Love, Remember Me (30 page)

It was all a fabrication by Cromwell's enemies, and he had made many in both high and low places. The king chose to believe the allegations because it was convenient for him to do so. He was still angry at Cromwell for having gotten him into the marriage with Anne of Cleves in the first place. Cromwell wrote to the king, piteously asking forgiveness for his crimes and begging for his master's mercy. Henry ignored his faithful servant.

Archbishop Cranmer, knowing Cromwell for no heretic, bravely attempted to intervene on his friend's behalf. He was one of the few people at court who actually liked and completely understood Thomas Cromwell. He knew him to be the most loyal of all the king's servants. Everything Cromwell had done, he had done in Henry Tudor's best interests. The king would have none of it. Cromwell was guilty and must be punished for his alleged offenses. Bishop Sampson, the Bishop of Chichester, arrested earlier in the spring on Cromwell's orders, was freed, as were Sir Nicholas Carew and Lord Lisle, the Governor of Calais, the Bassett sisters' father. There had been five other bishops on Cromwell's blacklist, but he had not had the time to act against them before his own arrest.

Catherine Howard had moved across the Thames to Lambeth Palace, having left the queen's service. It was an open scandal among the common people who saw their king being rowed across the river on a daily basis to spend time with his ladylove. Even the queen could no longer pretend she was not aware of his behavior, but whatever she might have thought, she kept to herself. Publicly she would say nothing that would feed the gossip mills. To her ladies who attempted to bait her, she would say, "If it makes his grace happy, so be it."

On the morning of June twenty-fourth the king came to the queen's apartments and said for all to hear, "The weather is hot for June, madame. I fear the plague will soon break out. I would have you leave this day for Richmond Palace for your health's sake. I will join you in two days' time." Then he kissed her dutifully upon her cheeks and departed. They would never meet again as man and wife.

Word was soon speeding through the court that the king was sending the queen to Richmond for her "health." The queen went docilely, smiling and waving to all the people along her route who cheered Queen Anne gladly from their hearts. Shockingly, the king and Mistress Howard were entertained that very night by Bishop Gardiner, who gave a gala banquet in their honor at his palace. The court was abuzz. There was no longer any doubt that the king meant to replace Anne of Cleves, and quite soon—but how?

Five days after the queen's departure for Richmond, a Bill of Attainder was passed against Thomas Cromwell. As he was accused of treason, his civil rights were to be eliminated and his property confiscated. The king had not yet joined the queen at Richmond, and everyone knew now he did not intend to do so. In the first week of July, the House of Lords formally petitioned the king to investigate through the clergy the legality of his marriage to Anne of Cleves. Henry agreed, claiming that he had been "espoused against his will." This declaration caused some amusement among the court, none of whom had ever known the king to do anything against his will.

The Privy Council departed that same day in mid-afternoon for Richmond to see the queen. They would need her consent to the proceedings. They traveled the river, nervous, and unappreciative of the fair summer day and the beautiful countryside about them.

"Pray God she is no Katherine of Aragon," Lord Audley said to his companions in the first barge.

"Aye," Suffolk answered. "He's in no mood to be denied much longer, and like the other two, Cat Howard is dangling her virtue before him like a prize to be won. He'll not get between her legs without a wedding band and the crown matrimonial." Suffolk shook his head." 'Tis the same game they all play, yet he does not learn. First the Boleyn, then Lady Jane, and now this girl."

"I believe you will find Queen Anne most reasonable," Archbishop Cranmer said quietly. "She is a sensible lady, and most wise."

The three barges carrying the Privy Council arrived at Richmond's stairs. The queen, who had not been forewarned, greeted them cautiously. What if Hendrick had changed his mind about the terms of the dissolution of their marriage they had secretly agreed to months ago? What if he had decided to send her back to Cleves? Anne eyed her guests nervously. Carefully, the Duke of Suffolk, who was the Lord President of the Privy Council, explained the situation, believing it would come as a complete shock to the young queen. He asked that young Hans von Grafsteen translate his words into the queen's native tongue so that she would be certain to completely understand him and fully comprehend what was involved. The queen's ladies were goggle-eyed at the proceedings. What a story they would have to tell after it was all over. Their heads swung between the Privy Council and the queen.

"So," Anne said to Hans in their own High Dutch, "it has finally come. He will take his new bride, and spend a summer of romantic love. God help the poor girl!" She wiped at her blue eyes with a lace-edged scrap of linen, thereby giving them all the impression she was saddened by her situation.

"What should I answer the duke, Your Grace?" Hans asked.

"I shall answer him, Hans," she told the boy. Turning to the Duke of Suffolk and the rest of the Privy Council, she said in English, "Because of the deep affection and respect that I bear his grace, I am content, my lords, to let this matter be decided by the Church, as my good lord the king vishes it." She curtsied to them, hands folded modestly.

"Are you absolutely certain she understands?" the Duke of Norfolk growled. He wanted no difficulties in this matter.

"Ya, my lord," the queen answered him, to his great surprise. "I understand completely. His grace vorries that our marriage is not a legal one. I trust his grace, and he vould not bring this matter to the attention of the clergy vere his conscience not troubling him, ya? Therefore, as a goot vife, I must accede to his vishes to haf the matter investigated further, and I will." She smiled at them.

"Thank you, dear madame," the archbishop said. "You are truly an example in wifely obedience to all women. His grace will be very pleased."

The Privy Council departed, delighted to have had so easy a time of it, but Duke Thomas was yet suspicious.

"What is that woman up to, I wonder? She seemed almost glad to give her consent. Surely she must know if the king wants the matter investigated, that she will end up without a husband, or a crown."

"Perhaps," the archbishop said smoothly, "that pleases her. I realize such a thing is difficult for you to imagine, Thomas, but some people are not interested in worldly power."

"Then they are fools!" Norfolk snapped.

The king was extremely elated by the success of his Privy Council. Anne had been so reasonable in their secret discussions, he had grown fearful that she had just been lulling him into a sense of false security; that when the matter became public, she would protest and attempt to hold onto her crown.

The following day Henry made a written declaration to the clergymen impaneled for the investigation into his marriage to Anne of Cleves. In it he stated that his intentions had been honorable, despite the fact he had not wanted to marry again. He had done it for the good of his kingdom, to ensure the succession by having more children. However, despite the good reports he had of the Princess of Cleves, one look at her when she arrived in England had convinced him that he should never be able to love or to make love to this woman. He had gone through with the marriage despite his deep misgivings because he could not learn of any honorable way in which to avoid the marriage without embarrassing the poor lady, who was after all but an innocent pawn in a political game. Still, this matter of a possible precontract with the son of the Duke of Lorraine, and his inability to consummate the marriage, nagged at his conscience. He wished the clergy's learned opinion in the matter. He had absolutely no ulterior motives for wanting to dissolve his marriage to the lady from Cleves, but was that marriage legal?

During the next few days witnesses were called to testify in the matter before the assembled clergymen. The Earl of Southampton, Admiral FitzWilliam, and Sir Anthony Browne told the court of the king's immediate displeasure upon meeting the Princess of Cleves. Cromwell, from the Tower, swore to the king's instant unhappiness and his desperate desire to be free of the match. It was the last act of a loyal servant. The king's physicians were brought in to testify. Dr. Chambers swore that the king had told both him and Dr. Butts of his inability to consummate his marriage to the lady Anne.

"He said he was certain that he might couple with another woman, but that the lady Anne filled him with revulsion and he could not even attempt the act with her. I advised him to not try further, that being the case, lest he debilitate his sexual organs," Dr. Chambers said.

"The king has had many nocturnal emissions during his entire marriage to the lady Anne," Dr. Butts told the fascinated court. "This, my lords, is proof absolute of a lack of intercourse. Though he has shared the lady's bed, she is as good a maid as the day she arrived in England. I will swear to it upon my own immortal soul." He folded his fat hands across his rather substantial paunch in a pious gesture.

The House of Lords debated the matter, even as the clergy discussed it. The possible precontract with Lorraine had to be finally disposed of because the duke had married his son to the daughter of the King of France. He would hardly have done so had his son been betrothed elsewhere. Best not to open the matter up again lest France become offended. War was not desirable at this point. The king's declared lack of consent to the marriage, and his inability to consummate it, were considered valid enough reasons for ending the marriage. There was but one male heir to England's throne. More were needed. If Henry Tudor could not get those heirs on Anne of Cleves, then what good the marriage? The House of Lords agreed. The marriage must be ended.

On the ninth day of July the convocation of clergy from both the Canterbury and the York archbishoprics found that the king's marriage to Anne of Cleves was null and void on the grounds of nonconsummation and lack of consent. Both parties were free to remarry. Archbishop Cranmer, the Earl of Southampton, and the Duke of Suffolk went to Richmond to inform the queen of the court's decision.

"From henceforth on, madame, you will be considered the king's most beloved sister," the Duke of Suffolk told her. He then went on to tell Anne of the handsome yearly allowance the king had settled upon her. "You will also be allowed to keep all your jewelry, your plate, and your tapestries. Richmond Palace, Hever Castle, and the manor of Bletchingly are now yours. Only the king's daughters and a new queen will take precedence over you when you visit the court, madame. It is hoped that you will be content with these most generous terms afforded you by our gracious lord, Henry Tudor. God save the king!"

"I am most content vith my dear brother Hendrick's generosity," the lady Anne replied. "I shall write to him in a day or two declaring myself amenable to all that has passed this day, my lord. Vill that be suitable, do you think?" She smiled sweetly at him.

Why, she's absolutely delighted by this turn of events, thought the Duke of Suffolk. 'Tis a good thing Hal is not here to see her glad face. "Aye, madame, 'twill be most acceptable," he replied.

"Dr. Wotton is to be sent to Cleves, dear lady," the archbishop said, "to explain these delicate matters to your good brother, Duke William. If you would like to send a letter along to the duke, it might ease his mind even more."

"You vill help me to compose it?" the lady Anne asked. "I vould not like my unfamiliarity vith the English language to cause any confusion on Vilhelm's part. His mind can sometimes be like a dumpling."

Both the Earl of Southampton and the Duke of Suffolk chuckled at her remark, but the archbishop said, "Would you not prefer to write to your brother in your native tongue, dear madame? Will he not worry, and wonder if you address him in English?"

"I am an English voman now, my lord," Anne answered them, "but if it vill put your minds at ease, ve vill write the letter together in English, and then you may haf it translated into the language of my birth. Send Vilhelm both copies, however, so he vill see that the original is written in my own hand. I vill reassure him, and he vill be content, ya?" She smiled brightly at them.

"And would you have us take a message to the king, my lady?" the Duke of Suffolk asked her. "To reassure him that you are satisfied?"

"Ya," Anne said. "You may tell the king, my brother, that I am his most obedient servant, now and alvays." She curtsied to the three men.

"Incredible," the Earl of Southampton said, as they returned to London in their barge. "I have never known so reasonable a woman, but then from the beginning, when I met her in Calais, she was anxious, nay, eager, to please his grace."

"She has certainly pleased him this day," the archbishop said with great understatement. "I suspect we have lost a valuable diplomat when we lost this queen. I have never known a better tactician."

"She was delighted to be rid of him if you ask me," the Duke of Suffolk remarked. "Poor old Hal would be quite annoyed if he knew how well she accepted his will. I think I shall tell him she fainted at the news, but then you, Thomas, reassured her of his grace's goodwill. It will please his vanity. What think you, my lords?"

"His vanity needs no pleasing these days," the archbishop told them. "Mistress Howard delights him so that nothing else matters to the king, I fear. I am not sure this is good."

"Come now, my lord," said the Duke of Suffolk, whose fourth wife was many years his junior, "a young wife is a happy thing."

" 'Tis not Mistress Howard who distresses, but rather her voracious family," the earl murmured softly. "Duke Thomas fairly champs at the bit to regain the power he believes is rightfully his."

"Then perhaps you will speak out for poor Crum," the archbishop suggested. "He was never the easiest of men to get on with, I know, but we all realize these charges against him are feeble, and untrue."