In today's "on this day in Tudor history" video, I talk about the Act of Attainder which was used against Catherine and her lady, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, in 1542.
You can find out more about Catherine Howard and her fall with the following resources:
- Expert Talk – Gareth Russell – Catherine Howard: Personality and Private Life
- Catherine Howard and the Interrogations of 1541 - Talk by Claire
- Was Catherine Howard guilty of treason? - Talk by Claire
- Expert Talk: Gareth Russell on Catherine Howard
- The Fall of Catherine Howard Quiz
- A Call to Rehabilitate Catherine Howard – Claire Chats Video
You know what i find interesting? Not so much the attaintder itself, but that upon Mary’s accession, she (I’m not sure the word), was it a pardon? She did something regarding these attaintders. What was it? And wasn’t it specifically Catherine’s? Was it because she was a queen? I find it interesting because Mary wasn’t fond of her. Thanks, Claire.
Yes, I think Mary I did repeal some Acts of Attainder that were missing royal signatures but I’m not entirely sure which attainders were affected but I do believe that this attainder against Catherine and Jane was one of them. Although the attainder was given royal assent, the king’s council simply attached the great seal to it rather than asking the king to sign it. I don’t believe it had anything to do with Mary’s personal feelings about Catherine, it was to do with the legalities of the attainders.
Oh, ok. I understand. Thanks, Claire!
Mary repealed this one, yes, apparently because it wasn’t signed but that in itself is interesting. Did Henry feel a tiny bit of guilt?
It’s almost as if anything that the women did was an appendix to the men’s crimes and everything was about her life before Henry.
The final bit might have limited the King’s choice of wife. The Parliament didn’t want to pass this without the Queen not having a trial but she refused one. Henry put off the Council talking to her until she was condemned. The Bill passed on the second hearing. Gareth Russell says it was Katherine who refused a trial but even so a Bill of Attainder is a very convenient way to find someone guilty and condemn them for the crown. The whole thing was to save Henry embarrassment because that is what Anne’s public trial had been.