The search for Henry VIII's sixth wife

King Henry VIII, 1542

In February 1542, even before the death of Queen Katherine Howard on the 13th of that month, it appears that King Henry VIII was already looking for a sixth wife, and the rest of the court were also speculating who the lucky lady would be. The ambassador to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Eustace Chapuys, was among those trying to guess where the king's eyes would rest next. 

The lady for whom he showed the greatest regard was the sister of lord Cobham, whom Wyatt sometime ago repudiated for adultery. She is a pretty young creature, with wit enough to do as badly as the others if she were to try. The King is also said to have a fancy for the daughter of Madame Albart, niece, of the Grand Esquire, Master Anthony Brown, and also for a daughter (by her first marriage) of the wife of Mons. Lyt, late deputy of Calais—a surmise which rests partly on the fact that after nearly two years' close confinement in the Tower, her father has been liberated, and the King has ordered his arms, which had been removed from their place in the chapel of the Order, to be replaced. - Chapuys to Charles V, 9th February 1542

'Madame Albart' = Lucy Somerset, Lady Herbert (1524-83). Lucy was the daughter of Henry Somerset and Elizabeth Browne, and came to court to serve as Maid of Honour to Queen Katherine Howard. In 1545 she married John Neville (1520-77) who was a stepson of Queen Katheryn Parr, whom she then served as Maid of Honour. Lucy and John Neville had four daughters.

'Sister of Lord Cobham' = Elizabeth Brooke (1503-60). She was married to Thomas Wyatt (d. 11 October 1542) in 1520 but they had long been separated. They separated in 1526 and he supported her financially until 1537. At which time she then moved in with her brother. They separated due to adultery, which Wyatt said was on Elizabeth's side. She remarried after her husband's death to Edward Warner (1511-65). Elizabeth had a son, Thomas (1521-54), with her first husband. and then had three more children with her second husband; Edward, Thomas and Henry. At the time the letter was written, Elizabeth was still legally married to Thomas. It has been suggested that the Elizabeth Brooke that Chapuys refers to in the letter is in fact this Elizabeth's niece of the same name born in 1526 - putting her in the same age range as the other two women mentioned. However, as Chapuys knew her marital history and therefore this younger Elizabeth would seem too young at only sixteen to have been married to Wyatt and separated for a long period of time, it seems unlikely that he would make that mistake. 

'Daughter of the wife of Lord Lisle' = Anne Bassett (1521-58). Anne had been in royal service since 1533, as part of Queen Anne Boleyn's household. She did not marry until 1554 to Walter Hungerford. She was rumoured to be Henry's mistress in 1538-9, despite being related to the king by marriage as her stepfather was King Henry's uncle. Anne had also been considered a possible wife by many to become the king's fourth wife in 1540.

The day after the execution of Katherine Howard, the king held a banquet for many men and women and he was said to favour Elizabeth Brooke and Anne Bassett the most.

However, as we know King Henry did not marry any of these three women. On the 12th July 1543 he married Katherine Parr. Katherine had joined Princess Mary's household by the 16th of February that year, her second husband having recently died. 

Anne of Cleves' royal baby

King Henry VIII's fourth marriage to Anne of Cleves was a short lived disaster, yet after the marriage was annulled the king and his now 'sister', as Anne was to be known, the two shared a warm friendship. Anne was often at the royal court and maintained strong relationships with the king's daughters Mary and Elizabeth.

Anne of Cleves

In late 1541 rumours reached the royal court that Anne of Cleves had given birth to a baby boy, said to be the son of the king. It was reported that Anne had not informed the king or his council of her pregnancy and this was why the king himself had not announced it. The frequent visits between the king and Anne gave plausibility to the story, as well as the fact that Anne had recently been ill and kept to her bed, and therefore to discover the truth of the matter the king immediately sent envoys to Anne's estate at Hever.

The inquirers managed to trace the rumour back through only six people until they reached the source.

"We examined also, partly before dinner, and partly after, a new matter, being a report that the lady Anne of Cleves should be delivered of a fair boy; and whose should it be but the king's majesty's! which is a most abominable slander, and for this time necessary to be met withal. This matter was told to [Richard] Taverner, of the signet, more than a fortnight ago, by both his mother-in-law (Lambert's wife, the goldsmith) and by Taverner's own wife, who saith she heard it of Lilgrave's wife; and Lambert's wife heard it also of the old lady Carew. Taverner kept it, [concealed it], but they [the women] with others have made it common matter of talk. Taverner never revealed it till Sunday night, at which time he told it to Dr Cox, to be further declared if he thought good, who immediately disclosed it to me the lord privy-seal. We have committed Taverner to the custody of me the bishop of Winchester; likewise Lambert's wife (who seemeth to have been a dunce in it) to Mr the chancellor of the Augmentations." - Minutes of the Privy Council.

The members of Anne's household were subjected to strict interview by the council, and it was not until the end of December 1541 that the council were able to put an end to the matter.
The source of the rumour was found to be Frances Lilgrave, a widow, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London for her slanderous words. Richard Taverner was also imprisoned for the fact that he concealed her treason.
Frances Lilgrave was from an embroiderer family who were employed by the royal family; her husband having been an embroiderer to Anne Boleyn during her tenure as queen.
Richard Taverner (1505-75) was a translator of the Bible from Greek, having published 'Taverner's Bible' in 1539, and was under the patronage of Thomas Cromwell. He was not imprisoned in the Tower for long, and was soon returned to royal favour. His wife that was mentioned in the council minutes was his first wife Margaret Lambert (d.1563), whom he married in 1537 and had seven children by.

The circumstances surrounding Anne of Cleves at the time of this rumour only served to add plausibility to it. King Henry had two living wives, and his most recent bride Katherine Howard was under investigation for having been unfaithful to the king during their marriage. Historian Antonia Fraser mentions that her appearance also would have changed since her arrival in England, and especially as she enjoyed the English food and wine, and her weight gain may have only served to fuel the rumour mill.

The musical Lupo family of Tudor England

In 1540, Henry VIII gave Thomas Cromwell the mission of finding European musicians to come to England to help improve music standards in England.
In November of that year six viol players were brought from Venice to England;
Ambrose, Alexander and Romano Lupo, Albert and Vincenzo of Venice and Juan Maria of Cremona.

Ambrose 

Ambrose was the eldest of the Lupo brothers and the patriarch of the family, born in 1505. 

The Lupo brothers were not Christians, but Sephardic Jews of Spanish origin. In 1542 when Henry VIII was persecuting Jews hiding their religion, the Lupo brothers returned to Venice for a few months. Ambrose and Alexandro did return to England later that month, however Romano died in 1542. Alexandro died in 1544. 

Ambrose played the viol at the funeral of Henry VIII as well as at the coronations of Edward VI and Elizabeth I. 

For New Years 1577-8, Ambrose gifted the Queen "a box of lute strynges", and the same a year later when he presented her with "a box of lute-strynge".
On March 17th 1589 a warrant was made to the Auditor of the Exchequer to make out the particulars of a lease in reversion of lands to the value of 20l per annum for Ambrosio Lupo, "one of the eldest of her Majesty's musicians for the vials". A further warrant in 1590 was made as it pleased the Queen to increase in value the grant given to him. 

Ambrose held his position of court musician until his death in 1591, being the longest serving of the six viol players brought to England in 1540. 

Ambrose had two sons with his wife Lucia who were also viol players, Peter and Joseph.

Peter

Peter, born in 1534 in Italy, was a craftsman of instruments as well as a viol player. He was admitted to the Musician's Guild in Antwerp in 1555, then started his career as a court musician in 1556. In 1567 he was employed by Robert Dudley, and later in 1570 became a musician at Elizabeth's court. On the 18th March 1578, Peter wrote to Robert Dudley offering to return to his service at court. 

For New Years 1599-1600, he gifted the Queen with "six bottles of sweete water". 

Peter played at Elizabeth I's funeral in 1603, along with other members of his family. 

Peter married Katherine Wickers in 1575, and they had nine children together; Mary, Elizabeth, Ferdinando, Jane, Katherine, William, Philip (1582-1668), Albiano (1579-1626) and Thomas - who was also a musician. His son Albiano, an adventurer and share holder in the Virginia Company, settled in America. He sailed aboard the ship The Swan in 1610, predating the Pilgrims. Peter's son Philip was a goldsmith in London, and visited Albiano in America in 1621, but did not stay. Peter died in 1608.

Signature of Peter Lupo

Joseph

Joseph was born in 1537 and like his father became a viol player. He was admitted to the Musician's Guild in Antwerp in 1557. He became a court musician in 1563, and remained so until his death.  For New Years 1599-1600, he gifted the Queen with "one paire of pfumed gloves". He played at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in 1603. 

Joseph married Laura Bassano, the daughter of a fellow court musician; Alvise Bassano, a recorder player. The Venetian Bassano family had been musicians at the English court since the 1520's, and were also Sephardic Jews like the Lupo family. Joseph and Laura had at least seven children together; Bridget, Joseph, Francis, Ambrose and Theophilus, as well as two sons who became musicians like their father; Thomas and Horatio. His son Francis, although not a musician, made instrument making his trade and by 1609 was living in Amsterdam with his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Sybil.
Joseph died in 1616.

Thomas

Thomas was born in 1571, the son of Joseph Lupo, and became a violinist. Despite being a court musician, he in fact was unpaid from 1588 to 1591, however in 1592 he was given a paid position that would be his for life. For New Years 1599-1600, he gifted the Queen with "one paire of pfumed gloves". In 1603, he played at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. Upon the accession of King James, Thomas was made Musician to the King, and during the years 1610-12 he was a violinist in Prince Henry's household, and then in Prince Charles' household 1617-25. The position of 'Composer for the violins' was created for Thomas in 1619, for which he would be paid 40 marks a year, so that "they may be the better furnished with variety and choice for our delight and pleasure in that kind". In 1622 Thomas was granted £16 2s 6d a year for his livery. Thomas died in 1627.
With his wife Lydia, he had two daughters; Martha and Sarah, and a son, Theophilus, who also became a violinist. Theophilus was given a grant of 40l per annum for life, previously given to his father, on the 1st December 1628. On May 19th 1637, Lydia, now a widow, petitioned the king for the money owed to her husband at the time of his death as well as money owed to her son Theophilus; 48l was owed to Thomas for three years arrears of his livery out of the Great Wardrobe, and 32l owed to Theophilus for the same reason. She had previously petitioned the Master of the Wardrobe but his reply was that he could not pay the money owed without a warrant from the king. 

Horatio

Horatio was born in 1583, the younger child of Joseph and Laura. On February 6th 1612, Horatio was granted the place of Musician on the Violin for life. In 1625 he became a musician in Ordinary on the violin, however he died only a year later. 

He married Mary Storye in 1616 and the couple had four children; George, Barbara, Elizabeth and William.

Thomas

Thomas was the son of Peter Lupo, born in 1577 in England. For New Years 1599-1600 he gifted the Queen with "one paire of pfumed gloves". He became a court musician, playing the violin, under King James I, from 1603 until his death in 1642.

Henry VIII: Do as I say not as I do.

King Francis of France

Letter written in 1533 from King Henry VIII of England to his ambassador in France - Thomas Boleyn - to pass on to King Francis of France. The letter mainly concerned the announcement of King Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn, however other issues were discussed.

"requiring Henry's opinion touching the marriage projected by the pope between (Henry, son of King Francis) duke of Orleans, and (Catherine de Medici) niece of pope Clement (VII), to which the said lord Rochford shall state to Francis what he had already said...that considering the low extraction of the said niece of the pope, and the royal blood of the duke of Orleans, he thinks the marriage very unequal, and he is opposed to it, unless some great advantage arise from it...Should Francis think that there can be a counterbalance with respect to the marriage of the duke and the pope's niece, and his holiness should urge the same, then Francis shall be requested to inform the pope that his accepting Henry's excuse without delay is the only means of bringing the said marriage into consideration"

The timing of this letter is curious as it was in this year that King Henry married Anne Boleyn, who was a member of a noble family but was nonetheless a non-royal of "low extraction". Considering that at the same time King Henry was in a very similar situation and taking action which was entirely contrary to what he was advising the French King.
However, King Henry's dislike of this proposed marriage can be understood in terms of religion as at this time England was in opposition to the Church in Rome, and with a marriage connection between the Pope and the ruling house in France, Henry could have been under threat of a Catholic League on the continent.

Painting depicting the marriage of Henry and Catherine, 1550

King Francis indeed ignored the advice of the English king concerning the inequality of the two houses and on the 28th October 1533 Francis' son and heir Henry was married to Catherine de Medici.

Henry VIII didn't invent divorce

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived
For many people this rhyme is the summation of their knowledge about Henry VIII; his marital activity was one of the defining features of his reign and the effects that they had touched every aspect of his polity.
One of the most famous events in the Tudor age was Henry VIII's Great Matter; his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and the break from Rome which followed.

The act of divorce or separation of married couples had been taking place since ancient times, this was not a new social convention; it had been an acceptable situation in the ancient societies of the Greeks, Egyptians and was particularly frequent during the time of the Romans. For centuries marriage has served as a key political tool. During Roman times it was often practiced that couples were 'divorced' so that one of them could be remarried to someone else; for example the Emperor Augustus forced his stepson Tiberius to divorce his wife so that he could be married to the Emperor's daughter Julia.

This process was termed 'annulment' not 'divorce'; it not only separated the couple legally but instead of ending a marriage it meant that the marriage itself had never been lawful and had not really taken place. This was often granted on the grounds of consanguinity - meaning that the couple involved were too closely related, that a participant was already married or that the marriage had not been consummated and therefore was not a real marriage. Often the reason behind annulments was that there were no children to the marriage and the need for an heir took precedent. During medieval times these annulments were granted by the church, and by extension the Pope. The regulations, guidelines and grounds for an annulment are laid out in the book of Deuteronomy; a book which was written about 4000 years ago, indicating that divorce existed that far back in history.

In the case of Henry VIII, why is it that his divorce from Catherine of Aragon is so famous when his later divorce from Anne of Cleves is left in the shadows? The act of annulment in itself was not the thing that caused such attention, as for years it had been suggested due to Henry's lack of a male heir, the reason that this particular annulment was so famous was the strength with which it was fought against. Queen Catherine outright refused to give Henry his annulment and fought every accusation he made, of course the annulment could still be granted even if the queen did not consent. However, the Pope during this time was under the control of the Holy Roman Emperor, who happened to be Catherine's nephew, therefore he would not allow the Pope to grant such a petition which would shame his aunt so much. It was a result of this refusal that Henry chose to break with Rome entirely and create his own church of England and could thereby grant himself a divorce from his wife, how legitimately this divorce was viewed at the time is another matter.

Henry VIII may have brought royal divorce to the forefront of politics and dragged it into the center of attention for history books, however it was already a common practice among European royalty, and even within the English royal family itself; the same year that Henry VIII first petitioned for an annulment of his first marriage in 1527, his sister Margaret was also granted a divorce from her second husband.

European royal divorces/annulments before 1533;
1152 Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine
1190 Philip II Augustus of France and Ingeborg of Denmark
bef 1199 John I of England and Isabella of Gloucester
1199 Constance of Brittany and Ranulf de Blundeville
1216 Henry I of Castile and Mafalda of Portugal
1229 James I of Aragon and Eleanor of Castile
1245 Margaret of Angouleme and Raymond of Toulouse
1293 Margaret de Clare and Edmund, Earl of Cornwall
1318 Thomas, Earl of Lincoln and Alice de Lacy
1383 Elizabeth of Lancaster and John Hastings
1472 Anne of York and Henry Holland
1498 Louis XII of France and Joan of France
1527 Margaret Tudor and Archibald Douglas