Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 5

Portrait of Catherine Howard
by Hans Holbein the Younger

Despite the ridiculous age gap, King Henry VIII, who was aged forty- nine, took nineteen year old Catherine Howard to be his fifth wife on 28th July 1540! Henry doted on his young wife and presented her with beautiful gifts and tokens of love. Catherine was Henry's 'rose without thorns' and a 'perfect jewel of womanhood'. However, after no more than two years marriage, Catherine was laying her fragile neck upon her husband's chopping block.

Upon arriving at court in 1540 from her step- grandmother's residence, Catherine was to serve the king's German wife: Anne of Cleves. She quickly attracted attention from the king because of her confidence and cheerful personality. Her paternal uncle: the Duke of Norfolk urged on his niece, as he had with his other niece the late Anne Boleyn (!) (Catherine's first cousin). Her one flaw which would assist in leading her to the executioner was her flirtatious charms. 

Compared to unfortunate Anne of Cleves, Catherine was considered very, very beautiful in the English court. In the painting by renowned artist- Hans Holbein the Younger, Catherine looks rather good! She is painted with auburn hair, the traditional pale skin, dark eyes and the start of a double chin! The young woman also adored the French fashion, following the French court during the Tudor era was the height of social status because the French were well known around Europe as being extremely cultured. The French fashions often favoured low necklines that exposed a lot of flesh.

After the divorce of Anne, Henry saw his chance to swoop down on the vulnerable girl and wed her. He was convinced that his new bride was pure and innocent, many would beg to differ. Sixteen days after the previous marriage ended, Henry married Catherine at Oatlands Palace on 28th July 1540. As you can see from previous unions between Henry and his brides, he was not one for waiting...

Being an ageing king, Henry's health deteriorated, and being a young woman, Catherine become bored. This is when the couple began experiencing problems, very serious problems.       

Whilst living in the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, Agnes Howard's house, where she lived and was educated along with a gaggle of other unmarried girls of the gentry, Catherine had an affair with the handsome music teacher: Henry Manox. Although the affair was ended after the duchess discovered her granddaughter and employee together one evening, it supplied the girl's enemies with a healthy amount of evidence against Catherine's claims of virginity. It became even more suspicious when she employed Manox as her personal secretary when she was queen...

Catherine met a gentleman servant of her grandmother's whilst living at her home. His name was Francis Durham and he one the teenager's affections due to his status in society and his money! Unlike Manox, Durham was able to shower Catherine with gifts. There are also accounts of the girls with whom Catherine shared a room with claiming that the relationship became more intimate than it should have been.

During Henry's illness, Catherine was accused of enjoying another relationship. This time it was with her maternal cousin: Sir Thomas Culpepper. As you can imagine, this was not good in itself but it was considerably worse when you find out that Culpepper was a good friend of his lover's husband, who trusted him.  

Young Catherine's grave

At court gossip began to surround the queen about previous lovers and this was dangerous. Court gossip was an aid for the people involved in the downfall of Anne Boleyn. At the same time a brother of Mary Halls, a girl who resided in the Dowager Duchess' household went blabbing to one of Catholic Catherine's sworn nemesis Protestant Archbishop Thomas Crammer about the queen's affair with Durham. When Durham was questioned and more than likely tortured, he confessed his relationship with Catherine. Manox was also arrested and Catherine's ladies were questioned. In the mean time, poor Henry was refusing to believe that his wife was not pleased. Catherine, herself, was interrogated by her scheming uncle and Crammer. Catherine denied choosing to sleep with the accused men, including Culpepper, and she claimed that she was raped and sexually abused. Sadly, this may have been true because many young girls were cruelly abused by the husbands and other men including Catherine Willoughby who was married to the 40 year old guardian when she was about twelve or thirteen and Henry VIII's paternal grandmother was married aged twelve to a man in his mid twenties and gave birth to Henry VII when she was only thirteen.

The queen was then arrested and put on trial for adultery and treason, like her cousin six years before. The nineteen year old was found guilty and sentenced to death. She met her end by the axe on 13th February 1542. Her body was laid to rest in the Tower Chapel and is now marked by a commemorative stone. Personally, I believe it is impossible not to feel bad and upset about what became of this foolish young girl because all she was was a girl who was feeling lonely and bored whilst being married to man old enough to be her father! Comment down below your views and don't forget to like the tab on the right hand side!

1. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 1
2. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 2
3. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 3
4. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 4
5. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 5
6. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 6