calais – CAROLINE ANGUS

Calais in the time of Henry VIII, British Library MS Cotton, Augustus I, ii, 70, lithographic facsimile published by John Gough Nichols, 1846

This letter to the king discusses the jewels being prepared for the royal trip to France, as new collars and various other pieces were being made by Cornelis one of the royal jewellers. Cromwell also interrupts himself to mention the case of Edmund Knightley, a man perpetually in trouble with the law. In 1532, Knightley teamed up with his brother Richard and their sister Lady Susan Spencer, whose husband had just died. The three attempted to defraud the king by claiming Sir William Spencer of Althorp (yes, those Spencers) died with nothing, that the lucrative wardship of their eldest son, John Spencer could not go to the king as expected, and that many valuables could not be given to those listed to inherit. Sir Edmund Knightley took the blame for the scam, and was put in Fleet prison, but was released when a judge in the Common Pleas asked Cromwell to let him go. The complaining and attempts to claim various inheritances swirled for years around the Knightleys, to no avail. Edmund Knightley’s attempt to become a judge in the late 1530s went nowhere, because Cromwell remembered this case, and many more disputes his family had caused. The young John Spencer became a ward of the king and grew up to be a lawyer and head of the Althorp estate without any issues.

MASTER CROMWELL TO KING HENRY VIII, 7 September 1532 (LP v. no. 1298)

Please it your highness to be informed that according to your gracious commandment, I have caused patrons (the jewellers) to be drawn after your Grace’s device, albeit I have willed your goldsmith not to proceed to the making of anything in perfection until your gracious pleasure shall be further known. For the which purpose, both he and I shall return to your highness on Saturday night or Sunday morning, and with the intent your Grace may determine your pleasure. I have sent by this bearer the patron of your collar of balasses (red ruby-like spinels) and diamonds drawn according to your Grace’s first plan.

Touching a certain matter in variance between the executors of Sir Thomas William Spencer, deceased, and Mr. Edmund Knightley, (and) my Lady Spencer, information was made to your highness that great spoils of the goods of the said Sir William Spencer was made by the executors, and how that the executors would have put out my lady, late the wife of William from the execution of the testament. The matter has been heard here, before my lord the Keeper of your Great Seal, Sir William Paulet, and me with oath of your Grace’s counsel. And as it appears by the examination of the executors, as by Edmund Knightley and Richard his brother, the whole spoil and belonging of the goods and plate was made only by Edmund Knightley his brother Richard as has been had and made of the said goods and also such offences as have been committed in that behalf have been only done and executed by the said Edmond Knightley his Sister and such other of that part and none otherwise and the said Lady Spencer, their sister, notwithstanding that there was agreement made between the executors, and the Lady Spencer that she should enter into bargain with your highness and also into the execution of the testament with them as an executrix, which undoubtedly she had done if Edmund Knightley had not been.

Edmund Knightley has not only travailed as much as in him is to set a pike between the said lady and the executors, and to defeat your Grace of your title to the heir of Spencer, but also justified the same before the lord Keeper of the Great Seal, where on the other part it was openly proud that your Grace had good title, and all his allegation untrue, yet nevertheless for the reducing of the same his untrue purpose to effect, and to the intent to slander your Grace’s title and others, he has caused to be made certain proclamations in your counties of Warwick, Leicester and Northampton in diverse of your highness’ towns there, to the high contempt of your Grace and your laws. For it has not been seen nor heard that any subject within this realm should presume to make proclamation within your realm, but only in your Grace’s name. Wherefore, for his offences and other contempt against your highness, in that behalf my lord the Keeper of your Great Seal, taking that matter to be a grievous offense against your crown and imperial majesty, has committed Edmund Knightley to your prison of the Fleet where he now remains until your high pleasure shall be further known in that behalf.

As touching the cup of gold and corporas (communion cloth) case, I sent your highness’ word by Thomas Alvard, the truth whereof this bearer Stephen Vaughan can advertise your Grace who has made perfect books as well of the said cup and corporas case, as also of all other your highness’ jewels, now being in the hands of Cornelis, to be ordered according to your Grace’s pleasure. And thus, the holy trinity preserve your most royal estate of your most excellent majesty.

This book provides a fresh perspective on the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives by embarking on a journey through the manors, castles and palaces in which their lives were played out. This journey traces their steps to the Alhambra in Spain, childhood home of Katherine of Aragon; to the very room at Acton Court where Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII publicly dined; through the cobbled grounds of Hampton Court Palace, which bore witness to both triumph and tragedy for Jane Seymour; into the streets of Düsseldorf in Germany, birthplace of Anne of Cleves; among the ruins and picturesque gardens of St Mary’s Abbey in York where Catherine Howard and Henry VIII rested at the pinnacle of the 1541 progress; and to Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire, where Katherine Parr lived as daughter-in-law of the irascible Sir Thomas Brough.

Each location is described in a fascinating narrative that unearths the queens’ lives in documents and artefacts, as well as providing practical visitor information based on the authors’ first-hand knowledge of each site. Accompanied by an extensive range of images including timelines, maps, photographs and sketches, this book brings us closer than ever to the women behind the legends, providing a personal and illuminating journey in the footsteps of the six wives of Henry VIII.

cover and blurb via amazon

For everything Henry VIII did, all anyone remembers is the fact he married six times. To be fair, he isn’t all that different to many guys – gets to middle-age and freaks out and wants to date younger women, usually blondes. And like most of these scenarios, who the women are doesn’t matter so much, but to those of us who do know these women, they are far more fascinating than the man they married.

Whether or not you know your Annes from your Katherines from your Jane, this book is a different take on the six queens of England. Morris and Grueninger, rather than writing the history of these women, have instead mapped out their lives, detailing the places where they lived their extraordinary lives, a tour of their time as queens.

Katherine no.1 was England’s queen, but she began her life in Spain, and the authors have included this history in the detail of her life, such as the details of the Alcazar in Seville and in the incredible Alcazar in Cordoba, and naturally, the Alhambra. On the other side of her life, Katherine’s time pushed aside as a forgotten wife is even detailed, something I found invaluable.

Anne Boleyn’s life gets a vivid recreation at Hever Castle, before she headed to Flanders and France. Of course, her time in the Tower before execution is all laid out (in fact, there is a whole extra book!). Jane Seymour led a more simple life, but the now well-known Wolf Hall is there, along with Mercer’s Hall and Chester Place in London.

Next came Anne no.2, one of my personal favourites, and what a varied life Anne of Cleves lived. She grew up by the Rhine in Düsseldorf; she and her sister were painted by Holbein himself at Schloss Hambach. Anne travelled through Antwerp, staying at England House, and onto Bruges, Calais, before she passed through Deal and Dover Castles in Kent. Anne lived in many beautiful places before being given The King’s Manor, a 100-room palace in Dartford. Oh, to see what Anne of Cleves saw in her time!

Katherine no.2, little Katherine Howard, started her life at Norfolk House in London and Horsham, where many of her problems began. Katherine’s young eyes take readers to Oatlands Palace, Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, north into York and more before she ended her days in the Tower. Katherine no.3, the intelligent Katherine Parr, had been married and widowed twice before the king all-but forced her into marriage. She started life at Rye House in Hertfordshire, before moving between castles in Lincolnshire, Cumbia and North Yorkshire. As queen, Katherine lived in Woking Place in Surrey, including when she ruled as regent in Henry’s absence while fighting in France. The now-mythical Nonsuch Palace in Surrey also makes an entry.

I can’t tell you how many places are meticulously detailed in this book. The level of information and attention is unquestionable in this beautiful book and there is absolutely no book which can give readers insight such as this one. I cannot thank the authors enough for this book, I originally got a copy at the library but went and ordered a copy for myself straight away.