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Authors: Claire Ridgway
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with King Henry VIII and was greeted by George Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, who brought him a message from the King. In the message, Henry VIII asked Chapuys to visit Anne Boleyn and kiss her hand. Chapuys excused himself because, as Eric Ives 1 points out, "that was going too far, too fast", and, in Chapuys's own words, it "would not be advisable". 2 He could not bring himself to kiss the hand of "the Concubine" and recognise her as Queen. So, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, conducted Chapuys to mass, carefully placing the ambassador behind the door through which Anne would enter. Anne Boleyn, who was accompanying her husband to mass, knew exactly where Chapuys was and so stopped as she entered, swung round to him and bowed. Chapuys was forced to do reciprocate and bow to the Queen. Henry and Anne had got what they wanted, recognition of Anne's status, albeit in a rather underhand way.
It is clear that in mid April 1536, just two weeks before Anne's arrest, Henry VIII was still pushing for Anne to be recognised as his wife and rightful queen. Does this show that he was still committed to Anne? Why force Chapuys into recognising a woman you're going to discard? Is this evidence that Henry VIII was not involved in plotting against Anne Boleyn or is it just proof of his fickle nature? There is no way of knowing.
Chapuys, Henry VIII and Cromwell
Later that day, after dining with George Boleyn, Chapuys met privately with the King to discuss a potential alliance between the Emperor and England. This was a meeting which had been set up by Thomas Cromwell, who seems to have been intent on negotiating a twin alliance, allying England with both the Schmalkaldic League and with Charles V. 3 The only obstacle was Chapuys' condition that England should accept papal authority. Cromwell had worked on this, leading Chapuys to believe that Henry VIII might come to an agreement with France, instead of with the Empire, if Charles continued to be so demanding.
Unfortunately, at the meeting, Chapuys made it plain that for any alliance to go ahead, the Lady Mary would need to be restored to the succession. Although Cromwell had led Chapuys to believe that this would not be a problem, Henry VIII would not tolerate this idea. In his eyes, Mary was illegitimate and Elizabeth was his heir. Henry blew up, reacting "confusedly and in anger" 4 and "reproached" the Emperor with "great ingratitude". He made it clear that his relationship with the Pope and his daughter Mary's future were nobody's business but his, and that he would not be told what to do by Chapuys and the Emperor. According to Chapuys, Cromwell and Audley "appeared to regret these answers" 5 and when Chapuys spoke to Cromwell, the secretary was "mortified" by what had happened and was "hardly able to speak for sorrow". The stress of the situation led to him arguing with the King and then taking to his bed "from pure sorrow". 6 The King was ruining Cromwell's negotiations!
The next day, 19th April, the Bishop of Tarbes reported to his master, Francis I of France, that the Duke of Norfolk had told him "that what he had said the last time they met was true, and that whatever overture the Emperor might make things would not be other than they have been hitherto. Replied that he had no doubt of this, knowing that the friendship between the Kings cannot be affected by any practice or overture of the Emperor." The King was keeping the Emperor and the French king on tenterhooks.
Anne Boleyn: A Liability?
In Cromwell's eyes, Anne Boleyn must surely have been becoming a liability and a serious threat. Cardinal Wolsey had fallen, due in part to the influence of the Boleyns; and according to Cromwell, Anne had once said to him in an argument that "she would like to see his head cut off". 7 Although John Schofield points out that Anne's influence may not have been as strong at this time as it had been at Wolsey's fall, she was still a significant threat. Chapuys had commented on Anne's influence
It is clear that in mid April 1536, just two weeks before Anne's arrest, Henry VIII was still pushing for Anne to be recognised as his wife and rightful queen. Does this show that he was still committed to Anne? Why force Chapuys into recognising a woman you're going to discard? Is this evidence that Henry VIII was not involved in plotting against Anne Boleyn or is it just proof of his fickle nature? There is no way of knowing.
Chapuys, Henry VIII and Cromwell
Later that day, after dining with George Boleyn, Chapuys met privately with the King to discuss a potential alliance between the Emperor and England. This was a meeting which had been set up by Thomas Cromwell, who seems to have been intent on negotiating a twin alliance, allying England with both the Schmalkaldic League and with Charles V. 3 The only obstacle was Chapuys' condition that England should accept papal authority. Cromwell had worked on this, leading Chapuys to believe that Henry VIII might come to an agreement with France, instead of with the Empire, if Charles continued to be so demanding.
Unfortunately, at the meeting, Chapuys made it plain that for any alliance to go ahead, the Lady Mary would need to be restored to the succession. Although Cromwell had led Chapuys to believe that this would not be a problem, Henry VIII would not tolerate this idea. In his eyes, Mary was illegitimate and Elizabeth was his heir. Henry blew up, reacting "confusedly and in anger" 4 and "reproached" the Emperor with "great ingratitude". He made it clear that his relationship with the Pope and his daughter Mary's future were nobody's business but his, and that he would not be told what to do by Chapuys and the Emperor. According to Chapuys, Cromwell and Audley "appeared to regret these answers" 5 and when Chapuys spoke to Cromwell, the secretary was "mortified" by what had happened and was "hardly able to speak for sorrow". The stress of the situation led to him arguing with the King and then taking to his bed "from pure sorrow". 6 The King was ruining Cromwell's negotiations!
The next day, 19th April, the Bishop of Tarbes reported to his master, Francis I of France, that the Duke of Norfolk had told him "that what he had said the last time they met was true, and that whatever overture the Emperor might make things would not be other than they have been hitherto. Replied that he had no doubt of this, knowing that the friendship between the Kings cannot be affected by any practice or overture of the Emperor." The King was keeping the Emperor and the French king on tenterhooks.
Anne Boleyn: A Liability?
In Cromwell's eyes, Anne Boleyn must surely have been becoming a liability and a serious threat. Cardinal Wolsey had fallen, due in part to the influence of the Boleyns; and according to Cromwell, Anne had once said to him in an argument that "she would like to see his head cut off". 7 Although John Schofield points out that Anne's influence may not have been as strong at this time as it had been at Wolsey's fall, she was still a significant threat. Chapuys had commented on Anne's influence
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