The House of Tudor

Catherine of Aragon's famous speech at Blackfriars:

Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII were summoned to court because Henry wanted an annulment of their marriage. He desired a male heir and wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. Their marriage was called into question because Catherine had previously been married to Henry’s older brother, Arthur. However, Catherine refused to accept the annulment, directly appealing to Rome, and accusing the court of fraud.

“Sir, I beseech you, for all the loves that hath been between us and for the love of God, let me have justice and right. Take of me some pity and compassion, for I am a poor woman and a stranger, born out of your dominion. I have here no assured friend, and much less indifferent counsel. I flee to you as the head of justice in this realm. Alas, Sir, where have I offended you? What cause have you for displeasure, that you intend to put me away? I take God and all the world to witness that I have been to you a true, humble, and obedient wife, ever comfortable to your will and pleasure. I have been pleased and content with all things wherein you took delight and dalliance. I never grudged a word or countenance, or showed a spark of discontent.

I loved all those whom you loved, only for your sake, whether they were my friends or enemies. For over twenty years, I have been your true wife, and by me, you have had several children, though it has pleased God to call them from this world, which was no fault of mine. And when you first had me, I was a true maid, untouched by any man; whether that be true or not, I refer it to your conscience. If there is any legal cause against me, either of dishonesty or any other impediment to put me from you, I am content to depart, to my shame and dishonor. If not, I beseech you, let me remain in my former estate and receive justice at your princely hands.”

Anne Boleyn's speech before her execution:

Anne Boleyn was executed under charges of witchcraft, treason, and adultery. However, her true “crime” was that, like Catherine of Aragon, she bore Henry a daughter instead of a son. Henry, unaware that the gender of the child is determined by the father, unjustly blamed her. During her imprisonment, she argued her innocence, but at her execution, Anne accepted her fate:

“Good Christian people, I have not come here to preach a sermon. I have come here to die. According to the law, and by the law, I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you. A gentler, nor a more merciful prince was there never to me. He was ever a good, gentle, and sovereign lord. And if any person meddles with my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus, I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me.”

It’s doubtful that this speech reflected her true feelings, but challenging the King in such a public moment would not have been wise for her surviving family. Before her execution, she prayed, saying, “Oh Lord, have mercy on me. To God, I commend my soul. Lord Jesus, receive my soul.”

Jane Seymour – A respected figure:

Jane Seymour, like Anne Boleyn, had no real choice but to accept the King's advances. Refusing him was not an option. However, Jane is often viewed more favorably because she worked to mend the relationship between Henry and his estranged daughter, Mary. Jane also urged Henry to legitimize her, as Henry had previously forced her to sign a document declaring herself illegitimate. Unlike Anne, Jane Seymour is often remembered fondly, likely because of her efforts to honor Catherine of Aragon and her reserved nature. She tragically died from childbed fever after giving birth to Henry’s long-awaited son, Edward. Her final words were: “No, my head has never committed any treason, but if you want it, you can take it.”

Katherine Howard – A victim of abuse:

Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, endured sexual abuse from a young age. At 12, she was taken advantage of by her music teacher, a man much older than her. Later, her grandmother’s secretary also abused her, and eventually, she entered into a relationship with Thomas Culpeper. When Katherine caught the attention of Henry VIII, she had no choice but to marry him. However, she was later accused of having an affair with Culpeper, leading to her execution. Some rumors even suggest that Katherine was pregnant at the time of her death.

Anne of Cleves – Misunderstood and underestimated:

Anne of Cleves is often mischaracterized as unattractive, but this was largely Henry’s opinion after a misunderstanding. He had seen a portrait of her and wanted to marry her based on it. However, when they met in person, Henry disguised himself to test her, hoping she would recognize him as her true love. Anne, unaware of this custom, Anne did not recognize him, leading to Henry feeling insulted. Although they married, the union was never consummated, and Anne remained a maid. Despite this, she was well-liked by Henry’s daughters and had good relationships with them. Upon their annulment, she even sent her engagement ring back to Henry with a letter suggesting he break it into pieces, as it no longer had any value.

Catherine Parr – A pivotal influence on Elizabeth’s success

Catherine Parr, Henry’s sixth and final wife, played a crucial role in shaping the futures of Henry’s daughters, particularly Elizabeth I. During Henry’s war campaigns, Catherine acted as regent, demonstrating remarkable intelligence and leadership. Elizabeth and Mary learned a great deal from her example. After Henry’s death, Catherine married Thomas Seymour in secret, knowing that it would be scandalous to remarry so soon. Sadly, Thomas turned out to be untrustworthy, even flirting with Elizabeth. Catherine's death spared Elizabeth from a scandal that could have damaged her future. Catherine gave birth to the daughter of Thomas and named her Mary. Thomas was executed after Catherine’s death as he proposed to Elizabeth.

Catherine of Aragon’s last letter to Henry:

“My most dear Lord, King and husband, the hour of my death now approaching, I tender the love I owe to you. I beseech you to take care of your soul, which you ought to prefer above all worldly matters, and before the clear and pampering of your body, for which you have passed me into many calamities and yourself into many troubles. For my part, I pardon you everything, and I pray God will pardon you as well. For the rest, I commend our daughter, Mary, beseeching you to be a good father to her, as I have always desired. I entreat you also, on behalf of my maids, to provide for their marriage portions, which is not much, there being but three. For all my other servants, I solicit the wages due to them. Lastly, I make this vow that my eyes desire you above all things.

Katherine, The Queen.”

A note on Henry VII:

We often talk about how terrible Henry VIII was, but his father, Henry VII, was quite the opposite. After the death of Elizabeth of York, Henry VII was heartbroken. He locked himself away in mourning, and when he finally emerged, his hair had turned white from grief. Unlike many other kings of Europe, Henry VII never took a mistress, showing how different he was from his son.

By: Jannat Tramboo