Henry viii was a notorious king known for his mean streak and treatment of his friends,
wives and those who went against him. He was responsible for a large amount of executions
and sadly two of his wives found themselves on his list of those whom he was responsible
for the death of. Catherine Howard, his fifth wife was just a young girl. She was let down
by society at the time and her circumstances lead her to the execution scaffold on the
13 February 1542 on tower green within the walls of the Tower of London. However, if
you were to go and actively see out her burial site, her remains would not be found. There
is today a memorial marker at the supposed site, but Catherine Howards remains are missing.
So what is the story behind this?
Catherine Howard was a lady in waiting to henrys fourth wife, and after the collapse
of his marriage to Anne of Cleves, Henry was soon drawn to her. She was also the cousin
of Anne Boleyn and was reportedly full of life, beautiful and much younger than his
mistresses. Catherine was essential used as a pawn. Her family pushed her into the eye
line of the king. Henry had decided that after his disatrous fourth marriage, he would be
the one to choose his next wife. And he felt that Catherine Howard was the wife that he
had been looking for. However , even at the time, many suggested that Henry and Catherine
were poorly matched, if nothing else, because of the thirty or so year age gap.
On the 28th of July, 1540, Henry and Catherine were married, and its believed that Catherine
may have been as young as 15. As a young bride Catherine found herself facing
many challenges. She was now a step mother and found herself to be at least two years
younger that henrys eldest daughter Mary. And unsurprisingly, she found this role to
be quite difficult.
Another issue that Catherine found was due to rumours that surrounded her past. Henry
expected high standards from his wives and Catherines past would soon come to haunt her.
Her upbringing has been a topic of discussion for many years within the circles of historians.
Its likely that Catherine who was subjected to sexual exploitation as a child within the
walls of her step grandmothers house hid the details from the husband the king, but this
is something that later proved fatal for her.
Catherine had been living in the home of Agnes Tilney, the duchess of Norfolk, who also happened
to be her step grandmother. It was within her home where Catherine ws subjected to the
advances of her music teacher, Henry manor who was twice her age. Catherine and her friends
were left to entertain male admirers unsupervised and later Catherine is also thought to have
had sexual relations with a young Nobel man called Francis Dereham between the years 1537
and 1539.
At this point in time gossip was rife and an upper-class girl’s virginity was considered
an important asset to be protected until marriage. A reputation could be ruined by rumour and
allegations, and destroy a young girl’s prospects.
Catherines chances of keeping her past under wraps was ruined when she sadly for her made
the mistake of having an apparent affair with henrys gentleman of the privy chamber, Thomas
Culpepper. There are very few details around this but its reported that her maid, Jane
Boleyn, helped her to facilitate secret meetings with Thomas whilst Henry was away. Henry had
been unaware of Catherines past and in his opinion, this would have casted Catherine
as immoral and unworthy of his hand in marriage.
Rumours of Catherine's affair reached the Archbishop of Canterbury. Further investigations
into Catherine’s past quickly followed, and the King was informed of Catherine's pre-marital
behaviour and alleged infidelities at Hampton Court Palace on 2 November 1541. Its believed
that Thomas Cranmer, the archbishop, left Henry a letter in the kings pew in the chapel
royal of Hampton Court palace.
Henry was reluctant to believe at first but he also did not like the whole world knowing
his business. He initially passed off the allegations as rumours and gossip but then
Catherine's former lovers were arrested and tortured, with Dereham confessing to a sexual
relationship.
It seems that Henry may have been willing to forgive Catherine for her past before their
marriage, but the case of an affair proved too much. When Culpepper too admitted to his
clandestine meetings with the Queen, Henry’s rage swept away all thoughts of mercy.
On the 6th of November Henry left Hampton court and Catherine would never see him again
and during the same month Catherine was stripped of her title as queen.
It would then be several months were Catherine waited to meet her end. During that time both
Dereham and Culpepper were executed and Catherine on the 10th of February 1542 was taken to
the Tower of London. Its thought that Catherine on route would have passed under the rotting
heads of Culpepper and Dereham, which were displayed on London Bridge.
The night before her execution Catherine is thought to have spent many hours practicing
placing her head upon the block which was left in her cell at her request.
On the morning of 13 February 1542, Catherine Howard was beheaded. Her maid, Jane Boleyn,
Lady Rochford, followed her to the block. It’s believed Catherine may have been as
young as 17 when she died.
She died with relative composure but looked pale and terrified; she required assistance
to climb the scaffold. According to popular folklore her last words were, "I die a Queen,
but I would rather have died the wife of Culpeper", but no eyewitness accounts support this, instead
reporting that she stuck to traditional final words, asking for forgiveness for her sins
and acknowledging that she deserved to die "a thousand deaths" for betraying the king,
who had always treated her so graciously. She described her punishment as "worthy and
just" and asked for mercy for her family and prayers for her soul. This was typical of
the speeches given by people executed during that period, most likely in an effort to protect
their families, since the condemned's last words would be relayed to the King. Catherine
was then beheaded with the executioner's axe.
Catherine’s body was then taken to the chapel of saint Peter ad Vincula where she was then
buried. A sad fact is. after Catherine Howard’s
body was placed into the ground, her body wrapped in the black cloak, a large quantity
of quicklime or lye was poured over her lifeless Corps. There is speculation as to why, it
does not appear to be for hygienic odor reasons. Catherines grave is the only in the chapel
to have had this horrendous substance used.. leading to the sad matter that , someone wanted
nothing of poor Catherine Howard to remain.
But saying that the marker for Catherines grave actually marks her grave is a guess.
Catherines body is the only in the hole of the chapel to have not been located, but that
being said, one place in the chapel does show evidence of quick lyme, suggesting that Catherines
grave is located in that spot. The marker we see above ground is mearly a commemorative
plaque to show remembrance to the once queen.
So although we know that Catherine was buried within the walls of the chapel, her body has
not been found, only evidence that it may have once been there and it was erased from
the mortal realm with the use of a material designed to erase her from the history books.
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