Oh Lord, no wonder she's unhappy.
This aint her day,,,,it aint her day at all.
This woman is Katherine Howard. She was the fifth wife of Henry VIII, and first cousin to Anne Boleyn.
Katherine was raised in her grandmothers household. She was neglected, spoiled, and basically allowed to behave in ways that well-mannered young ladies did not.
At 17, she went to the court of Henry VIII to become a Lady in Waiting for Anne of Cleves. Henry was besotted with the spirited young girl, and a mere 16 days after Henry had finally rid himself from Anne of Cleves (see ten of wands
) he took Katharine Howard as his bride.
Katherine was foolish, young, and flirtatious, and by this time Henry was huge and ugly, with an ulcerated leg that smelled and had to be washed and dressed every morning and night.
The young Queen was in love with Thomas Culpepper, who was in the kings close circles. She continued to see her beloved in clandestine meetings in her chambers, aided by one of her Ladies in Waiting. Katherine was young and naive, and stupid. She had never been taught the rules of diplomacy associated with Medieval life, especially at Court, and ESPECIALLY as Queen. It is believed that she really had no idea what she had gotten herself into when she married Henry.
When the King was informed that his young Queen was an adulteress, he refused to believe it. He was a fool in love, and called Katherine his "Rose without a Thorn". But proof was provided, and Henry was enraged...he gave orders for the Queen's immediate arrest. It is said that when Katherine was arrested, she was so terrified that she broke free from her guards and ran down the great hall screaming and shrieking, to the room where Henry had sequestered himself. She beat on the door, screaming in terror and begging Henry to please speak with her, but he refused. The guards grabbed her and dragged her away.... today her ghost is said to be seen running for her life down the hall.....
Katherine was beheaded on Feb 13, 1542, and laid to rest near her cousin, Anne Boleyn.
The sad part about this was that Katherine had bedded lovers BEFORE her marriage to Henry. She had even promised to marry a man named Frances Derehem when she was very young. When she was being questioned, various attempts were made to get her to admit to her pre-contract with Derehem. Had she done so, Henry would have been able to have the marriage annuled on those grounds, and her life could have been spared........but she did not understand, and steadily refused to admit to ever having any relations with Derehem or Culpepper, who was the man she truly loved....
The grey outside only reflects the mood in the air,,,,dark, desolate, utterly hopeless.
Katherine Howard awaits her execution. Her Book of Hours lies open, she has been praying and preparing her soul ,,,,,The hourglass on the table marks the hours of her life that are left,,,soon the sands will run out, and she will be summoned to the scaffold. A hurt that is so deep, a betrayal that is so dastardly it cannot be fixed. When a three of swords event happens in your life, you do not forget it.