause (her case at this time considered) took more hardly than otherwise he would if he had not been somewhat too much overcome with grief, or not so much alienate."

Plainly, Anne"s accusation of unkindness had stung. Wyatt says that "wise men" judged at the time that if she had kept quiet and borne with Henry"s "defect of love, she might have fallen into less danger" and tied him closer to her "when he had seen his error;" instead, she had railed at him, and in consequence "the harm still more increased." Yet she perhaps had good cause to complain. That very morning-according to the account of Jane Dormer, d.u.c.h.ess of Feria, who got her information years later from her mistress, the King"s daughter Mary-Anne had come upon Henry with Jane Seymour on his knee, and became hysterical.68 Abashed at being caught in flagrante, and aware of the need to appease his gravid wife, Henry hastened to calm Anne. "Peace be sweetheart, and all shall go well with thee," he soothed. Abashed at being caught in flagrante, and aware of the need to appease his gravid wife, Henry hastened to calm Anne. "Peace be sweetheart, and all shall go well with thee," he soothed.69 But it was too late: the damage had been done, and Anne, "for anger and disdain, miscarried." But it was too late: the damage had been done, and Anne, "for anger and disdain, miscarried."70 Now, having lost her baby, Anne reportedly was "attributing her misfortune to two causes."71 She "wished to lay the blame on the Duke of Norfolk, whom she hates, saying he frightened her by bringing the news of the fall the King had five days before;" that, she a.s.serted, had triggered her premature labor and miscarriage. She "wished to lay the blame on the Duke of Norfolk, whom she hates, saying he frightened her by bringing the news of the fall the King had five days before;" that, she a.s.serted, had triggered her premature labor and miscarriage.72 "But it is well-known that this is not the cause," Chapuys wrote, "for it was told her in a way that she should not be too alarmed nor attach much importance to it." "But it is well-known that this is not the cause," Chapuys wrote, "for it was told her in a way that she should not be too alarmed nor attach much importance to it."73 Nevertheless, the tale gained currency, and on February 12, in France, the Bishop of Faenza would report that the Queen "miscarried in consequence" of being told of the King"s fall, while the same would be claimed in Rome by Dr. Ortiz, who a.s.serted on March 6 that Anne "was so upset that she miscarried of a son." Nevertheless, the tale gained currency, and on February 12, in France, the Bishop of Faenza would report that the Queen "miscarried in consequence" of being told of the King"s fall, while the same would be claimed in Rome by Dr. Ortiz, who a.s.serted on March 6 that Anne "was so upset that she miscarried of a son."74 Anne also told Henry "that he had no one to blame but himself for this latest disappointment, which had been caused by her distress of mind about that wench Seymour."75 Chapuys says she averred that "because the love she bore him was greater than the late Queen"s, her heart broke when she saw that he loved others. At this remark the King was much grieved." Chapuys says she averred that "because the love she bore him was greater than the late Queen"s, her heart broke when she saw that he loved others. At this remark the King was much grieved."76 According to Jane Dormer, though, he softened and "willed her to pardon him, and [said] he would not displease her in that kind thereafter;" but that is at variance with what George Wyatt heard, which was that Henry angrily told Anne "he would have no more boys by her." This is more in keeping with Chapuys"s account of the conversation, in which he states that the King "scarcely said anything to her, except that he saw clearly that G.o.d did not wish to give him male children, and in leaving her, he told her, as if for spite, that he would speak to her after she was up." Then, "with much ill grace," he left her. According to Jane Dormer, though, he softened and "willed her to pardon him, and [said] he would not displease her in that kind thereafter;" but that is at variance with what George Wyatt heard, which was that Henry angrily told Anne "he would have no more boys by her." This is more in keeping with Chapuys"s account of the conversation, in which he states that the King "scarcely said anything to her, except that he saw clearly that G.o.d did not wish to give him male children, and in leaving her, he told her, as if for spite, that he would speak to her after she was up." Then, "with much ill grace," he left her.77 These parting shots sounded ominous, and we can only imagine how Anne felt, but Chapuys was "credibly informed that, after her abortion," she put on a brave face and told her weeping attendants that it was all for the best "because she would be the sooner with child again, and that the son she bore would not be doubtful like this one, which had been conceived during the life of the [late] Queen, thereby acknowledging a doubt about the b.a.s.t.a.r.dy of her daughter,"78 and also her awareness that some people still regarded Katherine as Henry"s only lawful wife, and did not recognize her own marriage. and also her awareness that some people still regarded Katherine as Henry"s only lawful wife, and did not recognize her own marriage.

One of those people was undoubtedly Jane Seymour, who may not only have felt genuine grief at Katherine of Aragon"s death, but must also have realized that, in the eyes of many people like herself-and indeed of most of Europe-Henry VIII was now a free man. And suddenly, in the light of the Queen"s miscarriage, Anne"s enemies saw in this pallid young woman, who up till now probably had been of no more significance than any other of the King"s pa.s.sing fancies, an opportunity to bring her down.79

CHAPTER 2.

The Scandal of Christendom.

Henry"s fall had no doubt brought forcibly home to him the fact that he was without an heir; had he died in the Greenwich tiltyard, the realm would have been plunged into dynastic chaos. During those five days between his fall and Anne"s miscarriage, he must have brooded often on his urgent need for a living son. Hence the understandably bitter remarks that he flung at her in the pain of his unbearable disappointment, and his need to apportion blame. He had been through all this before with Katherine"s fruitless pregnancies, and it seemed that he was fated to lose his sons by Anne as well-his reaction is further proof that the infant Anne lost in 1534 had been a boy. But now time was no longer on his side: he was forty-four, too old to wait much longer for an heir, and he was evidently beginning to believe that G.o.d would never grant him a son while he remained married to Anne.

Anne was now older than Katherine had been when her last child was conceived, and Henry may well have been aware of this.1 Yet there was perhaps another, deeply atavistic reason for the King"s growing conviction that he had incurred the wrath of the Deity through marrying Anne. In a superst.i.tious age, when it was widely believed-even by educated, rational people-that supernatural powers governed or subverted the natural order of things, a string of miscarriages or stillbirths did not happen without good reason. Either they were the result of divine displeasure-as Henry believed was his punishment for marrying Katherine of Aragon, his brother"s widow-or they were brought about by witchcraft. It may have been in this context that Anne"s latest miscarriage "made an ill impression on the King"s mind" and reinforced his growing conviction that this second marriage too "was displeasing to G.o.d." Yet there was perhaps another, deeply atavistic reason for the King"s growing conviction that he had incurred the wrath of the Deity through marrying Anne. In a superst.i.tious age, when it was widely believed-even by educated, rational people-that supernatural powers governed or subverted the natural order of things, a string of miscarriages or stillbirths did not happen without good reason. Either they were the result of divine displeasure-as Henry believed was his punishment for marrying Katherine of Aragon, his brother"s widow-or they were brought about by witchcraft. It may have been in this context that Anne"s latest miscarriage "made an ill impression on the King"s mind" and reinforced his growing conviction that this second marriage too "was displeasing to G.o.d."2 On the day of Anne"s miscarriage, Chapuys-not yet having heard of it, for he does not mention it in his dispatch, and was not to report it until February 10-was told by the King"s cousin, Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, and the Marchioness, Gertrude Blount, how they had been "informed by one of the princ.i.p.al persons at court" that the King "said to someone in great confidence and, as it were, in confession, that he had made this marriage seduced and constrained by sortileges [i.e., divination or sorcery], and for this reason he considered it null, and that this was evident because G.o.d did not permit them to have any male issue, and that he believed he might take another wife, which he gave to understand that he had some wish to do."3 It is easy to conjure up an image of a bitterly disappointed Henry railing at cruel Fate and saying such things. Possibly he uttered these chilling words in the heat of the moment, needing someone to blame for the loss of his son. Probably he perceived the avenging hand of G.o.d in the tragedy. But he might also have felt the need to explain having been so long in thrall to this woman he had ill-advisedly married, and who so grievously failed him, and one way to do this was by claiming that he had been bewitched.

It has been argued that, in speaking of sortileges, Henry-if he uttered these words at all-was merely referring to having been seduced into marriage by predictions that it would bring him heirs,4 yet the rest of the reported speech makes it clear he believed there was an element of sorcery involved, for predictions or divinations regarding its fruitfulness would not have rendered the marriage invalid. yet the rest of the reported speech makes it clear he believed there was an element of sorcery involved, for predictions or divinations regarding its fruitfulness would not have rendered the marriage invalid.

Chapuys was rightly skeptical. "The thing is very difficult to believe, although it comes from a good source," he wrote to his master. "I will watch to see if there are any indications of its probability."5 Anne, the amba.s.sador added, had already repented of her hasty words of reproach, and was "in great fear." Anne, the amba.s.sador added, had already repented of her hasty words of reproach, and was "in great fear."6 Certainly she had good reason to be so, for Henry might now consider her as barren of sons as Katherine, and find a pretext to have their marriage annulled and their daughter declared a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, just as he had with Katherine and Mary. But Anne did not have Katherine"s powerful friends-in fact she had not very many friends at all-so there would be few to champion her cause, and the outcome would be alarmingly predictable. Without Henry, she would be an object of derision, calumny, and hatred; her very life might well be at risk.

We might wonder if Anne"s great fear sprang from finding out that Henry believed her guilty of witchcraft. At that time, witchcraft was not an indictable offense; it was not until 1542 that an act was pa.s.sed under Henry VIII making it a secular crime, and it did not become a capital offense until 1563, under Elizabeth I. Prior to that, the penalty for witchcraft had been determined according to evidence of actual criminality, with proof of evil deeds necessary to obtain a conviction; in the cases of persons of high rank, there was often a suspicion of treason against the Crown.

In the previous century, three royal ladies had famously been accused of witchcraft. In 1419, Joan of Navarre, the widow of Henry IV, was imprisoned for three years on trumped-up charges of sorcery on the orders of her stepson, Henry V, who wanted her dowry to pay for his wars, and she was not freed until after his death in 1422.