Le Temps Viendra: A Novel of Anne Boleyn (52 page)

BOOK: Le Temps Viendra: A Novel of Anne Boleyn

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We know something of Dr Edward Foxe’s return to court as he penned a letter on 11 May, 1528 to his companion, in which he describes how he was received by the Henry and Anne. Having reached Greenwich Palace (on Sunday, 3 May), Henry immediately dispatched Edward Foxe to take the good news to Anne that the two of them had been successful in their mission to procure a decretal commission from the Pope. Whilst I describe Anne and Henry receiving the news together at dinner, in fact, initially Anne received Edward Foxe alone in the Gallery of the Tiltyard Towers, later being joined by Henry. We know that Anne made ‘marvellous demonstrations of joy’ and one can only believe that the couple was elated at this fortuitous turn of events. Foxe also states that Wolsey left the palace two hours earlier (i.e. at 3 pm in the afternoon). Therefore, Henry dispatched Dr Foxe immediately to Durham House, as described in the novel. Wolsey subsequently found that the Pope had played a blinding hand by including a loophole in the commission which both ambassadors had missed; this rendered the document virtually useless.

Chapter Twenty One:

On Tuesday, 16 June, 1528 Cardinal du Bellay reports that one of Anne Boleyn’s,
filles de chambre
(chambermaids) fell ill with sweating sickness and subsequently the King left in ‘great haste and went a dozen miles off.’ There is also a letter from Henry himself dated 16 June, 1528, in which he writes that Anne has been taken ill and dispatches his physician to attend her. However, a later letter of Cardinal du Bellay, dated 21 July, 1528 states that, ‘in Kent it [sweating sickness] is rife at this moment. Mlle de Boulen and her father have had the disease, but they recovered.’ Most historians seem to state that Anne did not contract sweating sickness until she was at Hever. Therefore, it is possible that either the King was mistaken that she had fallen ill with sweating sickness, or perhaps she was suffering from some lesser malady which coincided with the outbreak of sweating sickness in her household. It is also possible that this letter was misdated during its transcription into the letters and papers archives and that it in fact refers to the following month.

The combination of lavender, sage, marjoram and rosewater is a Tudor remedy for a headache.

Dr William Butts: later, Sir William Butts (c. 1486 -22 November 1545) was a member of King Henry VIII of England’s court and served as the King’s physician. Butts was a Protestant and became a close associate of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and later, Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII. His family also became significant leaders of the Puritan faction in Norfolk.

The scene in which Anne hears that Bess has fallen ill with sweating sickness is entirely fictional, but based on the report (described above) that a young lady of Anne’s household had been the first to fall ill with the dreaded disease. Henry fled sweating sickness at Greenwich by travelling to Waltham Abbey with Katherine at his side. We do not know what Anne’s reaction was to the King’s sudden departure from Greenwich.

Chapter Twenty Two

To this day, nobody knows the exact cause of sweating sickness. ‘Sweating sickness’ also known as ‘English sweating sickness’ or ‘English sweate’ (Latin:
sudor anglicus
), was a mysterious and highly virulent disease that struck England, and later continental Europe, in a series of epidemics beginning in 1485. The last outbreak occurred in 1551, after which the disease apparently vanished. The onset of symptoms was dramatic and sudden, with death often occurring within hours. Its cause remains unknown. However usefully, in a letter dated 18 June, 1528 written by Cardinal du Bellay, the French ambassador, we have a description of the symptoms typically associated with the disease and are as described in the novel.

George Boleyn fell ill with sweating sickness whilst at Waltham Abbey, whilst attending upon the King. However, he made a full recovery. The letter included in this chapter is a genuine letter penned to Anne by the King’s hand.

Part Three:

Chapter Three:

The Ankerwycke Yew can still be visited today. Yew trees were often planted close to religious houses, as they have a strong symbology in Christianity around death and rebirth. Oftentimes, the Yew tree outlived the Priory or monastery next to which it was once planted. Such is the case with the Ankerwycke Yew.

Chapter Four:

The original medieval village of Hever was positioned just to the west of the Castle as described in the novel. It was moved by Lord Astor during his refurbishments of Hever Castle in order to give the family more privacy.

In Anne’s time, the kitchens at Hever were located where the Inner Hall currently stands.

Anne Boleyn’s Book of Hours, in which she has inscribed the eponymous title of this novel, is on display at Hever Castle today.

The tapestry described in this chapter is also on display in the ‘Book of Hours’ room. It has been suggested that Anne and her sister Mary are probably depicted in this tapestry. I personally believe that she is, in the top right-hand corner, as described in the text. If so, this is possibly one of the most contemporary images of Anne that is currently known to exist.

St Peter’s Church just outside the entrance to the Castle was probably the family’s place of worship, as it is thought that there was not a private chapel within the Castle itself. In 1465, Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, Anne’s great grandfather, was responsible for establishing a chantry in the church. Within this chantry is the very fine Purbeck marble tomb of Sir Thomas Boleyn, Anne’s father.

Dear Reader
,

You’ve read the book, now bring it to life and experience Anne’s journey for yourself
.

If you want to visit the locations mentioned in the novel, please visit
www.letempsviendra.co.uk
and go ‘In Search of Le Temps Viendra, a Novel of Anne Boleyn’ through the interactive ‘Le Temps Viendra’ trail
.

You can also follow and contact the author on Facebook, see Search for ‘Le Temps Viendra: a novel of Anne Boleyn’

Sarah Morris

2012