The King's Secret Matter (28 page)

As he spoke he seemed to see a vital young face laughing at him, mocking him. There was more than a trace of mockery in Anne. It was part of her witchery and it enslaved him.

He found himself answering her in his thoughts: Well, 'tis for our future. Were I to tell these Bishops of my need for you, they would never understand. Poor old fellows, what could they know of what is between us two!

But the mood passed quickly, and in a few moments he was believing all he said. The little mouth, which had grown slack as he thought of Anne, tightened and became prim. I should never have thought of casting off Katharine but for the continued gnawing of my conscience, he told himself; and he
immediately believed it. Katharine was the woman he had insisted on marrying eighteen years ago; it was not because her body had grown shapeless, her hair lacked lustre, and that she provoked no physical desire in him that he would be rid of her. It had nothing to do with the most fascinating woman he had ever known, who still kept aloof and would not submit to him, yet maddened him with her promises of what would be his if she were his wife. No, he told himself sternly, Anne was apart from this. He loved Anne with every pulse of his body; his unsatisfied desire was becoming more than he could endure; and since he had discovered that no other woman would suffice in her place, he was making secret plans now to give Anne what she wanted. (By God, she asks a high price for herself, a crown no less. But worth it, my beauty!) Yet, he assured himself, but for the demands of conscience he would never have questioned his marriage to Katharine. It was solely because he feared he was living in sin, and must quickly cease to do so, that he was here before his bishops and lawyers this day.

‘This matter cannot be settled in any haste,' said Warham. ‘The findings of the court must be examined.'

Henry fidgeted. He was almost on his feet. He wanted to shout at them: You idle fellows Time to examine your findings! What do you want with that? I tell you I want a divorce, and, by God, a divorce I shall have or clap every man of you into the Tower.

But in time he saw the horror which was dawning in the Cardinal's eyes and restrained himself with difficulty.

So the court was adjourned.

The King was with the Cardinal when the messengers arrived; these were messengers with no ordinary tidings; they demanded that they be taken with all speed to the King's presence, assuring those who tried to detain them that it would go ill with them if the news they carried were kept from the King an instant longer than it need be.

When this message was brought to Henry he said: ‘Let them come to me at once.'

They came in, travel-stained and breathless from their haste, their eyes alight with the excitement of those who have news which is such as is heard once in a lifetime.

‘Your Grace . . . Your Eminence . . .' The words then began to tumble out. ‘Bourbon's troops have attacked Rome. The city is in the hands of savage soldiery. The Pope has escaped with his life by shutting himself up in the Castle of St Angelo. The carnage, Your Grace, Your Eminence, is indescribable.'

Henry was horrified. The Pope a prisoner! Rome in the hands of lewd and savage soldiers! Never had such a disaster befallen Christendom.

The Constable of Bourbon, the declared enemy of the King of France, was siding with the Emperor, and his army it was which had launched this attack on Rome. Bourbon himself was dead; indeed, he had had no desire to attack Rome; but his army was reduced to famine; there was no money with which to pay them; they demanded conquest and would have killed him if he had stood in their way.

So on that fateful May day this ragged, starving, desperate army had marched on Rome.

Bourbon had been killed in the attack but his men did not need him. On they had rushed, into Rome.

Never had men and women seen such wanton destruction;
the fact that this was the city of Rome seemed to raise greater determination to destroy and desecrate than men had ever felt before.

The invaders stormed into the streets, killing men, women and children who were in their way; they battered their way into the palaces and great houses; they crammed food into their starving mouths; they poured wine down their scorching throats. But they had not come merely to eat and drink.

They invaded the churches, seizing the rich ornaments, images, vases, chalices which were brought into the streets and piled high into any means of conveyance the marauders were able to snatch. Every man was determined to have his pile of treasures, to reward himself for the months of bitter privation.

During those five terrible days when the soldiers were in possession of Rome, they determined that every woman should be raped and not a single virgin left in the city. The greatest amusement was afforded them by the nuns who had believed that their cloth would protect them. Into the convents burst the soldiers. They caught the nuns at prayer and stripped them of those robes which the innocent women had thought would protect them. Horror had pervaded the convents of Rome.

In the streets wine ran from the broken casks, and satiated soldiers lay in the gutters exhausted by their excesses. Priceless tapestry and gleaming utensils which had been stolen from altars and palaces and thrown from windows were lying in the street. The soldiers were mercenaries from Spain, Germany and Naples; and to the desecration of Rome each brought the worst of his national characteristics. The Germans destroyed with brutal efficiency; the Neapolitans were responsible for the
greatest sexual outrages; and the Spaniards took a great delight in inflicting subtle cruelty.

It was not enough to commit rape and murder; others must join in their fun. So they brought monks and nuns together, stripped them of their robes and forced the monks to rape the nuns, while these vile soldiers stood by applauding and mocking.

Never had such sights been seen in Rome, and the people who had managed to escape with their lives cried out in great lamentation, declaring that if God did not punish such wickedness it must be believed that He did not trouble Himself about the affairs of this world.

This was the story the messengers brought to the King on that May day, and to which he listened in increasing anger and horror.

He sent the messengers away to be refreshed, and when they had gone he turned to the Cardinal.

‘This is the most terrible tale I ever heard.'

‘And doubly so,' answered Wolsey, ‘coming at this time.'

Henry was startled. While he was listening to the tale of horror he had forgotten his own predicament.

Wolsey went on: ‘The Pope a prisoner in the Castel Sant' Angelo! Although Bourbon led the attack on Rome, the Pope is now the Emperor's prisoner. Your Grace will see that, being the prisoner of the Emperor, he will not be in a position to declare invalid the dispensation regarding the Emperor's aunt.'

‘By God, I see what you mean,' said Henry. ‘But he will not long be a prisoner. It is monstrous that the Holy Father should be treated so.'

‘I am in agreement with Your Grace. But I fear this will mean delay.'

The King's mouth was petulant. ‘I weary of delay,' he murmured.

‘We must act quickly, Your Grace, and there are two tasks which lie ahead of us. We must send an embassy to France without delay in order that we may, with the help of our ally, liberate the Pope from this humiliating situation.'

‘Who will go on such an embassy?'

‘It is a delicate matter, in view of what is involved,' said Wolsey.

‘You must go, Thomas. None could succeed as you will. You know all that is in my heart at this time; and you will bring about that which we need.'

Wolsey bowed his head. ‘I will begin my preparations at once, Your Grace.'

‘You spoke of another task.'

‘Yes, Your Grace. The Queen will have heard rumours of our court of enquiry. I think she should be told of Your Grace's conflict with your conscience.'

‘And who should tell her this?' demanded Henry.

Wolsey was silent and Henry went on sullenly: ‘I see what is in your mind. This should come from no lips but my own.'

The Princess Mary was seated in her favourite position on a stool at her mother's feet, leaning her head against the velvet of Katharine's skirt. She was saying how happy she was that they could be together again, and that the long sojourn at Ludlow seemed like a nightmare.

‘Oh Mother,' cried the Princess, ‘is there any more news of my marriage?'

‘None, my darling.'

‘You would tell me, would you not. You would not try to shield me . . . because, Mother, I would rather know the truth.'

‘My dearest, if I knew of anything concerning your marriage I should tell you, because I believe with you that it is well to be prepared.'

Mary took her mother's hand and played with the rings as she used to when she was a baby.

‘I fancied you seemed distraught of late. I wondered if there had been some evil news . . .'

Katharine laid her hand on her daughter's head and held it firmly against her. She was glad Mary could not see her face. Evil news! she thought. The most evil news that could be brought to me! Your father is trying to cast me off.

But she would not tell Mary this, for who could say how the girl would act? She might be foolhardy enough, affectionate enough, to face her father, to upbraid him for his treatment of her mother. She must not do that. Henry could never endure criticism, more especially when he was doing something of which he might be ashamed. He could harm Mary as certainly as he could harm Katharine. Indeed, thought the Queen, my daughter's destiny is so entwined with mine that the evil which befalls me must touch her also. Better for her not to know of this terrible shadow which hangs over us. Let her be kept in ignorance for as long as possible.

‘There is no further news of your marriage,' said the Queen firmly. ‘Nor do I think there will be. These friendships with foreign countries are flimsy. They come and go.'

‘It would be so much better if I were married to someone at home here,' said Mary.

‘Perhaps that may happen,' replied the Queen soothingly. ‘Who shall say?'

Mary turned and lifted a radiant face to her mother. ‘You see Mother, not only should I marry someone who was of my own country . . . speaking my own language, understanding our ways . . . but I should be with you. Imagine, for evermore we should be together! Perhaps I should not always live at Court. Perhaps I should have a house in the country; but you would come and visit me there . . . and often I should be at Court. When my children are born you would be beside me. Would that not be so much happier than our being separated and your hearing the news through messengers?'

‘It would be the happiest state which could befall us both.'

‘Then you will tell my father so?'

‘My darling, do you think I have any influence with your father?'

‘Oh . . . but you are my mother.'

The Queen's brows were drawn together in consternation and, realising that she had let a certain bitterness creep into her voice, she said quickly: ‘Kings are eager to make marriages of state for their sons and daughters. But depend upon it, Mary, that if I have any influence it shall be used to bring you your heart's desire.'

They were silent for a while and the Queen wondered whether Mary was really thinking of Reginald Pole when she talked of marriage, and whether it was possible for one so young to be in love with a man.

While they sat thus the King came into the apartment. He was alone, which was unusual, for he rarely moved about the Palace without a little cluster of attendants. He was more sombrely clad than usual and he looked like a man with a private sorrow.

The Queen and Princess rose, and both curtseyed as he approached.

‘Ha!' he said. ‘So our daughter is with you. It is pleasant to see you back at Court, daughter.'

‘I thank Your Grace,' murmured Mary.

‘And you play the virginals as well as ever, I believe. You must prove this to us.'

‘Yes, Your Grace. Do you wish me to now?'