Henry VIII and His Court

Luise Muhlbach

Description

Henry VIII was the infamous English king who abolished ties with the Catholic church and turned Britain into a protestant nation, positioning himself at the head of the new church. He is also famous for his many wives. In 1864 Louise Muhlbach, a German historical novelist, wrote a novel about Henry and his court, exploring his reign as she imagined it.

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775413608
• Langue: English

Extrait

HENRY VIII AND HIS COURT
A HISTORICAL NOVEL
* * *
LUISE MUHLBACH
Translated by
REV. H. N. PIERCE
 
*

Henry VIII and His Court A Historical Novel From a 1864 edition.
ISBN 978-1-775413-60-8
© 2009 THE FLOATING PRESS.
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Chapter I - Choosing a Confessor Chapter II - The Queen and Her Friend Chapter III - King Henry the Eighth Chapter IV - King by the Wrath of God Chapter V - The Rivals Chapter VI - The Intercession Chapter VII - Henry the Eighth and His Wives Chapter VIII - Father and Daughter Chapter IX - Lendemain Chapter X - The King's Fool Chapter XI - The Ride Chapter XII - The Declaration Chapter XIII - "Le Roi S'ennuit" Chapter XIV - The Queen's Friend Chapter XV - John Heywood Chapter XVI - The Confidant Chapter XVII - Gammer Gueton's Needle Chapter XVIII - Lady Jane Chapter XIX - Loyola's General Chapter XX - The Prisoner Chapter XXI - Princess Elizabeth Chapter XXII - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey Chapter XXIII - Brother and Sister Chapter XXIV - The Queen's Toilet Chapter XXV - The Queen's Rosette Chapter XXVI - Revenge Chapter XXVII - The Acknowledgment Chapter XXVIII - Intrigues Chapter XXIX - The Accusation Chapter XXX - The Feast of Death Chapter XXXI - The Queen Chapter XXXII - Undeceived Chapter XXXIII - New Intrigues Chapter XXXIV - The King and the Priest Chapter XXXV - Chess-Play Chapter XXXVI - The Catastrophe Chapter XXXVII - "Le Roi Est Mort—Vive la Reine!" Endnotes
Chapter I - Choosing a Confessor
*
It was in the year 1543. King Henry the Eighth of England that dayonce more pronounced himself the happiest and most enviable man inhis kingdom, for to-day he was once more a bridegroom, and CatharineParr, the youthful widow of Baron Latimer, had the periloushappiness of being selected as the king's sixth consort.
Merrily chimed the bells of all the steeples of London, announcingto the people the commencement of that holy ceremony which sacredlybound Catharine Parr to the king as his sixth wife. The people, everfond of novelty and show, crowded through the streets toward theroyal palace to catch a sight of Catharine, when she appeared at herhusband's side upon the balcony, to show herself to the Englishpeople as their queen, and to receive their homage in return.
Surely it was a proud and lofty success for the widow of a pettybaron to become the lawful wife of the King of England, and to wearupon her brow a royal crown! But yet Catharine Parr's heart wasmoved with a strange fear, her cheeks were pale and cold, and beforethe altar her closely compressed lips scarcely had the power topart, and pronounce the binding "I will."
At last the sacred ceremony was completed. The two spiritualdignitaries, Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, and Cranmer, archbishopof Canterbury, then, in accordance with court etiquette, led theyoung bride into her apartments, in order to bless them, and oncemore to pray with her, before the worldly festivities should begin.
Catharine, however, pale and agitated, had yet sustained her part inthe various ceremonies of the day with a true queenly bearing anddignity; and, as now with head proudly erect and firm step, shewalked with a bishop at either side through the splendid apartments,no one suspected how heavy a burden weighed upon her heart, and whatbaleful voices were whispering in her breast.
Followed by her new court, she had traversed with her companions thestate apartments, and now reached the inner rooms. Here, accordingto the etiquette of the time, she must dismiss her court, and onlythe two bishops and her ladies of honor were permitted to accompanythe queen into the drawing-room. But farther than this chamber eventhe bishops themselves might not follow her. The king himself hadwritten down the order for the day, and he who swerved from thisorder in the most insignificant point would have been proclaimedguilty of high treason, and perhaps have been led out to death.
Catharine, therefore, turned with a languid smile to the two highecclesiastics, and requested them to await here her summons. Thenbeckoning to her ladies of honor, she withdrew into her boudoir.
The two bishops remained by themselves in the drawing-room. Thecircumstance of their being alone seemed to impress them both alikeand unpleasantly; for a dark scowl gathered on the brows of both,and they withdrew, as if at a concerted signal, to the oppositesides of the spacious apartment.
A long pause ensued. Nothing was heard save the regular ticking of alarge clock of rare workmanship which stood over the fireplace, andfrom the street afar off, the rejoicing of the people, who surgedtoward the palace like a roaring sea.
Gardiner had stepped to the window, and was looking up with hispeculiar dark smile at the clouds which, driven by the tempest, weresweeping across the heavens.
Cranmer stood by the wall on the opposite side, and sunk in sadthoughts, was contemplating a large portrait of Henry the Eighth,the masterly production of Holbein. As he gazed on that countenance,indicative at once of so much dignity and so much ferocity; as hecontemplated those eyes which shone with such gloomy severity, thoselips on which was a smile at once voluptuous and fierce, there cameover him a feeling of deep sympathy with the young woman whom he hadthat day devoted to such splendid misery. He reflected that he had,in like manner, already conducted two wives of the king to themarriage altar, and had blessed their union. But he reflected, too,that he had also, afterward, attended both these queens when theyascended the scaffold.
How easily might this pitiable young wife of the king fall a victimto the same dark fate! How easily might Catharine Parr, like AnneBoleyn and Catharine Howard, purchase her short-lived glory with anignominious death! At any time an inconsiderate word, a look, asmile, might be her ruin. For the king's choler and jealousy wereincalculable, and, to his cruelty, no punishment seemed too severefor those by whom he fancied himself injured.
Such were the thoughts which occupied Bishop Cranmer. They softenedhim, and caused the dark wrinkles to disappear from his brow.
He now smiled to himself at the ill-humor which he had felt shortlybefore, and upbraided himself for having been so little mindful ofhis holy calling, and for having exhibited so little readiness tomeet his enemy in a conciliating spirit.
For Gardiner was his enemy; that Cranmer very well knew. Gardinerhad often enough showed him this by his deeds, as he had also takenpains by his words to assure him of his friendship.
But even if Gardiner hated him, it did not therefore follow thatCranmer was obliged to return that hatred; that he should denominatehim his enemy, whom he, in virtue of their mutual high calling, wasbound to honor and love as his brother.
The noble Cranmer was, therefore, ashamed of his momentary ill-humor. A gentle smile lighted up his peaceful countenance. With anair at once dignified and friendly, he crossed the room andapproached the Bishop of Winchester.
Lord Gardiner turned toward him with morose looks, and, withoutadvancing from the embrasure of the window in which he was standing,waited for Cranmer to advance to him. As he looked into that noble,smiling countenance, he had a feeling as if he must raise his fistand dash it into the face of this man, who had the boldness to wishto be his equal, and to contend with him for fame and honor.
But he reflected in good time that Cranmer was still the king'sfavorite, and therefore he must proceed to work against him withgreat caution.
So he forced these fierce thoughts back into his heart, and let hisface again assume its wonted grave and impenetrable expression.
Cranmer now stood close before him, and his bright, beaming eye wasfixed upon Gardiner's sullen countenance.
"I come to your highness," said Cranmer, in his gentle, pleasantvoice, "to say to you that I wish with my whole heart the queen maychoose you for her confessor and spiritual director, and to assureyou that, should this be the case, there will not be in my soul, onthat account, the least rancor, or the slightest dissatisfaction. Ishall fully comprehend it, if her majesty chooses the distinguishedand eminent Bishop of Winchester as her confessor, and the esteemand admiration which I entertain for you can only be enhancedthereby. In confirmation of this, permit me to offer you my hand."He presented his hand to Gardiner, who, however, took it reluctantlyand but for a moment.
"Your highness is very noble, and at the same time a very subtlediplomatist, for you only wish in an adroit and ingenious way togive me to understand how I am to act should the queen choose youfor her spiritual director. But that she will do so, you know aswell as I. It is, therefore, for me only a humiliation whichetiquette imposes when she compels me to stand here and wait to seewhether I shall be chosen, or contemptuously thrust aside."
"Why will you look at matters in so unfriendly a light?" saidCranmer, gently. "Wherefore will you consider it a mark of contempt,if you are not chosen to an office to which, indeed, neither meritnor worthiness can call us, but only the personal confidence of ayoung woman?"
"Oh! you admit that I shall not be chosen?" cried Gardiner, with amalicious smile.
"I have already told you that I am wholly uninformed as to thequeen's wish, and I think it is known that the Bishop of Canterburyis wont to speak the truth."
"Certainly that is known, but it is