"(Thunder rumbles)" "'The day after Queen Anne Boleyn was beheaded on Tower Green 'her lady-in-waiting was rowed up the river Thames 'towards the royal palace." "'The lady-in-waiting was Jane Seymour." "'She was to be King Henry's new wife." "'The dead queen's body was scarcely cold 'but the next queen was on her way to be betrothed to a man 'who had banished one wife and beheaded another.'" "There was a complete contrast between Henry's second and third wives." "They were night and day, heaven and hell." "Anne Boleyn was a dramatic brunette with smouldering black eyes and a spirit and temper to match." "She was capable of arousing Henry to heights of passion and to fits of sputtering rage." "Jane Seymour, in contrast, was fair, so fair that she was almost pallid." "She had pale blue eyes, mousy blonde hair and a little, receding chin." "And she was quiet, demure, submissive - the perfect little woman, the model Tudor wife." "But can she really have been such a doormat?" "After all she had helped engineer Anne Boleyn's downfall and she'd stepped to her throne pretty coolly through her blood." "'In order to marry Anne," "'Henry had made himself the Supreme Head of the English Church 'in place of the Pope." "'Traditional Catholics were appalled by Henry's religious revolution 'and Jane Seymour was among them." "'She had been lady-in-waiting 'to the deeply Catholic Catherine of Aragon 'and she hoped that Henry too would return to the true faith." "'So as Henry flirted with Jane, 'traditionalists led by Sir Nicholas Carew, 'were delighted - but they had a powerful enemy." "'Thomas Cromwell had his own agenda for radical religious reform, 'so behind the scenes 'he would always fight Jane's influence on his master." "'Henry wasn't taking Jane particularly seriously.'" "He was grooming her to be a casual mistress, not a wedded wife." "So he used his usual,technique of seduction he sent her a letter full of high-flown sentiments and a purse with money in payment for services which, no doubt he thought would be rendered." "'And Jane might have remained just that, 'one of Henry's many mistresses, 'but her response to his gift transformed her life 'and sealed the fate of her mistress, Anne Boleyn.'" "She rejected the money and she handed the letter back unopened, then flung herself on her knees and addressed the King through his messenger." "(Anne) 'l am a gentlewoman 'of good, honourable parents without reproach 'and I have no greater riches in the world than my honour, 'which I would not injure for a thousand deaths 'and if the King wishes to make me some present of money" "'l beg it might be when God enables me to make some honourable match.'" "'It was a masterpiece of seduction 'presented as virtuous refusal." "'For Henry, this was powerrfully attractive." "'Jane had been coached by Nicholas Carew, 'who told her to play up her natural demureness 'to lure the king away from the stridently sexy Anne Boleyn." "'Manipulating Henry's affections was a dangerous game 'but Carew had chosen the right moment and the right woman.'" "Henry had been bowled over by Jane's performance." "She'd offered herself to him as his wife and he accepted her with enthusiasm." "His behaviour towards her transformed accordingly." "From having been the hardened seducer he became the respectful suitor." "He would only see her with a chaperone so Jane, her brother and her sister-in-law were moved into a secret apartment next to the King." "Meanwhile, as the King and his new wife-to-be were enacting this parade of virtue," "Henry's old wife, Anne Boleyn, was being sent to her death on trumped up charges of multiple adultery, incest and perversion." "'Ten days after her execution," "'Henry and Jane were secretly married in the Queen's Closet." "'Jane took as her motto "Bound to obey and serve"" "'but she never surrendered her distinctly Catholic faith." "'As soon as she became Queen" "'Jane put her own stamp on the court." "'In particular, she expected her ladies to be models of virtue." "'They were advised to be sober, sad, wise, discreet and lowly 'and above all things, obedient and willing to be governed." "'They were banned from dressing in seductive French fashions 'and instead had to wear traditional English dress.'" "Jane's new style came as a blessed relief to the King and the court." ""We have come from hell into heaven,"" "remarked one of Henry's oldest friends." "But the real question was whether England would now come to heaven in a new way." "Religion was one of the areas where 16th-century women had a certain freedom of action." "Anne Boleyn had pushed that freedom to the limits and beyond in favour of religious reform." "Jane Seymour's religious beliefs were as sincere as Anne's but they were the opposite." "She was a pious Catholic, not a radical reformer." "But would Jane be as persuasive for her beliefs as Anne had been for hers?" "Henry had begun to reform the Church for the love of his second wife." "Would he undo what he had done go back to Catholicism, perhaps even to Rome for the love of his third?" "'The first test of Jane's influence was in defence of the Princess Mary, 'daughter of Catherine of Aragon." "'Mary had been brought up a devout Catholic 'and under Anne Boleyn, had been pronounced illegitimate." "'But Mary refused to acknowledge her demotion 'and when the sympathetic Jane replaced hostile Anne," "'Mary's supporters saw a chance to get her rehabilitated." "'Their leader, Nicholas Carew 'urged Jane to approach Henry directly." "'But Jane was no mere instrument, 'she had a deep personal loyalty to Mary 'and she made her cause her own." "'But there were real dangers in doing what Carew wanted.'" "Even to name Mary as heir was treason." "Henry's temper was notoriously unreliable and Jane's own position was far from secure." "Neverrtheless, Jane was prepared to risk everything out of conscience and conviction." "'Jane begged her husband to restore Mary to the succession." "'Henry told her she was a fool." "'Instead she should be begging for their children 'to be made heirs to the throne." "'But Jane stuck to her guns - 'their children would only be safe 'if justice were done to Mary 'and Mary was made heiress once more." "'Jane spoke, she said...'" "(Jane) 'l ask not for the good of others 'but for the tranquillity of the King, 'of the children we might have together 'and of the kingdom in general.'" "(David) 'But Jane was playing with fire." "'Henry was determined 'that Mary should surrender absolutely to his will.'" "Suddenly, Mary's friends were summoned before the council and interrogated about their activities on her behalf." "If Mary did not surrender, it was now clear all of them perhaps even Jane herself, faced charges of treason on grounds of illegally tying to change the succession." "Fortunately for Jane, Mary, confronted with this choice between the lives of her friends and her conscience, surrendered acknowledged that her mother's marriage had been illegal and that she was a bastard." "Jane's first interrvention in politics had backfired horribly." "She had hoped that Mary's rehabilitation would mark the beginning of a Catholic restoration." "Instead Mary had acknowledged the basic Reformation principles." "For the King's wife, as well as the King's daughter, absolute obedience, it seemed was the only safe strategy." "'Jane had lost the first battle to restore Mary 'and with her, the old religion." "'But she didn't give up." "'Whatever the risks she would try again'." "'It was the autumn of 1536." "'Jane had been Queen for almost six months 'but her Catholic followers were in despair." "'Her influence over Henry 'had not been as strong as Cromwell's." "'The dissolution of the monasteries had begun - 'churches were being r,educed to roofless ruins 'holy shrines and images were being smashed 'and the relics of saints burned.'" "Now only direct action could halt the attack on the Church." "Catholic courtiers like Carew had too much at stake to dare to risk it but in the countyside, men were bolder." "In the autumn of 1536 a great revolt known as the Pilgrimage of Grace broke out." "It started in Lincolnshire and soon engulfed the whole north of England." "Nobles and peasants joined together and found a charismatic leader in Robert Aske." ""Restore the monasteries and burn the heretics!" they cried." "'It was the greatest crisis of Henry's reign." "'The rebel forces were very strong and even in the south," "'Henry couldn't trust the loyalty of his nobles." "'Jane faced a tremendous dilemma." "'Her sympathies were with the aims of the rebellion." "'Her duty was to her husband, 'the husband who, she believed was sinning against God." "'Finally, she dared to question directly 'the King's religious policies." "'She remarked that perhaps God permitted the rebellion 'because the King had ruined so many churches." "'Henry reminded her that the last queen had died 'in consequence of meddling too much in state affairs.'" ""Don't meddle with my affairs and remember Anne Boleyn."" "Henry's words were an awful warning which Jane, unlike Anne, had the good sense to accept." "Neverrtheless, her real opinions were common knowledge, so much so that at the height of the revolt, open negotiations took place in the Queen's chamber to get a nunnery exempted from the dissolution." "The incident was investigated and could have led to a charge of treason against Jane for supporting the rebels' demands." "'But the charges never came." "'Henry wasn't strong enough to defeat the rebels militarily, 'instead he had to negotiate." "'He told the rebel leaders that Jane would accompany him 'on a tour of reconciliation to the north." "'She would even be crowned at York Minster 'as the north's own Catholic Queen." "'The rebels were jubilant." "'Their faith in Queen Jane had been justified." "'That Christmas there was peace and joy." "'The rebel leaders were invited as guests to court." "'The King and Queen were blessed by the clergy." "'All the old Christmas traditions were kept." "'Jane was triumphant." "'She had helped to reconcile Henry with his subjects 'and then she gave him something that he wanted even more.'" "(Bells ringing)" "'She was pregnant." "'Henry was transported with joy.'" "(Henry) 'Our dear and entirely beloved wife, the Queen 'now quick with child, 'for the which we give most humble thanks to Almighty God.'" "(David) 'But even as he celebrated, Henry betrayed Jane." "'He had never intended to give in to the rebels, 'he'd simply used their love of the Queen to help pacify them." "'Now he cancelled her tour of the north and her coronation." "'He ordered the arrest of the rebel leaders 'and as the Te Deum was sung in celebration of Jane's pregnancy, 'their heads were spiked on Tower Bridge.'" "On the 9th of October Jane's labour pains began." "They continued for two agonising days." "By the 11th, there were real fears for the life of both the Queen and her child and special prayers were offered up for their safety." "Early the following morning, the efforts of the nurses and midwife were rewarded and at two a.m., it was all over." "'The baby was a boy, 'a healthy baby boy." "'For the first time 'in almost 30 years of marriage to three different wives" "'Henry had an heir." "'Jane was now everything he could wish for.'" "There was an outpouring of national rejoicing." "God had smiled on England." "The baby was a new John the Baptist." "God Himself was English." "But most triumphant of all was Jane." "She had given Henry his longed-for son and heir." "Whatever she said or did now she was secure." "Whatever she asked for Henry surely would grant." "(Jane) 'Right trusty and well beloved we greet you well, 'by the inestimable goodness and grace of the Almighty 'are we delivered and brought in childbed of a prince, 'conceived in most lawful matrimony 'between my lord the King's majesty and us.'" "(Intoning in Latin)" "'The christening was a sumptuous affair." "'The Seymours and their allies, 'their position immeasurably strengthened by the birth, 'took pride of place." "'That same day, Jane suddenly became ill." "'She entered into a protracted delirium." "'The King's ministers blamed her attendants 'for allowing her to catch cold and eat strange food." "'In reality it was puerperal fever." "'Her bruised and torn tissues had become infected." "'Soon septicaemia set in." "'The court prayed that she would be spared, 'processions were made in London... in vain." "'On the 24th of October, 1537 the Queen died.'" "Jane was the queen who satisfied Henry best." "She gave him a son and she displayed a proper wifely submission." "But behind the submission were serious convictions and a real courage, if one that sensibly knew its limitations." "Yet Jane's story finally is one of promise unfulfilled." "Eveybody had expected, and Jane herself had passionately hoped, that her marriage to Henry would've lead to the restoration of real Catholicism in England." "It hadn't happened." "Would things have been different if Jane had lived?" "I doubt it because Henry, it turned out, was even more wedded to his supremacy over the English Church than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane, than he was to Jane," "and not even for Jane, his true and best beloved wife and not even for Jane, his true and best beloved wife would he give it up." "Jane had fought a battle for herself and English Catholicism and she'd lost." "'Henry was stricken with grief and withdrew from the court." "'Cromwell took affairs of state into his own hands." "'Now, perhaps, he could find Henry a wife, 'perhaps one more sympathetic to his own religious ambitions." "'Perhaps he would find her abroad?" "'He wrote to the English ambassadors in France - 'the happy news of the new prince... 'the tragic news of the death of the Queen 'and the interesting news 'that the King was in need of a new wife." "'The kingdom had a new heir but no queen." "'For the first time, Henry was alone 'and he had no appetite for a new wife." "'But one son wasn't enough." "'Henry's own elder brother had died." "'The Tudor dynasty was not yet secure." "'Reluctantly, Henry accepted Cromwell's pressure 'to find yet another new wife - swiftly." "'The search for a new queen extended across Europe 'but Henry had disposed of three wives 'and at 46 he was no longer the attractive young man he'd been." "'Princess after princess turned him down." "'Christina of Milan is supposed to have said 'that if she had two heads she'd be delighted to marry him." "'Henry commented that he needed a big wife 'and Mary de Guise was put forward." "'She replied that she might be a big woman 'but she'd a very little neck.'" "Early in the proceedings, a young princess of the west German duchy of Cleve had been mentioned as a possible bride." "She was a long shot but as the other more desirable candidates either made their excuses or got married, she became the frontrunner." "Cromwell had his own motives diplomatic and religious, for pushing Henry towards a German bride." "Henry was quite impressed by her family connections but he would commit himself only if he could be persuaded that he would find her physically attractive." "'The court painter, Hans Holbein, 'was sent to make a portrait of the new woman." "'Her name was Anne of Cleves and Henry's ambassadors raved 'about the beauty of her face and body." "'Cromwell worked hard on Henry to choose Anne." "'The Cleves marriage would protect England 'from the Catholic threat of Spain and France 'and enable Cromwell to attack his Catholic enemies at home." "'Anne was no Renaissance woman." "'She couldn't sing or dance or speak foreign languages." "'But she was good with needlework." "'Then the portrait arrived back in England." "'Holbein had concentrated on Anne's magnificent dress, 'leaving her face as a passive, almost dreamy, mask." "'Henry took Holbein's image as a blank canvas 'onto which he projected his fantasies of the ideal wife." "'Cromwell had won.'" "The problem was how to get Anne to England safely because there was a real risk that she might be captured by Henry's two enemies - France and the emperor Charles V." "There were two possible routes - one by sea, the other by land." "Henry sent out two experienced pilots to spy out the sea route and he was so excited by their reports that he had this special chart drawn up." "Here is England with the cross of St George and a marvellous early view of London." "And across here there is Anne embarking at the port of Cleves', crossing the Zuiderzee and out into the North Sea." "And here she is in Henry's flagship, flying the Royal Standard and the pennants of St George." "Unfortunately for Henry's schoolboy derring-do, the Cleves ambassadors objected that such a long sea voyage in the middle of winter might damage Anne's delicate complexion." "In any case, the international situation calmed down so it was decided to bring Anne by land instead and a new chart was drawn up." "'Anne's entourage set off across Flanders towards Calais." "'Reports of the princess grew - 'she was tall, had excellent beauty and notable virtues." "'She crossed to Dover 'and, as she travelled through her strange new county," "'Anne endeavoured to learn about Henry." "'She asked to be taught card games that he liked 'and began to learn English etiquette." "'Her new companions found her most unusual." "'Her German clothes and manners 'were entirely different from those at court." "'After weeks of travelling and much delayed by bad weather, 'she arrived at Rochester.'" "It's New Year's Day and Anne is watching the ceremonial bullfight from the window of her chamber." "The door opens... and some unknown English gentlemen appear." "'Anne has no idea who they are and nobody tells her." "'The unrecognised king presents her with a gift, 'which Anne accepts politely but without enthusiasm.'" "The gentlemen then leave and come back without their disguises." "This time their leader is wearing the royal purple and everybody else bows to him deeply." "'It is Henry, come to see whether Anne is indeed 'as pretty as her picture, 'the picture with which he'd fallen so deeply in love.'" "(Henry) 'Alas, whom should man trust?" "'l see no such thing in her as hath been showed me of her 'and am ashamed that men have so praised her as they have done." "'l like her not.'" "It was a comedy of errors which had got the relationship off to the worst possible start." "'He had been re-enacting a scene 'from one of the chivalric romances of his boyhood." "'In theory, the loved one, Anne, 'should have picked out her disguised lover, Henry, 'from amongst his companions 'and it would have been love at first sight.'" "Alas for theory." "Anne hadn't even noticed him." "As for Henry, the violence of his initial reactions took him and everybody eke by surprise." "'Henry was furious." "'He felt that he'd been lied to about her appearance 'and that Cromwell had tricked him into the match 'for political reasons." "'Cromwell replied they couldn't just return her to Germany." "'There seemed to be no way out." "'But while he raged at Cromwell in private," "'Henry continued to behave with impeccable politeness 'with Anne in public." "'She had no idea what he thought about her.'" "(Henry) 'l see nothing in this woman as men report of her 'and I marvel that wise men 'would make such report as they have done.'" "'Anne's German dress had got things off to a bad start." "'It seemed heavy and lumpen." "'Still worse her complexion was dark, 'so unlike Jane's fashionable pallor 'and her full figure was very different 'from Anne Boleyn's pretty little breasts.'" "Cromwell was ordered to find Henry a way out of the trap." "The first idea was to question whether Anne was free to marry." "As a child she'd been contracted to the Duke of Lorraine - had the contract been formally broken?" "'The startled Cleves ambassadors 'duly swore that Anne's childhood engagement to the Duke 'had indeed been broken, years ago." "'One means of escape was now cut off." "'Henry tried another." "'Would Anne herself swear that she was truly free to marry?" "'" "She did swear." "The trap snapped shut, there was no escape." "Henry submitted with the worst possible grace." ""l must needs against my will put my neck into the yoke."" "'During all this," "'Anne was happily preparing for her wedding, 'quite unaware of the secret activity going on around her." "'She spoke only a few words of English 'and the formality of the court was so different 'from her provincial upbringing, 'so she had no way of telling that anything was wrong." "'For her, this marriage would be the climax of her life." "'She was marrying one of the great kings of Europe." "'And her husband-to-be 'was treating her with such kindness and generosity." "'The marriage finally took place three days late." "'As Henry walked into the ceremony he told Cromwell...'" "(Henry) 'My lord, if it were not to satisfy the world and my realm 'l would not do what I have to do this day 'for none earthly thing!" "'" "'But the wedding ceremony was only the first hurdle." "'Now they had to go to bed together." "'The King and the Queen were taken to the bedchamber 'by their attendants and undressed." "'The bed was blessed and then the couple were left alone." "'But never had the two been so far apart." "'Anne was completely unaware of her new husband's thoughts." "'Henry was miserable 'but resolved to do his duty.'" "The bedding of the couple traditionally provided an excuse for stag night-style ribaldry but the older Henry had become protective of both his dignity and his privacy and I doubt if anything of the sort happened in 1540." "Neverrtheless, there was an echo of the earlier, earthier tradition for carved on the bedhead that was almost certainly used were two obscene images." "On one side there was a boy sporting an enormous erection and on the other a heavily pregnant girl." "And whether Henry indeed performed and Anne became pregnant was on everybody's mind that night and most heavily on Henry's." "The morning after, Cromwell asked Henry how he'd liked the Queen." ""Even worse," came the grim reply," ""Even worse," came the grim reply, because it had all been a disastrous failure." "Henry liked his women slim and virginal so Anne's big breasts and full belly had turned him off." "That night, on the advice of his doctors he didn't sleep with the Queen." "Then he tried again and again and always with the same result." "But of course the blame was thrown on Anne, not Henry." "The King told his doctors he had had two wet dreams he was capable of sex with any other woman, it was only Anne's loathsome body that had rendered him impotent." "'But Henry told Anne nothing of his feelings." "'Moreover, their public life continued as normal." "'Anne was welcomed to London with a water pageant." "'They celebrated Easter together at Hampton Court." "'But it was all a pretence." "'After two months of failure" "'Henry unburdened himself to his principal gentleman-in-waiting.'" "'Henry unburdened himself to his principal gentleman-in-waiting.'" "'Henry unburdened himself to his principal gentleman-in-waiting.'" "'Henry unburdened himself to his principal gentleman-in-waiting.'" "'Henry unburdened himself to his principal gentleman-in-waiting.'" "'Henry unburdened himself to his principal gentleman-in-waiting.'" "'Henry unburdened himself to his principal gentleman-in-waiting.'" "(Henry) 'She hath her breasts so slack" "(Henry) 'She hath her breasts so slack 'and other parts in such sort 'that I could never be provoked to know her carnally.'" "(David) 'Cromwell, the architect of the Cleves marriage, 'now feared that his triumph would turn against him." "'As far as Anne was concerned 'everything in the garden was still lovely.'" "She presided over the May Day festivities with their celebration of springtime and young love." "She even talked eagerly about her forthcoming coronation." "Unfortunately, she couldn't see what was happening under her nose." "Londoners were sharper eyed and quickly realised the truth." "They'd seen the King's boat crossing the Thames at night, some even knew that the object of the King's visits was Catherine Howard one of Anne's own ladies-in-'waiting." "'Then suddenly, Henry made his aims all too clear." "'On the 10th of June, Cromwell was arrested and taken to the Tower" "'Henry's revenge for his part in forcing him to marry Anne." "'A few days later, Harst, the Cleves ambassador 'was summoned urgently to Anne." "'She wept, telling him that she'd been ordered to leave the palace.'" "Unknown to Anne events were now moving quickly." "Henry had indeed decided to get rid of her and to marry the enchanting Catherine Howard instead." "On June 29th, preparations for the trial of her marriage began." "There were two grounds on which it could be declared invalid." "The first was the pre-contract between Anne and the Duke of Lorraine." "The second was non-consummation." "But non-consummation was difficult to prove." "Would the sordid details about Anne's body, at present known only to a handful of Henry's intimates, have to become public knowledge?" "'The task of gathering the evidence now began." "'Anne's ladies-in-waiting, 'probably acting under orders, questioned her." "'They reported the Queen did not believe herself to be pregnant 'and suggested that the marriage hadn't even been consummated." "'The Queen is said to have replied...'" "(Anne) 'When the King comes to bed, 'he kisses me and taketh me by the hand 'and biddeth me "Goodnight, sweetheart."" "'In the morning he kisses me and bids me, "Farewell, darling."' ls that not enough?" "According to the report of Anne's ladies she did think that being kissed by a man could get you pregnant." "ls it really conceivable that a 25-year-old married woman could be so innocent?" "Nowadays the idea would be absurd but even then, Anne's English ladies found it pretty rum." "But Anne had been brought up differently, in Germany, in a puritanical, provincial court where her mother had taught her nothing." "Henry had done nothing to enlighten her, either, which is why it is conceivable that she was so naive as to think Henry's goodnight kisses were enough for her - but still more naively, for him." "'On the morning of the 6th of July, 'the King's men were sent to Anne to get her formal consent 'for a trial of the validity of her marriage." "'Anne broke down at the news." "'It was the first that she had heard of a divorce." "'But through her tears, her resolution strengthened." "'The daughter of Cleves would not give way meekly 'to Henry's pressure." "'The ambassador Harst comforted her." "'What Henry proposed was an outrage." "'Anne now showed a sharp legal brain 'that might enable her to escape." "'She asked to see the documents about the Lorraine marriage." "'And then when her requests were ignored, 'she sent urgently to Henry again for the evidence." "'Henry replied that she should cease sending messages to him." "'Without the evidence and with no legal representation," "'Anne was helpless." "'On the 7th, the formal trial of the marriage began." "'It moved extraordinarily quickly." "'At midnight on the 8th, 'she summoned her only true friend in England - 'the ambassador, Harst.'" "He finds Anne sobbing so violently that it almost breaks his heart." "Earlier she had been told that the court was minded to find her marriage invalid." ""Reject the verdict," Harst advises." "Anne sends a messenger to Henry to say she still regards,herself as his true wife that he is her lord and husband and only God can part them." "'Harst told her she had nothing to fear from Henry." "'She was a foreign princess 'and Henry would do nothing against her." "'Perhaps, but both Harst and Anne were taking a gamble." "'The very next day, on the 9th of July, the court decreed 'that since the marriage had never been consummated 'it had never existed." "'Anne was not Queen." "'And along with the news of the divorce" "'Anne was told that from now on 'she would be known not as the wife 'but as the Sister of the King.'" "The King's Sister." "The extraordinary idea of making Anne the King's Sister had first been floated as a bait to get her written agreement to the divorce." "Now it remained to work out the detail." "On the 14th, Henry offered terms." "Anne would be formally entitled the King's Sister, she would be given precedence above everybody apart from the Queen and the King's children." "She would be given palaces at Richmond and Bletchingley, an income of 2,600 a year and a great household." "Anne came back with a series of queries." "Where was Bletchingley?" "How many male servants?" "How many female?" "The questions were eminently sane and sensible." "Anne's moment of hysteria and shame, if that's what it was had been brief." "Now she showed a level-headed determination to make the best of a bad job." "'Anne could now see herself 'in line with Henry's previous wives." "'Catherine had resisted his will and been discarded." "'Anne Boleyn had been beheaded." "'Only Jane's wise obedience had been rewarded." "'Anne realised she could do no more to fight Henry's will." "'She too chose obedience at least in public.'" "(Anne) 'It may please Your Majesty to know 'that though this case must needs be most sorrowful unto me 'yet I accept Your Highness' goodness and pleasure, 'the matrimony between us is void and of none effect.'" "(David) 'She signed herself...'" "(Anne) 'Your Majesty's most humble Sister and servant.'" "'Henry, for the moment, was reassured.'" "But would Anne keep her side of the bargain or would she, as Henry feared, avail herself of a woman's privilege, change her mind and make trouble for Henry abroad by complaining of her treatment to her brother" "the Duke of Cleves?" "Actually, Anne was far too realistic to think that her brother could be of much help to her in England." "But Henry could take no risks." "Anne had to write to her brother in English and in German, endorsing the official,version of her divorce and she was told that all future communications with her family had to pass through Henry's hands." "Anne tried to evade the restrictions but in vain." "She had become Henry's sister with the palaces, the possessions and the status." "But the price was the loss of her own family." "'Anne was now entirely alone." "'She was exiled from the court she'd once ruled 'and self-exiled from her own county 'because she would not suffer the shame of a discarded wife." "'Her public face was, as ever, calmly accepting 'but her private feelings, according to Harst's letters, 'were more complex." "'She wrote to Henry, 'returning her wedding ring and asking him to crush it 'because, she said, she knew it to be "a thing of no value"." "'Henry made no reply." "'A month later there was a new queen.'" "It was New Year, 1541." "Exactly a year ago, Henry had seen Anne for the first time at the ill-fated meeting at Rochester." "Now Anne herself for the first time too was coming to court as the King's Sister, not as his wife." "Henry's new Queen, Catherine Howard," "Anne's former lady-in-waiting, had to be instructed on how to behave to her old mistress." "But Anne knew exactly what to do." "She made a deep curtsy and insisted on addressing the Queen kneeling." "Catherine was embarrassed so too was Henry, who greeted Anne warmly and invited her to supper." "And so the three of them - the King, the Queen and the ex-Queen all ate together as one happy, if extraordinary, family." "'The marriage of Anne of Cleves to Henry VIII 'had lasted less than six months." "'Not only had she survived but, by her admirable good sense, 'she'd got a good deal from her ex-husband 'and lived well for the seven years until Henry's death." "'But afterrwards her life became harder." "'One of the few letters remaining from Anne 'in this period of her life 'is to her brother, asking for money, 'because she could no longer afford to keep 'so many household servants." "'She ends it as her story began " "'"England is England and we are strangers.""