“Are you ready, my lady?” Maria Willoughby appeared in the doorway. “I have your jewels ready if you wish to select some items to wear.”
“I am ready,” said Catherine, “but I shall not adorn myself today. I will go plain and honest to the court, with no jewels to distract from God’s purpose, as he is my only judge.”
“Very good, my lady. I will order them to be put away.”
Catherine reached for a silver crucifix that sat on the chest beside her and pressed it to her lips. The women waited in silence as she closed her eyes and muttered a few words.
“Now,” she said finally, looking at them all, “it is time. We go forth to this as men do to a battlefield: in trepidation and fear, but also with a sense of righteousness and duty, in the knowledge that God is our witness and our eternal father, and that nothing will happen except that which is by his will, and his will alone.”
“You speak bravely,” said Maria. “He will be at your side always, today and in the days to come.”
“Please join me in prayer,” said the queen, clasping her hands together.
Thomasin, Ellen and Mary followed her lead, standing in silence while Catherine spoke fervently in Spanish. Her words betrayed the emotion she was suppressing, as her voice occasionally broke, her tone rising and falling. At the end, she drew in a deep breath, straightened her spine and pushed back her shoulders, undergoing the transformation Thomasin had witnessed so many times, from woman to queen.
“Now, let us go and stand before this court. I am ready.”
They walked with purpose down the corridor to the flight of stone steps. Here, a number of supporters were awaiting them: other noblewomen who felt for Catherine’s cause, and friends from past years, John and Jane Dudley among them, bowing low to show their approval. By the time they had crossed the bridge and entered the Blackfriars site, more had gathered in the yard, including those worshippers at the local church and those at the palace who had been the queen’s servants in the cookhouse, gardens and laundry for many years. Thomasin realised they risked much to be there, waving and cheering as the smallprocession passed. Their presence did much to buoy Catherine’s spirits as she saw how much she was supported.
At the great doors, More was waiting. He bowed low. “Fisher, Clerk and the others are within. Everything is ready for you, my lady.”
“Is my husband inside the court?”
“Indeed he is, my lady.”
This was the first time Thomasin had been aware of Henry attending a session, no doubt in order to hear what his wife had to say, the better to refute her arguments.
“I am ready. Let us proceed.”
The court fell silent as the doors swung open and all heads turned towards the back. Catherine ignored them all and walked forward in her best stately manner, her eyes fixed on Henry, who sat on a dais to the right of the two cardinals, opposite the empty chair that awaited her. She did not sit down, but stood in the centre of the space before them, her hands clasped in supplication. The four ladies stood in a line behind her. Thomasin was aware of the faces around them, watching intently, and also of Cromwell at the front, but she could not bring herself to meet his eyes. She was here for Catherine; her hatred of the king’s servant could not be allowed to cloud her performance.
“My Lady Catherine, formerly crowned Queen of England, dowager duchess of Wales, you are welcome to court,” said Campeggio. “You may be seated.”
“I wish to stand.”
“As you wish, my lady. You are aware of the questions raised about the validity of your marriage to our right honourable King Henry, eighth of that name, and the implications of this for the security and future of our realm. You have been summoned to the court to answer in your defence concerning the nature ofyour marriage, in the sight of God, to the best of your ability. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
Clerk stepped towards her, holding out a large, heavy book.
Campeggio continued, “Please place your hand on the Holy Bible and swear that you will speak as true as you can, as God is your witness.”
Catherine laid her small, plump right hand upon the book’s leather cover. “As God is my eternal witness, in this life and the next, I swear to speak only His truth.”
At this, they heard Henry sigh.
“Very well, then let us proceed,” said the cardinal. “You may speak, my lady.”
Catherine paused for a moment, ensuring that all in the hall were still and quiet. Then, in an unexpected act of drama, she threw herself down upon her knees. Unsure whether to do the same, Thomasin looked to the other women. Maria at once followed the lead of their mistress, so Thomasin, Ellen and Mary also adopted that position.
The queen lifted her head and looked directly at her husband. Henry gestured for her to rise, but she paid him no heed.
“Sir,” she began, in a clear, strong voice, “I beseech you, for all the loves that hath been between us, and for the love of God, let me have justice and right, take of me some pity and compassion, for I am a poor woman and a stranger born out of your dominion; I have here no assured friend, and much less indifferent counsel: I flee to you as to the head of justice within this realm.”
Henry looked uncomfortable at her words, but he could not stop her. This was her moment.
“Alas! Sir, wherein have I offended you, or what occasion of displeasure have I designed against your will and pleasure? Intending (as I perceive) to put me from you, I take God and allthe world to witness, that I have been to you a true and humble wife, ever conformable to your will and pleasure, that never said or did anything to the contrary thereof, being always well pleased and contented with all things wherein ye had any delight or dalliance, whether it were in little or much; I never grudged in word or countenance, or showed a visage or spark of discontent. I loved all those whom ye loved only for your sake, whether I had cause or no; and whether they were my friends or my enemies. This twenty years I have been your true wife or more, and by me ye have had divers children, although it hath pleased God to call them out of this world, which hath been no default in me.”
