Shaking the Throne Read online

  SHAKING THE THRONE

  Book two of the Queenmaker Trilogy

  CAROLINE ANGUS BAKER

  Bella Figura Publishing

  New Zealand

  Also by Caroline Angus Baker

  The Queenmaker Trilogy

  Book one – Frailty of Human Affairs

  The ‘Canna Medici’ Series

  -Night Wants to Forget

  -Violent Daylight

  -Luminous Colours of Dusk

  -Cries of Midnight

  The ‘Secrets of Spain’ Trilogy

  (also available in one complete edition)

  -Blood in the Valencian Soil

  -Vengeance in the Valencian Water

  -Death in the Valencian Dust

  -Intense Professional Marquesa

  No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Locations and historical timelines are accurate, and the characters in this book are based on historical figures, however the situations are fictional portrayals of these figures. Quotes taken from historical figures have been changed to better reflect 21st century English. For more information on history, culture and significant figures, visit www.carolineangusbaker.com

  Copyright © 2018 Caroline Angus Baker

  Preface

  In 1509, King Henry VIII was crowned alongside his new bride, Princess Katherine of Aragon. Katherine had married Henry’s brother, Prince Arthur, in 1501, only for him to die months later. After receiving a dispensation from the Pope, the couple married and were crowned in a dual coronation and would go on to have one daughter and lose another five children at birth.

  After having affairs with several well-known mistresses, King Henry set his sights on Anne Boleyn, lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine, sometime in 1525. By 1527, Henry set his chief advisor, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Lord Chancellor of England, to the task of procuring an annulment of his marriage to Katherine, claiming a man could not marry his brother’s widow.

  The people of England loved Queen Katherine; she had ruled for twenty years, a kind, pious and beautiful Catholic queen all could respect. But Katherine was too old to give Henry what he needed – a son to inherit the English throne. Anne Boleyn was still in her twenties – pretty, sophisticated, intelligent, and young enough to give birth to a male heir.

  After being in love with Anne Boleyn for years, King Henry had become bitter towards his Queen, his daughter, Princess Mary, and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, his Lord Chancellor and closest friend. Katherine and Mary were banished, and Wolsey died on his way back to London for execution.

  But Thomas Cromwell – lawyer and advisor to Wolsey, a commoner with a smart mind and vivid history throughout Europe, educated in England and Italy, had promised King Henry that he could be the one to create a queen.

  Through a series of well-timed and well-worded laws pushed through parliament, Cromwell used all his skills to ensure the Catholic Church and the Pope had their power over England cut off in an extremely short time period. Not only did King Henry suddenly rule the Church in England, but he also could annul his own marriage and marry Anne Boleyn.

  In a few short years, Thomas Cromwell had managed to restrict the power of Pope Clement, banish one queen and create another, and put the control and money of religion in King Henry’s hands. But after all the hard work, the new queen gave birth to Princess Elizabeth. Was it a sign from God? Was Anne not supposed to be queen? Would Queen Katherine ever relent?

  Even Henry’s most trusted friend, Sir Thomas More, was no longer on the monarch’s side, but rather for the Catholic belief in Queen Katherine, and God’s total authority on Earth. As the clergy started to fight back against Thomas Cromwell’s strong law changes, blood needed to spill. Cromwell’s queen had been crowned, but death would be needed for Queen Anne to remain on the throne. Otherwise, either Queen Anne or Thomas Cromwell would have to give up their place on the royal pedestal.

  England’s royal inner circle by 1533

  King Henry VIII

  All-powerful, well-educated and athletic ruler of England for 24 years. Aged only 42 years old, a religious, volatile, arrogant man. Father of one legitimate heir, the infant Princess Elizabeth, a now-bastard daughter Lady (Princess) Mary, and a bastard son, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset

  Dowager Princess (Queen) Katherine

  Catholic Spanish princess married to Henry for 24 years - pious, respectable, intelligent, and mother to the now-illegitimate royal heir, Lady Mary, former Princess of Wales. The Church of England has ruled Katherine’s marriage to King Henry annulled, but the Pope has not

  Queen Anne Boleyn

  High-educated former lady in-waiting to Queen Katherine. Queen Anne has been coronated as England’s queen, is legally married to King Henry by the reformist Church of England, and has given birth to Princess Elizabeth

  Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk

  Henry’s best friend and brother-in-law. Member of the Privy Council (advisors to the King on state matters) and the King’s Council (the King’s private advisors). Influential, powerful and feared

  Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk

  Uncle to Anne Boleyn, close courtier to Henry. Member of the Privy Council and King’s Council. Father-in-law to Henry Fitzroy, and powerful in England’s north

  Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire

  Lord Privy Seal (leader of the Privy Council) and member of the King’s Council. Trusted father to Anne Boleyn

  Advisors and courtiers to King Henry

  Thomas Cromwell

  Former soldier, Italian trader and banker and English-trained scholar. Once a secretary to Cardinal Wolsey, Cromwell is now the King’s Chief Minister, member of parliament and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Cromwell has created the Church of England, annulled the King’s marriage to Queen Katherine, ensured the legality of Queen Anne’s reign and has stripped the Catholic Church’s power in England

  Sir Thomas More

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, respected humanist, author and Catholic theologian. Loyal advisor to King Henry and champion of Dutch writer Erasmus

  Thomas Cranmer

  Highly-educated theologian, humanist and Archbishop of Canterbury. Leader of Protestant reform in England. Former diplomat to both Spanish court and Holy Roman Emperor on King Henry’s behalf

  Bishop John Fisher

  Well-established Bishop of Rochester, fervently Catholic and powerfully against the Reformation. Strongly against King Henry’s religious and marital changes, and very influential among nobles and commoners

  Bishop Stephen Gardiner

  Trained in canon (religious) and civil law, and master secretary to Cardinal Wolsey. Well-travelled diplomat, Master of Trinity Hall and expert at Cambridge University

  Eustace Chapuys

  Imperial Ambassador to England and champion of the cause of Queen Katherine on Emperor Charles V’s behalf

  Powerful Italian figures in 1533

  Nicòla Frescobaldi

  Effeminate bastard son to the late Francesco Frescobaldi, and reclusive favourite courtier of Pope Clement. Highly- educated man of business, law and theology, and now master secretary to Thomas Cromwell

  Pope Clement VII

  Pope of Rome and leader of the Catholic faith since 1523. Member of the powerful Florentine Medici dynasty. Imprisoned during the sacking of Rome by Charles V’s soldiers in 1527, but back in power, yet in ill health

  Alessandro de-Medici, Duke of Florence

  Bastard Moorish son of Pope Clement, and
newly installed leader of Florence, now part of the Italian empire. Hated throughout Florence, ruling with fear. Paid for the new Florentine army through the Frescobaldi marriage dowry

  Charles V of Spain

  King of Spain, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Italy, King of the Romans, Lord of the Netherlands and Duke of Burgundy, ruler of the German and Austrian states controlled by the Roman Empire. Nephew of Queen Katherine of England. Highly influential with the Pope, threatened by war with the Turks, France and Hungary

  The Medici dynasty

  Multi-generational family in control of the Republic of Florence. One of the wealthiest families in Europe, creator of two Popes, including Clement. Ousted from Florence in 1527 during a siege, only to be reinstated with full control and wealth. Religious, enlightened patrons. Young Katherine de’Medici “sister” of Alessandro de-Medici is now a princess in France

  Nicòletta Frescobaldi

  Only surviving Frescobaldi daughter, wife of Alessandro de-Medici, kept at Medici villa outside Florence. As reclusive as her half-brother Nicola, known as beautiful, silent, with no power over her large inheritance

  Well known figures in Europe in 1533

  Erasmus of Rotterdam

  Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian. Creator of the Latin New Testament bible based on Greek texts

  William Tyndale

  Creator of the English language bible, translated from Greek and Hebrew texts. Supporter of Protestant reform. In exile from England and against Henry’s annulment

  Martin Luther

  German theologian, excommunicated priest and creator of the Protestant Reformation and the German language bible

  Niccoló Machiavelli

  Recently-deceased Florentine diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer. Creator of political science

  Stephen Vaughan

  English merchant, royal agent and diplomat, and strong supporter of the Protestant Reformation

  King Francis I of France

  Popular young King of France. Well-educated writer and patron to Leonardo da Vinci. Signed the peace treaty at the Field of Cloth of Gold with England

  Popular English courtiers in 1533

  Ralph Sadler

  Court attendant to Thomas Cromwell, head of Austin Friars

  Richard (Williams) Cromwell

  Nephew and attendant to Thomas Cromwell, junior member of the Privy Council

  Sir Thomas Audley

  England’s Lord Chancellor, barrister and former Speaker in the House of Commons. Kind, gentle, keen reformist and important advisor to the King.

  Richard Rich

  Solicitor General for England and member of parliament. Desperate to gain favour with Thomas Cromwell

  Thomas Wriothesley

  Lawyer serving Thomas Cromwell and Stephen Gardiner, clerk of the royal court. Popular yet arrogant.

  Sir Henry NorrisSir Francis Weston

  Sir William BreretonSir Francis Bryan

  Members of the privy chamber of King Henry, among others

  Mark Smeaton

  Talented young English composer and musician, treasured friend of Nicola Frescobaldi

  Sir Thomas Wyatt

  Diplomat, politician, poet, loved childhood friend of Anne Boleyn. Popular friend of Nicola Frescobaldi and Thomas Cromwell. Well-known, respected and trusted by the King.

  To all the people who proved that ‘the best man for the job’ was a woman, including

  Elisa “Johanna Servenius” Bernerström

  Saint “Father Marinos” Marina

  Pharaoh Hatshepsut

  Hannah “James Gray” Snell

  Joan of Arc

  Margaret Ann “James Barry” Bulkley

  Charlotte “Charley” Darkey Parkhurst

  Maria Quitéria

  Catalina ‘La Monja Alférez” de Erauso

  Onorata “Honorata Rodiana” Rodiani

  Joanna of Flanders

  Loreta Janeta “Lieutenant Harry Buford” Velazquez

  And my humble thanks to Sarah “Patrick” Griffin, whom I had the privilege to watch perform Shakespeare some fifty-plus times, while living as a man playing male and female characters onstage.

  All who contribute to the overthrow of religion, or to the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, all who are foes to letters and to the arts which confer honour and benefit on the human race (among whom I reckon the impious, the cruel, the ignorant, the indolent, the base and the worthless), are held in infamy and detestation.”

  Niccoló Machiavelli

  The Discourses: I, 10, 1517

  ‘…for ye know by histories of the bible that god may by his revelation dispense with his own Law’

  Thomas Cromwell

  Letter to Bishop Fisher, c1535

  F

  Chapter 1 – November 1533

  timeth turns our lyes into trouths

  Austin Friars, London

  ‘Catholic, Protestant, all makes no matter; for I shall die a sinner for the justice I administer.’

  Nicòla’s rose-gold eyelashes fluttered, such was the strength in which she held her green eyes closed. Tears perched upon her lashes, waiting to ripple down her dark olive cheeks.

  ‘God gives us the power of His spirit, and the sword of His word. True contrition shall deliver souls to heaven.’

  Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, knelt opposite to Nicòla, his purple robes flowing around the carpets beneath their knees. His hands closed over Nicòla’s clasped in prayer. Behind the altar was Nicòla’s bedroom, or more precisely, the bedroom of Thomas Cromwell, her master. Before them; William Tyndale’s English Bible, handwritten by the man himself. Also, Martin Luther’s German translation, and, for Nicòla’s comfort, a Catholic Latin bible. Cromwell may have yearned for Protestant reform, yet Nicòla’s soul, away from the ears of her master, struggled with reformation.

  Cranmer and Nicòla were firm friends, yet in times of prayer, in times of struggle, Cranmer also proved himself a man of true piety, patient with Nicòla’s fear for her soul.

  ‘Can contrition and repentance truly come to me?’ Nicòla whispered, one tear making its defiant roll down her cheek.

  ‘At the heart of the Christian faith, contrition shows that a soul is ready for repentance. The old religion and the new; it makes no matter, my child. Absolution will come through the regret you now feel.’

  ‘Father, forgive me, for I have sinned. I know you came yesterday for my need to confess and repent, but again I feel burdened with my deeds.’

  ‘Tell me.’

  Nicòla felt Cranmer’s hands move against hers, a gentle gesture. She opened her eyes a little to see him before her, his eyes closed, his dark hair over his face a touch. While Cranmer preached to king and country about the virtue of reformation in England, in private, Cranmer allowed Nicòla her need to adapt from Catholic idolatry and into the light of God.

  ‘Oh, Thomas,’ she whispered as she closed her eyes again, forgetting to address him formally. ‘I walked into the Tower of London, my stride strong, my will determined. I walked into the cell of Elizabeth Barton and I struck her across the face. Not a word. I watched as others hurt her, beat her, kicked her. I watched as others tortured her accomplices. I interrogated them; I screamed in their faces. The power I feel, disguised as a man, the favourite man of Thomas Cromwella, the most powerful man in this realm, makes me a monster. I watched as men were put to the rack, I heard their screams and yet I did nothing. How can God want me to do this?’

  ‘Elizabeth Barton is a heretic, a traitor. She is a traitor to her faith. Those men who stand accused beside her represent all the corruption and abuse of the Church itself.’

  Cranmer’s hands shook over Nicòla’s, and she opened her eyes again. Cranmer stared back at her. ‘God gave Barton and her men the chance to repent, Nicòla. She claims to speak with God, to hear His words. Barton claims Mary Magdalene writes letters to her. She claims God tells her the futur
e. Barton sins so deeply that there can be no salvation for her soul. They have forced you to torture Barton. Someone must do God’s will.’

  ‘What if Barton is like me?’ Nicòla asked. ‘I am a fantastical creature. The mind of a man trapped in a woman’s body. That is how I am explained. But I am a woman! You know well the frailty of my affairs. What if Barton is the same? A woman, confused by her calling in life, used by that heretical Friar Bocking and the others in Canterbury?’

  ‘Whatever the cause, Barton speaks. She spoke to the King himself, prophesying his death. That is treason on its own. She taints the minds of influential men. Perchance she is ill in the mind; perchance we shall never know. But what Elizabeth Barton has done is use God’s word against the King, against many of us. That is treason. That is heresy. She calls for us to be Catholic and to stop religious reform. She wants to keep England in the darkness.’

  ‘And for that, I must sin, abuse bodies, harm others, alongside Cromwella, alongside Ralph Sadler, Thomas Wriothesley, Richard Rich. We cloak ourselves under Cromwella’s name and commit sins.’

  ‘Let us pray. Mighty Lord, you have fashioned the universe, and brought order out of chaos. We thank you for bringing order to our lives. Help us respect the authorities you have established, for the sake of the world and for the Church. Guide us by your Spirit to serve Your will, and give us the courage needed by early reformers, so that in our time we may confess our faith in your Son Jesus Christ, in whose gracious name we pray. Amen.’