Read Online The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor by Elizabeth Norton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Norton
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arrived later, bringing a message from her sister, addressed to Thomas.
Seymour had to be careful, since he was unaware of just how much Anne knew. When she chided him for visiting the queen at Chelsea, he immediately denied it, saying that he had merely passed Catherine’s garden on his way to the Bishop of London’s house. He and Anne stood silently for a moment before, smiling, Catherine’s sister told him other details of the courtship that could only have come from the queen. Aware that he had been caught out with a lie, ‘like a false wench’, Seymour now admitted everything. 23 It was a burden off his shoulders: there were now four people in on the secret, and the Herberts rejoiced at the match. They also offered practical aid, since Anne volunteered to pass Thomas’s letters – as though they were from her – on to her sister. 24 Seymour was delighted. He stayed up past midnight, when he returned home to write a lengthy letter to his wife. Seeing Anne, who resembled Catherine, had only increased his desire for the queen. He asked Catherine to send him her portrait in miniature, so that it ‘shall give me occasion to think on the friendly cheer that I shall receive when my suit shall be at an end’.
Thomas soon discovered that the queen had also confided her love for him to her friend, the romantic Duchess of Suffolk, who joked with one of Catherine’s servants that she wished Thomas could marry the queen and become his master. 25 Word was spreading. But Thomas Seymour had still not informed his brother.
The couple decided to press on with their attempts to speak to Somerset. And so, in late May, while the court was still at St James’s Palace, Thomas made his third approach to his brother regarding matrimony. This time, he was humble, requesting only that Somerset ask Catherine to bear him goodwill and her favour towards marriage. 26 Once again, however, Seymour had badly misjudged his brother who – although he agreed to speak to Catherine – offered no support.
Three months earlier, on 7 February 1547, Catherine had been gratified that the young King Edward, despite the weight of his new responsibilities, had found the time to write to her, acknowledging her ‘remarkable and daily love for me’. 27 But she had heard nothing since, and her attempts to meet with him were always postponed. Somerset had no wish to readmit the queen into his nephew’s orbit and affections. 28 She nevertheless wrote regularly, ‘beseeching’ some response and reiterating her ‘everlasting love’ for King Henry and her goodwill towards Edward. In May, she commissioned portraits of both herself and her stepson as proof of the continuing bond between them. 29 She could not, for propriety’s sake, be ignored, so Somerset finally gave the king permission to write to his stepmother on 30 May: it was the first letter that Catherine had received from him in nearly four months. In it, the boy sent his apologies, explaining that he had not written before as he had hoped daily to see her. 30 Catherine resolved to make that a reality.
In the warm sunshine of early June 1547, Catherine made the short journey from Chelsea to St James’s Palace, dismounting from her horse with her attendants after passing through the red-brick gateway. The palace was a favourite of Edward VI, its fine high walls interspersed with chimneys, resembling his birthplace of Hampton Court. She strode into the palace across the cobbled ground, intent on demanding access to her stepson.
First, however, she had to run the gauntlet of an interview with the Protector and his wife. In anticipation that Somerset would, at Thomas’s bidding, represent his suit, Catherine had planned (as she assured Thomas) ‘to frame mine answer to him when he should attempt the matter, as that he might well and manifestly perceive my fantasy to be more towards you for marriage than any other’. 31 She intended to inform Somerset that she had ‘a full determination
Seymour had to be careful, since he was unaware of just how much Anne knew. When she chided him for visiting the queen at Chelsea, he immediately denied it, saying that he had merely passed Catherine’s garden on his way to the Bishop of London’s house. He and Anne stood silently for a moment before, smiling, Catherine’s sister told him other details of the courtship that could only have come from the queen. Aware that he had been caught out with a lie, ‘like a false wench’, Seymour now admitted everything. 23 It was a burden off his shoulders: there were now four people in on the secret, and the Herberts rejoiced at the match. They also offered practical aid, since Anne volunteered to pass Thomas’s letters – as though they were from her – on to her sister. 24 Seymour was delighted. He stayed up past midnight, when he returned home to write a lengthy letter to his wife. Seeing Anne, who resembled Catherine, had only increased his desire for the queen. He asked Catherine to send him her portrait in miniature, so that it ‘shall give me occasion to think on the friendly cheer that I shall receive when my suit shall be at an end’.
Thomas soon discovered that the queen had also confided her love for him to her friend, the romantic Duchess of Suffolk, who joked with one of Catherine’s servants that she wished Thomas could marry the queen and become his master. 25 Word was spreading. But Thomas Seymour had still not informed his brother.
The couple decided to press on with their attempts to speak to Somerset. And so, in late May, while the court was still at St James’s Palace, Thomas made his third approach to his brother regarding matrimony. This time, he was humble, requesting only that Somerset ask Catherine to bear him goodwill and her favour towards marriage. 26 Once again, however, Seymour had badly misjudged his brother who – although he agreed to speak to Catherine – offered no support.
Three months earlier, on 7 February 1547, Catherine had been gratified that the young King Edward, despite the weight of his new responsibilities, had found the time to write to her, acknowledging her ‘remarkable and daily love for me’. 27 But she had heard nothing since, and her attempts to meet with him were always postponed. Somerset had no wish to readmit the queen into his nephew’s orbit and affections. 28 She nevertheless wrote regularly, ‘beseeching’ some response and reiterating her ‘everlasting love’ for King Henry and her goodwill towards Edward. In May, she commissioned portraits of both herself and her stepson as proof of the continuing bond between them. 29 She could not, for propriety’s sake, be ignored, so Somerset finally gave the king permission to write to his stepmother on 30 May: it was the first letter that Catherine had received from him in nearly four months. In it, the boy sent his apologies, explaining that he had not written before as he had hoped daily to see her. 30 Catherine resolved to make that a reality.
In the warm sunshine of early June 1547, Catherine made the short journey from Chelsea to St James’s Palace, dismounting from her horse with her attendants after passing through the red-brick gateway. The palace was a favourite of Edward VI, its fine high walls interspersed with chimneys, resembling his birthplace of Hampton Court. She strode into the palace across the cobbled ground, intent on demanding access to her stepson.
First, however, she had to run the gauntlet of an interview with the Protector and his wife. In anticipation that Somerset would, at Thomas’s bidding, represent his suit, Catherine had planned (as she assured Thomas) ‘to frame mine answer to him when he should attempt the matter, as that he might well and manifestly perceive my fantasy to be more towards you for marriage than any other’. 31 She intended to inform Somerset that she had ‘a full determination
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