The Heretic Wind: The Life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England by Judith Arnopp (best ereader for students TXT) 📕

by my father. They do not merelymeddle with Mass but order that images be destroyed; processions are to be abolishedand the ringing of bells and the lighting of candles is to be forbidden. Cranmer,in his Book of Homilies, attacks the Mass. His beliefs are heretical but whenGardiner rightly points this out he is swiftly imprisoned and the abuse againstthe Mass increases.

They order anEnglish Bible to be placed in every parish church and, horror upon horror, theclergy are now to be allowed to marry! In the end, when I can contain myself nolonger, I sit down to write a letter outlining my objections. England is nolonger the peaceful and stable kingdom my father left behind, but our realmmust not become so divided.

Somerset’sreply, when it finally arrives, is disappointing. He states, to my greatchagrin, that my father did not leave a peaceful kingdom but anincomplete reformation. He believes it to be a situation that can only be remediedby completely abolishing Popish doctrine as well as the authority of Rome. Inother words, he infers that my father had not yet completed the changes heintended to the church. But he is very much mistaken. My God-fearing fatherwould never champion Lutheran teaching; to break with Rome is one thingbut to work against God? That is something he would never do!

I screw Somerset’sletter into a ball and toss it across the room with a futile scream of rage. Hehas no right to make such changes to the constitution; he is a protector, aservant of the king! Only my brother, the reigning monarch, can contradict thesix articles … when he is of age to do so. Until then, the matter should beleft alone.

Shortlyafterwards, I begin to receive bullying letters from court informing me that myreligious practices are in opposition to those accepted by the crown. My responseis to increase the number of Masses I attend daily; sometimes hearing as manyas four in a single day. I ensure that in all my households the traditionalrites are followed to the letter. Somerset and his ilk can go hang themselves. Theycan hardly have me thrown into the Tower. I am, after all, the heir to Edward’sthrone.

So, my hopesof a peaceful life in the country are spoiled by intimidating messages from theprotector. I write to Spain, who warns Somerset to leave me in peace, claiming thereis no harm in me following the faith I was born into. But the orders continueto arrive from court. I deal with Somerset as politely and as coldly as I amable but, when fresh news comes from Queen Katherine, it takes the strengthfrom my knees.

It breaksmy heart to write of this, dear Mary, but I have discovered Elizabeth indulgingin lewd behaviour with Thomas. At first, I though it only play but then … thenI came upon them together and I saw quite plainly that I was wrong…

 

My mouth dropsopen. Poor Katherine! She must be distraught. Not only betrayed by her husbandbut by her beloved stepdaughter too! Two of the people she loves most in theworld have committed sin beneath her very roof. What was Elizabeth thinking?What was Seymour thinking? It is not as if he can divorce Katherine and wedElizabeth. Katherine is expecting his child!

Katherine, ofcourse, is reluctant to speak ill of Seymour and her tight lips make mesuspicious. Perhaps it wasn’t his fault at all. Perhaps he wasn’t the one toinitiate the ill behaviour. Perhaps Elizabeth is her mother’s daughter afterall.

Anne Boleynsomehow induced my father to act like a man possessed, to throw away all hevalued for the promise of her bed. Elizabeth might be young, but she is sharp.Is she likewise able to bewitch men with those Boleyn eyes?

I peer into mylooking glass. I have my father’s small and unprepossessing eyes. I will neverbewitch anyone with them. No man will ever dance to my tune. I sigh and turnaway, my head beginning to ache with the worry of it all.

I learn that Elizabethis to be sent away from the queen’s Chelsea household in disgrace, whileKatherine takes up residence at Sudeley to await the birth of her child.

The poorinfant will be born into a world of turbulence, the child of a rogue. It iswell her mother is possessed of such sweetness. Hopefully she will make up forThomas’ lack. Despite her love for the new religion, Katherine has always beengood to me … and Elizabeth. She nurtured all of us. She was born to be amother. She does not deserve to be so ill-used.

During theweeks that follow, I fashion some small garments and send them to Katherinewith my next letter, bidding her luck in her coming confinement. I make nomention of either Elizabeth or Katherine’s husband. After the messenger hasridden away, my thoughts turn to Elizabeth. Perhaps I should invite her to livewith me. She is young, in dire need of a mother figure to look up to, toemulate. If anyone could set her on the correct religious path, it is me. Butfor now, she remains in Katherine’s guardianship. I will discuss the matterwith her when the child has been born.

Almost byreturn, a letter arrives informing me she has given birth to a daughter, and myladies and I drink to her long life and happiness. But, just six days later, Ireceive further word. Turning my back on my women, my temples begin to throb asI break the seal and see the words, scored so heavily on the page.

 Katherine hasdied, taken suddenly by childbed fever, leaving her daughter, whom she namedMary in my honour, to the devices of her wayward father.

It is cool anddark in the chapel and I relish the silence. I send my women away that I mightpray for Katherine alone. When I am at prayer, I seem to leave the world behindand exist in a high and lonely place where sin can never intrude. There is onlyme and God and the love I bear Him. As the cares of this world melt away, Istand before Him and beg that Katherine’s soul be allowed to pass quickly frompurgatory.

She was thebest of women, the kindest of