I’d say that Catherine Howard is the most ‘misunderstood’ wife of Henry VIII. She certainly didn’t have a clean childhood, but her infamous ‘promiscuity’ should not be blown out of proportion. She ruled alongside him for a mere two years (not enough time for a coronation) and her complicated past was damning before she even got married to Henry.
She was only a child when she got married to Henry barely 17, and he was edging 50 with ulcers along his legs, and let’s say… a bit on the large side. Not exactly a dashing young chap.
Despite her upper class background, she was brought up relatively poor and didn’t have the luxuries or a great education. She could write, and this was ultimately her downfall (or head fall?) when some pretty physical evidence was brought to the king’s attention before she was beheaded. Not much is known of Howard’s early life, apart from two questionable relationships. But, we do know that she was related to Anne Boleyn. I wonder what happened to her?
The one thing that historians are unanimous on? The fact that Howard was certainly pretty. She was young, petite, bright and definitely caught the king’s eye when she was Anne of Cleve’s Lady-in-Waiting. In fact, in under two weeks, Howard was now the fifth of Henry’s wives. She was decorated in his gifts and presents.
Howard wasn’t much liked by Henry’s eldest child though, Mary I certainly didn’t take a shine to the new queen. Mary was older than her, and to be fair, I wouldn’t be impressed either. But true to Howard’s Boleyn blood, she loved Elizabeth.
Now back to Howard’s illicit affairs…
When she was only 13, it was suggested that Howard had a relationship with her music teacher, Henry Mannox. He was significantly older than her and even testified at court that he and Howard had a sexual relationship which she vehemently denied. She was reported to say that “Being but a young girl, I suffered him at sundry times to handle and touch the secret parts of my body”. Basically, he was a perv and would sexually harass her.
But this wasn’t the nail in the coffin. It was her close relationship with Francis Dereham, who was around 10 years older than her, which spelled (literally) trouble for young Howard. Unlike her questionable relationship with Mannox, she and Dereham definitely consummated their relationship and were proposed to be engaged soon. They even referred to each other as ‘husband’ and ‘wife’. Their relationship wasn’t unnoticed by the people in the house and their secret affair came to an abrupt end when Howard’s step-grandmother discovered their relationship and she banned Dereham from her land.
As a happily? married woman, you would have thought that Howard would have learned her lesson. But if I’m being honest, as a young, lively woman, who had to deal with a short-tempered old king who’s men were sleazy, it’s no surprise that she was caught out again. This time it was a man called Thomas Culpeper.
Even before her marriage to Henry, Howard was courted by Thomas and she did consider marriage to him before the king. This romance continued and again, nosy servants were quiet for a while. Until it all unraveled.
There’s always a snitch. And this snitch led Howard to the chopping block. Her affairs with Dereham and Culpeper were broadcast to the public, but Henry wasn’t convinced entirely. What did make the rumours true were the letters which Howard sent to Culpeper. Including this statement: “When I think again that you shall depart from me again it makes my heart die to think what fortune I have that I cannot be always in your company.” yeahh, Catherine, you weren’t exactly loyal to your husband who has a pretty scary reputation for his wives.
However, who was Henry to speak?! When he heard about Howard’s affairs, he would “cope” with the situation by getting drunk and sleeping with other women. Not exactly the dutiful husband.
What’s important to remember is that Howard had two relationships before she was even married to Henry. They were all single, and it was only her affair with Culpeper that is known. So the misconception that Howard was some promiscuous young girl is completely wrong. She had two ‘boyfriends’ really.
When the order came for Howard’s execution, she actually practiced the night before, making sure that she placed her head on the chopping block right. Her previous lovers didn’t get off scott free either. Culpeper was also beheaded, but Dereham was hung, drawn and quartered. Nice.
Overall, it was an unfortunate time for poor young Catherine Howard. She wasn’t an angel, but she certainly does not deserve the reputation that she has.
5 down, 1 more unfortunate queen to go!
– Henna
Biscuit Breaks 
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